Sat. 30th November. Dorset and Wilts 1st XV Plate Semi Final Christchurch 14 Westbury 36.
Westbury travelled to Christchurch with a much depleted side, through various reasons, injury, working etc.
14 players in the squad were unavailable, so the team had to dig deep to raise a team and replacements for the game. In fact several old players helped out and made a start for the first time this season, also players had to play out of their regular positions.
The match started well for the visitors when after just 3 minutes prop forward, Michael Tuck, crossed the line after a superb mix of forwards and backs linking to carry the ball deep into Christchurch territory. Aaron Vaughan added the conversion.
On 25 minutes Vaughan himself scored after Westbury won a scrum against the head, carried the ball into the home side’s 22 and set up a ruck, the ball was then passed to Vaughan who ghosted through the defenders to score. He then converted his own try.
Westbury were then guilty of resting on their laurels and eased the intensity on the opposition. They allowed them to score a soft try from a scrum after which a couple of missed tackles would let them in. The conversion was successful. That was on the half hour.
A few sharp words from skipper, Vaughan, soon concentrated Westbury minds and the team worked well in driving up into the opposition’s 22 where they were awarded a series of penalties. Sensing that the Westbury pack were gaining the upper hand, they chose to go a for scrum and after a couple of resets, drove the Christchurch forwards back over their own try line for number 8, Will Dennett, to touch down. Vaughan once more added the conversion. Westbury were leading 21 – 7 at half time.
It was not long into the second half when Aaron Vaughan added to the scoreline with a well taken penalty after a Christchurch player was penalised for a high tackle. After 5 minutes more play, replacement Mark Catley-Day, home from university, carried the ball into the Christchurch 22 where he was tackled but set the ball back to set up a ruck. The ball was passed down the line of backs and fell into the hands of Michael Tuck, once more grazing out wide. The prop needed no invitation to score his second try, which Vaughan converted.
Christchurch then replied with a solid effort by the left wing, which was possibly the best try of the match. He gathered the ball on his own 22 and got around the Westbury cover and with a burst of speed, scored under the posts for an individual try, which was converted.
The final try of the game was scored by Westbury’s left wing, Tom Bate, who received the ball after the right wing, Pete Cryer, charged up field, but was stopped short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled and passed along the backs to Bate, who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. The final whistle went with Westbury winning 36 – 14.
This was a good result from a Westbury side that had to work hard to jell as a team, with a bit of a cobbled together side. Well done to all of the players.
The team would also like to thank their travelling supporters, who had made the hour and half drive to cheer them on. Much appreciated.
