Counties 2 Tribute. Dorset & Wilts Central
Saturday 5th April – Westbury 26 – 29 Yeovil
Westbury welcomed Yeovil to Knott Field for the final league fixture of the season, knowing that a tough encounter was likely as Yeovil were sitting at number 2 in the league having lost only three games all season.
For the first 10 minutes or so Westbury were doing well in their attacking play, that was until Yeovil were awarded a scrum, from which the ball was passed out wide for them to score their opening try, which was converted.
Yeovil pulled further ahead with two tries scored as a result of the home side being penalised on two occasions for foul play.
With 10 minutes of the half remaining Yeovil scored once more, after they chased a kick deep into the Westbury 22 metre area and crossed Westbury’s try line to score. Once more the try was not converted. Yeovil then capitalised on Westbury not being able to deal with the restart kick and with a few missed tackles that allowed the visitors to score a converted try.
Half-time and Westbury, trailing 29-0, were looking at a heavy defeat losing.
After a very “interesting” team talk during the break from the coaches, Westbury prepared for the second half restart. To their credit Westbury certainly fought hard and after 18 minutes wing James Leat scored Westbury’s opening try which was not converted. Westbury then managed to double their score after a quick penalty was passed out to prop Michael Tuck, playing his last game as captain, who then charged towards the Yeovil tryline and was able to score a converted try.
Westbury struck again five minutes later when wing James Leat took a quick penalty and beat the defence to touch down. Jordan Chidlow added the extras.
With time running out and Westbury attacking in the Yeovil 22 metres, they were awarded another penalty. Quick thinking Reece Ball took a quick tap kick to himself and charged over Yeovil’s try line. Once again Chidlow added the conversion.
At the final whistle, Yeovil had won 29 – 26. It must be said that Westbury had worked hard in the second half in not only stopping Yeovil adding to their first-half total but pulling the score back to 29 – 26, which was pleasing for the home team but at the same time losing by just three points was also disappointing after the hard work they had put in during the second-half.
The forward of the match was Reece Ball and the back of the match was Jordan Chidlow.
This now completes Westbury’s League Fixtures which sees them lying at sixth place, just one point behind Bradford-on-Avon. Not quite where they would have liked to have finished, but by no means a disaster.
Report: Paul Couzens
Picture: Barbara Swan Photography.
