WOOD'S TRIPLE LEADS WIBSEY TO VICTORY 

Wibsey 27 – 0 Marist

Yorkshire Five B/C League Match
Saturday 15 March 2008

Improving Wibsey notched back to back victories with 27 unanswered points against a Marist side that had beaten them 60 – 8 in the reverse fixture. Playing up the Beldon Lane slope first the home side took the game to Marist with some enterprising play that saw the backs released at every opportunity. Centre Simon Birkbeck broke the gain line seemingly at will to help Wibsey keep play in the top half of the pitch and away from danger.

As the Villagers kept forcing the issue they had an attacking line-out 15 metres out. The pack drove the resulting maul at a great rate of knots up the hill towards the line. Skipper Dan Horsfall peeled off but was held 2 metres short, prop Bob Wood then burst through to score a deserved try. 5 – 0

It wasn't long before the hosts doubled their lead, and it was that man Wood again peeling off a maul after an attacking 5 metre line-out, Simon Birkbeck converting from the touchline. HT 12 – 0

Wibsey's confidence grew as they started down the hill, but the Hull side were not just going to rollover, and after a couple of penalties Marist had an attacking 5 metre scrum. This scrum was destroyed by the smaller home eight, forcing Marist to concede a penalty. That set the tone for the rest of the game.

From then on it was the green and reds in total control. A fluent attack saw Wood again cross the whitewash only to be held up, Wibsey kept the pressure on keeping play in the final third. Wibsey worked the short side with their forwards then Wood shrugged off three attempted tacklers to complete his hat-trick. Wood’s three scores are all the more remarkable due to the fact that three weeks ago he had to undergo an MRI scan on a suspected broken neck, what a recovery! 17 - 0

As the Villagers turned the screw Marist began to give away penalties, one penalty too many saw the visitors flanker sent to the sin bin. Wibsey took the scrum option from the penalty, and at the fourth time of asking, after putting the visitors under the kosh the backs were released and centre Paul Collins scored wide out. 22 – 0

With the weather worsening Wibsey still tried to play rugby, this was borne out with fullback Scott Smith scoring the final try in the corner to finish off an excellent display in which Wibsey dominated most facets of the game. FT 27 – 0

Wibsey's foundations for victory were laid down by the excellent work of the forwards, with Dan Horsfall excellent in the line-out, and the teamwork showed keeping Marist second in the pecking order all day. The half backs, Chris Paine and James Sawyer outshone their counterparts to help the Wibsey centres look very impressive.

Tries:
Wood (3)
Collins
S. Smith
Conv:
S. Birkbeck