The Pythons travelled down to South Yorkshire to play Wath Upon Dearne RUFC on a very heavy pitch. The away side started well with some well executed phase play using their pack to move play towards the Wath line. A penalty gives the home side the opportunity to clear their lines and set up a controlled maul 10m from The Pythons line. A well executed peel from the tail results in a score, 7-0 on 10 minutes. The home side add another score, 12 – 0, before Natsuki Barclay gathers a kick ahead and feeds Ben Pryor who stepped the defence in mid field. He kicks ahead for Ollie Macnab and Max Sharp to chase. The home side knock on defending their line and The Pythons gain a 5m scrum. Secure ball and Jack Thompson-Hall and Hugh Tatlow lead drives for the line only to be stopped inches short. The referee plays penalty advantage and Barclay move the ball to Macnab who kicks the ball to Nick Bell who gathers and touches down only for the referee to turn down the advantage and take play back for the original penalty. Pryor slots a penalty just before half time, 12-3.
The Pythons suffer a major blow shortly into the second half as speedster Saul Adshead is carried off with a hip injury. Luca Oldham replaces him and is quickly into the game being hauled down 10m away from the line. Bailey Bromberg is put into space by Sharp. A perfectly timed hand off gets him around the defence but he’s bought down with supporting Pryor unable to gather the ball to continue the play. Wath clear their lines once again and are quickly back on the offensive. They gain an overlap and score in the corner, 19-3. A knock on by The Pythons in the tackle close to the line is called as deliberate giving Wath a penalty try and The Pythons a yellow card, 26-3. Forced to defend hard another yellow card takes the Pythons down to 13 players. Wath capitalise and drive over the line, 33-3 full time.
After the game Coach Toy Mackay said, “ Unfortunately in very heavy conditions Wath adapted to their pitch much better than Pythons. The away side were guilty of too many unforced errors and missed kicks to touch. However pythons should take much credit from a never say die approach and putting their bodies on the line. Although the score was close at half time Wath eventually ground out a deserved win.”
With a week off this Saturday The Pythons face Bridlington at home on 1st March, kick off 3pm.
