Rugby: Wolves achieve their best finish in 30 years

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Saturday 28th. April 2018
North 1 West
Wilmslow 37 – 22 Vale of Lune

The Wolves duly got the five points they needed against the league winners to finish runners up and to set up a playoff for promotion to the Northern Premier League against Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It's their best finish since the RFU leagues were set up thirty years ago.

The decision to relocate this match up on to the Jim Evison Field to accommodate the end of season junior rugby festival at The Memorial Ground didn't meet with universal agreement, far from it, but the Jim Evison pitch was, despite the recent rain, in excellent condition and being about 10 metres narrower than a normal full sized pitch may have suited the more direct style of the Wilmslow team in contrast to the wide expansive game preferred by the visitors.

That's code for saying that Vale's record points scorer Damon Hall, with over 400 to his name this season, just didn't find the wide open spaces to create the havoc he normally does. Nor was his temper improved by the attention he got from the clusters of street fighters in the Wolves defence, who knew all about the threat he presented. Short of space and brought to earth before he could get into any kind of a gallop, it just wasn't going to be his day.

Vale were also missing several first choice regulars. Their replacements, bar a couple of new names, were all recognisable squad players and had played their part in their club's romp to the league title. Afterwards, their No. 10 Jack Turton, a player who knows what he's about, commented to a Wilmslow player that they hadn't come up against a side all season that had played with quite the same intensity as the Wolves.

This intensity has been characteristic of the Wolves for most of the season and certainly has been in recent weeks. Coach Rick Jones alluded to it last week when he talked about the closeness of this side, their belief and their desire, their one and for all nature, which has seen them through some difficult games. Once again that was all on display against Vale, at times producing some very good rugby and leading to a five try demolition job. It was apparent too in the enthusiasm of so many of the team afterwards.

Wilmslow started well. Playing towards the Waters end, they could have had a score when Danny Kennedy was sent on his way in the opening minute. It didn't quite work out on that occasion but moments later, they had a scrum on the Vale line and got the shove going for a touchdown by No. 8 Alex Taylor. The second score arrived when ground was made on the narrow side from a midfield scrum and quick passing put Sean Street away for a score under the posts. Two tries in twelve minutes against Vale. It doesn't get much better than that!

Vale's captain was audibly not pleased with his side's tackling in defence and the contrast soon became apparent when Wilmslow's defence refused to yield in the face of some enterprising Vale handling and running. They were restricted to just a penalty goal.

A MacCallum penalty followed on the half hour and then moments later the Wolves scored their third try when centre Johnny Kennedy took a pass from a scrum, spotted a gap, pinned his ears back and raced away. The combination of him and Ethan Harding at 12 and 13 was looking particularly potent. Several of the Vale players would have known that you can't give a player like Kennedy any sort of an opening and expect to get away with it.

The fourth try followed immediately. One of the Vale players had said something which deeply offended referee Robert Sheard, possibly something about his integrity, sanity or parentage, I know not, but the outcome was a penalty restart for Wilmslow which MacCallum struck perfectly for a catch and drive lineout on the Vale line. The same Vale player though was covering the kick and leapt into the air to keep the ball in play. Unfortunately, it landed perfectly for Wilmslow winger Will Maslen, who just had to tap it over the line and to drop on it for the fourth try. It wasn't the most glorious couple of minutes the Vale man will have enjoyed on a rugby pitch and judging from the scowls emanating from his team mates it wouldn't surprise me if he had to pay for his profligacy later on.

The second half saw a very different kind of game. As is the tendency these days, coaches ring the changes and in Wilmslow's case it saw the scrum going from better than parity to a shambles. Suddenly Vale found themselves on the front foot in this department and the Wolves had to scavenge for any usable possession. Front row of the scrum has never been the most glamorous place to play but, believe me, without solid possession from the set piece, the rest of the side just can't play. Charlie Gardiner came on in the second row and played his part, Ed Stobart added a threat to midfield but without decent scrum ball, you're stuffed.

Vale's free running backs still couldn't get any change out of the Wolves defensive line but their forwards capitalised with a scruffy sort of a try from a lineout, then got a second from a pushover, Evan Stewart touching down twice. A penalty try followed when referee Sheard got fed up with the struggling shenanigans of the Wilmslow scrum which at that stage looked set to concede another pushover.

In reply, MacCallum missed a straight forward looking penalty from the twenty two. Despite sparse rations, Stobart made a couple of breaks which promised more than was delivered when he found himself isolated and held on too long but then going for a third time, he was tackled around the neck, enabling MacCallum to find a good attacking touch. Showing scant regard for the welfare of their prime asset the Wolves forwards then shovelled back slow, scruffy and unusable ball from the lineout to MacCallum, who knowing what was coming from the Vale back row bearing down upon him, took evasive action to scuttle down the narrow side where he was forced into touch. Vale missed the opportunity on their own throw to clear their lines as the ball was nicked by the unlauded lock James Nicholson and this time it made its way sweetly, quickly and accurately to Maslen on the left wing who still had a bit to do as he darted in for the fifth try. 34 -15 soon became 34 – 22, when Vale got their penalty try but MacCallum then rounded off the scoring by landing a far more difficult kick than the one he had missed a few minutes before to keep the Wolves three scores ahead.

The game ended soon after. Mission accomplished. Coach Jones will have been in a good frame of mind but before he had revealed his thoughts, he rushed off to play for the Wilmslow super vets against the 'Perennials', a Belfast based veterans touring team with players from All Ireland and Scotland. Such are the joys of rugby! The Vale didn't hang around for long and departed, not at all pleased to have lost their last two games at this level. Wilmslow now prepare for their play off, which will be against Driffield at their place on 12th. May. The Wolves though will be full of confidence and if they take their 'A' game with them, then, who knows, it could be Level 5 rugby for the first time in their history next season.

Photo: Try for Will Maslen.

Match report by David Pike.

Tags:
Rugby, Wilmslow Rugby Club
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Drew Donaldson
Monday 30th April 2018 at 8:53 pm
Excellent result. Well played everyone. Can I take this opportunity to thank David Pike for yet another season of excellent match reports and photographs. It is greatly appreciated by those of us who cannot attend many of the fixtures.