Final Score: Wensleydale U13 (10) v Thirsk U13 (19)

AFTER a very heavy defeat away to Thirsk earlier in the season, Wensleydale boys showed how far they have progressed when they proved a match against a very good Thirsk team last weekend.

With Dales playing up the hill in the first half, they started the stronger, winning quick ball in the forwards and scrums against the head.

However, Thirsk took the lead when they saw the overlap on the blindside to sneak over for anearly try andtake a 7-0 lead.

Dales continued to dominate possesion with fantastic work by all the forwards securing good ball for scrum half Joe Cotton to distribute clean ball to the backs. This dominance was rewarded when they witnessed a stunning try. The ball was passed with fast clean hands all the way through the back line to Bedale High school pupils Luke Marshall who put Lander Latta into score in the corner after a great dummy swich move by Ally Civil and Luke Marshall, making the score 7-5 to Thirsk. But despite pressure being applied by Wensleydale, Thirsk increased their lead at half-time to 14 - 5.

With the hill and wind at their backs, Dales started the second half with great determination and fight but were kept on their toes by the big speedy backs from Thirsk who continued to be a threat, making some good metres into Dales half. This was counteracted however by the superb defence by the forwards winning turnover ball and securing the ruck areas. This enabled JoeCotton to continue to get the ball to Luke Marshall who kicked Thirsk straight back into their 22 and keptthe pressure on their defence.

Thirsk struggled to cope with the Dales forwards’ power and especially at the lineoutin which Dale dominated throughout the match.

Great communication by Joe Cotton and Luke Marshall at a 20m scrum resulted ina blindside run by Luke Marshall before popping the ball to Ally Civil to score in the corner and make to score 14-10 to Thirsk.

Dales lost Charlie Hardy to a hamstring injury after a bonecrunching tackle which saved a certain Thirsk try but the boys’ workrate and discipline kept Thirsk on the back foot until another blindside breakaway by Thirsk secured the victory.