2nd placed Wetherby visited The Jim Saynor ground for their first 1st team fixture for several years. The first 20 minutes was scoreless with both sides pressurising each others line. The Pythons kept the away team out with some determined tackling in mid field whilst Wetherby took advantage of unforced Pythons’ penalties at the breakdown. Wetherby opened their account with a well struck kick for goal 40m out and followed up with a try following a line out loss from The Pythons. Will Clough slotted a penalty but Wetherby were quick to take advantage of the slightest openings offered and scored twice again, 3- 24 half time.
The Pythons began the second half with some promising play. Clough, ever alert, made a huge break down the blind side, bundled into touch 10m out. Marcus Fotherby stole the line out but a penalty in the resulting maul gives Wetherby the opportunity to clear. Pressure once again inside the away team’s 22 and Harry Parrish is held up 10m out. Once again a penalty relives the pressure. Several phases later Wetherby are camped on The Pythons line and their influential full back steps two defenders to score under the posts, 3-31.
George Booth and evergreen Matt Leach led the charge back from The Pythons. Saul Adshead was agonisingly close following a clever kick through from Jed Carr. Hugh Tatlow makes a 40m break from his own half, feeds Max Sharp who places a perfectly weighted kick ahead. This time Adshead outpaces the defence to touch down in the corner, 8-31. The Pythons were unable to convert two chances but Wetherby punced on their opportunities to score 2 more tries, final score 8-45.
After the game Coach Dan Bird said, ”It’s obvious why Wetherby are in 2nd place. They were so quick to capitalise on our smallest mistakes and make scoring chances from them. This is something we need to learn from, which we will”. The Whittaker’s Gin Man of the Match was awarded to Herbie Milton by Charles Paines
This Saturday The Pythons are at home against 9th placed Hullensians, kick off 2.15pm.
