YEADON INJURY SOURS VICTORY

Wensleydale 13 Wibsey 14 A mix ‘n’ match Wibsey team did just enough to secure a win at struggling Wensleydale. Travelling up to Leyburn with just 15 players including two debutants, in hooker Dave Mynnott and winger Dan Carr, and veterans Mark Carter, Steve Rose and Graham Rackstraw, Wibsey suffered an early blow when in the second minute of the game fullback Phil Yeadon sustained a sickening break to both his bones in his forearm. Steve Rose having to leave the field also take him on the 45 minute trip to Northallerton Hospital. Yeadon’s serious injury required an operation with the fullback having to stay in the North Yorkshire hospital over the weekend. The sporting home side lent a player to Wibsey to even up the sides at 14 apeice. Early home pressure saw the home side take an 8 – 0 lead with a penalty and an unconverted try. Wensleydale were kept at arms length by Wibsey dominating in the line-out but the home side attacked at every opportunity, good defence in the backs in particularly stopping further Wensleydale tries. Dan Horsfall and the ever improving Andy Connally were very strong in this department. It wasn’t all Wensleydale though with Chris Vogel and Bob Bourne a real threat from the back of the scrum making regular inroads into the home defence. HT 8 – 0 The second half saw Wibsey straight on to the attack and camped on the home line. After a few close calls prop Bob Wood crossed only to be adjudged to be held up. The attacks carried on for Wood to cross in the same spot without any doubt this time, with Horsfall adding the extras. 8 – 7 Horsfall was beginning to take hold of the game with intelligent kicking and showing good hands to release the centre pairing of the back from injury Richard Burton and Connally. Both Burton and Connally went close to scoring but it was from the boot of Horsfall that Wibsey’s second try came. A high ‘up and under’ close to the home line by the fly half saw the Wensleydale fullback dive at full stretch to try to collect the ball. Unfortunately he failed to collect it, with Vogel on hand to pick up the loose ball and go over in the corner unopposed and rounded to score under the posts for a converted try. 14 – 8 Wibsey kept control of the game with a strangle hold of the line-outs with Vogel and Bourne giving quick, clean ball when Wibsey shortened the lines and Rackstraw continually being a thorn in the Wensleydale's side on their own throw. Wensleydale turned up the heat toward the end of the game with a wide penalty attempt and then a try at the death, the conversion attempt which would have won the game failed and the referee blew the final whistle. FT 13 - 14