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Wells Rugby Football Club
Saturday 22 March 2008.
Somerset Vase Semi Final
Winscombe 7 – Wells 48
By their very nature, semi-finals are usually very tense, conservative affairs, both teams not so much looking for the win, but making sure that they do not lose. The result, a dour match with the final score very close.
Not this Somerset Vase semi final, despite the bitterly cold wind blowing strongly straight down the Yatton ground, the rugby was at times sublime. Described by some as the best performance of the season and others as the best they had ever seen from a Wells team. Whatever, the entertainment value on this cold Easter Saturday was worth at least triple the suggested entrance fee of £3. Wells ran in seven tries, many from a long way out and many with at least half a dozen passes before the final touchdown. It was hard not to feel a bit sorry for Winscombe to come up against a Wells team in such fine form, where long passes, short passes, flip passes and any other sort of pass you can think of went to hand. Foraging forwards won the turnovers and after a couple of early blips, Gavin Foster aided by Robbie Wiseman and Dom Veasey’s accurate throwing dominated the lineouts, pinching more than one on the opposition throw.
Winscombe had first use of the gale force wind and most watchers felt it was worth fifteen to twenty points, however despite some early pressure it was Wells who took the lead, a clean Gavin Foster catch at the lineout, ball into midfield and aggressive running by Mark Gregg scoring the first of his three tries. Aaron Cook converted as he did five minutes later when Lewis O’Meara on the left wing had roared over. It was twenty four minutes before Wells conceded a penalty, but then within a couple of minutes, they gave way two more, pulling down the maul after a lineout. On the second occasion the referee awarded a penalty try to Winscombe, earning them their only points of the game. Still back came Wells and this time it was Martyn Hibberd on the right wing who was put clear, Aaron Cook again converted to give Wells a formidable twenty one points to seven lead at the half time whistle.
It was ten minutes into the second half before Wells increased their lead, an Aaron Cook penalty, but then the tries flowed. Mark Gregg again, prop Wayne Stiling rampaged over, replacement wing Anthony Dykes finished of a sweeping move which started midfield, moved to the left, then right back over to the right wing for the touchdown. Finally, Mark Gregg finished what he had started, with try number three. Aaron Cook added two conversions.
This was the third meeting of these teams this season, each having won one, so why were Wells so dominant this time? Better tactics, first half, play with ball in hand and if you have to kick, keep it low and do not be ambitious. In the second half Wells again kicked very little, but when they did it was punishing, fifty, sixty yards up field went the ball, back trudged weary Winscombe forwards. Their backs also stood very deep at the set piece. Before they had got anyway near the gain line the Wells defenders were amongst them causing havoc and forcing the kick that went nowhere. For Wells, a bit more weight in the set scrum would make them extremely formidable, for despite the great efforts put in, Wells still went backwards on a number of occasions on their own put in. On the plus side they get a about pitch very quickly and for fitness, outlasted their opponents by a long, long way.
Man of the match. A dozen people asked, a dozen different answers, this was a team effort, everybody plus subs played their part but if one person deserves a mention, surely once again, the smallest man on the pitch, scrum half Jake Knight is that man. Another superb all round performance, probing, darting, tackling, even a couple of deft chips over the top, he keeps the opposition guessing.
The final against Avon, is due to be played on Saturday 5 April, probably at the Chew Valley ground with a three o,clock kick off. This Saturday at 2.30, Wells play their penultimate home league match against struggling Gordano, whilst the second and third teams both have visits to the seaside, to Minehead and Burnham-on-Sea respectively.
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