Match Reports vs Sheffield

Wasps vs Sheffield 7/2 (35 /10) W
Spiders won 7/3 (35/15) W

Another great morning of rugby and a superb ‘test’ with the next Yorkshire Cup match this coming Sunday.

Sheffield arrived with a big squad and clearly a professional approach to the morning and provided one of the toughest tests of the season playing great rugby in the right spirit.

Wasps vs Sheffield

Sheffield opened the scoring with a well worked try breaking through Wasps defence. If not for a try saving tackle by Lucas B they would have stretched the lead further. However, Wasps slowly worked their way back into the match scoring a couple of great tries, Ben Fairclough bursting through the centre before beating the defence to the line being a highlight. Toby B began to dominate the centre and under his guidance shored up the defence brilliantly.

As with recent matches we more than matched in the set scrums in turn creating great attacking platforms, with Finn B profiting with two great classic wingers tries (one on each half). However, we continue to be ‘late’ to the breakdown, Sheffield’s strongest element of their game and I reckon York over the morning probably won with only 30% of possession from the breakdown… we need to keep working on this.

Spiders vs Sheffield

A different style of game with some impressive individual tries – Charlie H going the length of the pitch, following a scrum against the head on their line. Spiders established a 5 to nil advantage by half time. However, Sheffield fought back in the second half ultimately ‘winning’ it 3 tries to 2 as Spiders took their foot off the pedal. Again, Spiders performance at the breakdown was not up to the standard set by Sheffield, whilst more positively the scrummaging again was a key strength for Spiders.

One the tries of the season and a real highlight for me was Lucas W scoring from a slider move off an extraordinary flat pass from Freddie I. missing the inside centre (Josh E) to Lucas who timed his run to hit the gap – you would be hard pushed to see this level of timing and execution in any senior level game. Freddie I. had a great morning controlling the attacking play, setting up at least 3 of the Spiders tries, this included a couple smart kicks over a rushing defence.

26th November - Wasps vs West Leeds 9 v 0 W
With fantastic weather persisting deep into the season, Wasps were able to carry on playing their brand of expansive and exciting rugby. West Leeds arrived with one of the biggest sides we’ve faced this season. York reffed the first half and W Leeds the second.
Wasps got off to a quick start following an ‘on the money’ kick off, following a couple of quick phases , CH finished off the first of his 6 tries. The key to the morning’s success was Wasps discipline in the face of regular high tackles. Without doubt the hardest and most challenging match I’ve had to ref..
However, Wasps stuck to their task and game plan, keeping the ball moving away from the ruck and maul areas. Perhaps the most outstanding part of the game was Wasps set play – Even with a small pack in comparison to W Leeds, , they performed superbly shunting W Leeds back time and time again , in fact W Leeds only secured one of their own scrums the rest were won by Wasps. So special mention to Henry DB, Luke R and Sam G (front row) and Ben and Louie second row and finally Freddie L (who had one of his best games of the season). Improvements in the ruck area were also in evidence , whilst the ability to rip the ball from bigger players ensured Wasp got away quickly from the contact area.
Once the ball was moved away from the set piece, Josh S and Finlay controlled mid field superbly even against persistent offsides. The new centre partnership of Charlie G and Archie G not only kept the ball moving to wings and fullback but in Charlie G we’ve found a new inside crash ball centre. I’m sure the forward coaches will argue he may have played better in the forwards, however my view - his best game of the season. Charlie H and Christie and Joseph all played outstandingly well, with the ball tending to get to Charlies hands more than Christies, however Christie had an excellent game and was unlucky not to register – notably his defence continues to improve , pulling off one of the best tackles of the match mid way through the 2nd half. At the back Joseph had one of his strongest games both positionally and when joining the line. Everytime West Leeds did reach the last line of defence , Joseph was there to extinguish the opportunity .