Well, we’ve only gone and bloody done it! With Wharfedale's name on the trophy 8 times, then next highest featuring been Covid, there’s gonna be a new name on the trophy.
Wharfedale actually made the better and got into a 7-0 lead. It was clear their threat was going to come from moving the ball quickly and wide. In completely opposite fashion, Sandals response was brutally ugly with the forwards going to eat. Not a single pass was made and from about 25 out the forwards took a maul all the way with Ibs been the scorer.
The backs did have their say however with Barlow crossing twice off the back of a lovely offload from Caelum and a break from Cherry before the ball been moved out Barlow. With Vickers doing the honours with the conversations the score was now 19-7.
The final 20 minutes were beautifully hectic and followed a similar pattern to Driffield. A yellow card towards the end of the game, a few mistakes and ill discipline crept in, and after a Wharfedale penalty and a well worked try in the corner the score was now 19-17. A Vickers penalty gave sandal some rest bite but it was still a one score game.
Again, like Driffield, Handley was monumental defensively and made crucial tackles to shut them down. The other man who like Driffield, just gets it done in big moments was rich Travis-Carr. The last minute or 2 was Wharfedale pushing on Sandals line. A line out maul was set up 5 meters out. Cometh the hour, Cometh the man, RTC gets through maul, hands on the ball and turns it over.
The last play was now a sandal scrum 5 meters from our line. Wilson feeds, the forwards do the rest, and Wilson kicks it out to crown Sandal as the best 2nd team in Yorkshire and North East of England.
This achievement cannot be downplayed and testament to the work that everyone has done over the past 10 or so years. Starting with Steve Coopey, Pete Stephenson and Brian Kettel driving the 2nd team back into existence. Previous captains in Brennan, Hodson, Knowles and now Hulme. Messers Morley and now Hoyland pulling together all the admin that makes the team exist. The 68 players that have donned the 2nd team shirt this season. What a journey and what a year it’s been!
Knowles has referenced a post match speech away at York talking about this been a special 2nd team season. It’s turned out exactly that!
Up the Bloody Dal!
Sandal 22 Wharfedale 17
Mom J Handley
Many thanks JRD