26th March 2022
Half-time Score: 7-10
Star Man: Ryan Carlson (Wharfedale 6)
Attendance: 300
This match was tight. Wharfedale regained the lead on 71 minutes, only for Chester to grab it back in injury time. The visitors largely dominated possession and territory, but could not make it count.
Wharfedale arrived intending to move the ball quickly into wide channels. In the first half they were consistently able to find space down the Chester right. However, their first try came after a chapter of errors. Two poor passes, a hack on and a bounce off a post, interspersed with a fine Ryan Carlson break, allowed Jack Blakeney-Edwards to score.
For Chester key attacking lineouts went astray until the 37th minute, when an effective lineout drive allowed lock Jimmy Lloyd to score. But the visitors struck back straight away. They created a 4 on 2 and back row Jack Pinder sold a preposterous dummy, galloping 30 metres to score.
Chester were back in front after 47 minutes. A poor kick-chase allowed Chester fullback Gethin Long to make a break from halfway. He slipped the ball for centre Ben Ivory to score. Wharfedale continued to press hard. The Chester scrum was coughing up penalties, but their defence was strong. Wharfedale did look to have secured the points with 2 fine late scrum penalties by Tom Davidson. Well into injury time Chester came back. Backrow Harry Wilkinson spotted no guard behind the Wharfedale ruck and rampaged 30 metres upfield. Chester’s forwards camped on the tryline until scrumhalf Charlie Craven wriggled over for the winning score.
Des Hickie
Pic credit: Claire Huber
Teams
Chester
15. Long
14. Roberts
13. Ivory
12. Scott
11. Gordon
10. Reeve
9. Holloway
1. Furnival
2. Robson
3. Reed
4. Spalding
5. Lloyd
6. Wilkinson (c)
7. Brearey
8. Ford
16. Woods
18. Williams
19. Farrar
20. Baxter
21. Craven
Wharfedale
15. Hamilton
14. Viner
13. Blakeney-Edwards
12. Moore
11. Bullock
10. Davidson
9. Kaup-Samuels
1. Altham, J.
2. Patchett
3. Beesley
4. Dickinson
5. Stockton
6. Carlson
7. Pinder
8. Hedgley
16. Altham, G.
17. Hunting
18. Green
19. Verity
20. Lawn
Referee
Mr. Connor
Timeline of Scores and Scorers
13 mins. Wharfedale try, Blakeney-Edwards 0-5
37 mins. Chester try, Lloyd, converted Reeve 7-5
39 mins. Wharfedale try, Pinder, 7-10
47 mins. Chester try, Ivory, 12-10
71 mins. Wharfedale penalty, Davidson, 12-13
78 mins. Wharfedale penalty, Davidson, 12-16
81 mins. Chester try, Craven, 17-16