Wibsey 21

Old Otliensians 7

HEAVY and persistent morning rain rendered Wibsey’s main pitch unplayable for this Yorkshire Three clash, with standing water in parts making conditions unsafe.

Attention shifted to a second team pitch three miles away and the match took place there.

After part-changing in the pub at the main ground, boots and tape were dealt with at the roadside from players’ parked cars, before a reduced warm-up took place on a wet and muddy field which embodied a considerable end-to-end slope.

While the rain had eased considerably, low cloud had descended to cause a heavy mist which in turn quickly became genuine fog.

This stayed for most of the match before rain returned at the end of a long drawn-out 50 minutes-per-half exercise.

Wibsey were five points to the good after only three minutes and added a converted try after 10.

A penalty on 40 minutes gave them a 15-0 half time lead, which they never looked like surrendering.

‘Ensians for their part had seen little of the ball and their tackle count was of necessity considerable and energy sapping.

Wibsey were strong and very physical as one expected and the first half closed with the clock showing that the period had lasted some 50-plus minutes.

Restarting at 3.15pm in visibility which really was down to 50 metres and dropping, ‘Ensians were enjoying a bit more of the game, but were not able to gain much field position.

Following 10 minutes of play, the hosts converted a penalty award, although the score was confirmed by word of mouth rather than a sighting.

Then 18-0 moved to 21-0 on the 40-minute mark, by which time the street lights had come on, but the visitors had shown stamina and fitness in the last quarter, particularly in the set pieces.

Their reward came at the end of another long half by way of a pushover try from Rob Arbuckle.

Will Cooper’s radar system worked as he converted, albeit from near to the now fog-and-darkness-blanketed posts.