Wells Rugby Football Club

Saturday 1 March 2008.

Wells 22 – St Bernadettes Old Boys 7

Wells rugby players were celebrating on Saturday night, all three senior sides had recorded victories and surely down in nearby Tor, a glass, or two was raised to the Wells first team whose win over lowly St Bernadettes Old Boys has made the Bristol based team an almost racing certainty for relegation and ensured that the Glastonbury side should remain in the Somerset Premier Division. Wells retain their fourth place in the table, an excellent return for this seasons hard work by the coaching team on the training ground.

This game was no classic, a strong wind blowing across the pitch meant that the normal Wells, long pass, miss-pass game was prone to error and a plan ‘B’ was not in evidence. For the first five minutes Wells played with plenty of confidence, but the visitors gradually worked themselves back into the game. Their high swirling kicks caused consternation in the home teams defence, whilst when Wells kicked, it always seemed to go direct to a defender. Midway through the half St Bernadettes took the lead; the scrum half broke from the base of a set scrum and was allowed to run over the line unopposed. An easy conversion gave them a seven point lead which was maintained until the fortieth minute when Gavin Foster touched down after Rich Hickman had made good ground. Aaron Cook converted leaving the game evenly poised at seven points all.

The first notable feature of the second half was a try saving tackle by fullback Chris Saunders and a few minutes later Wells moved ahead. A scintillating break from the scrum by Jake Knight who appeared to trip when certain to score, but he offloaded to the supporting Wayne Stiling, unstoppable from ten metres out. Aaron Cook again converted to give Wells the lead for the first time in the match. Fifteen minutes later, came from a spectators view, try of the match. Again from a set scrum, almost on the halfway line. This time the passing was accurate, Chris Saunders entered the line and when he passed to Jonny Allen, there was not a defender with the pace to get anywhere near him.

St Bernadettes were now desperately trying to save the game and their status in the league. Tempers overflowed for a minute, or two. Once order was restored the referee sent a player from each side to the Sin Bin for their ten minute break. In the eightieth minute Aaron Cook made the game absolutely safe with a penalty.

This was another workmanlike performance from Wells, recording their eleventh league win of the season. Sterling performances up front by the likes of the outstanding Robbie Wiseman and lineout specialist Gavin Foster ensured Wells plenty of ball. On a better day Wells could well have scored another twenty, or so points, but then, a win is a win.

Wells have been drawn to play Winscombe in the semi final of the Somerset Vase, the match to be played on 15 March at a venue still to be confirmed.

This Saturday the first team are off to Bath for a match against the much improved Old Sulians. The second team have a tough home encounter against run away league leaders, Taunton seconds, whilst the thirds go to North Petherton.