Wharfedale Foresters 72

Doncaster Phoenix 10

A SCINTILLATING performance by the Wharfedale Foresters saw them run riot in a 72-10 victory over Doncaster Phoenix.

In a feast of running rugby, the men in green surpassed their 59-point haul against Yarnbury with 12 tries and six conversions.

Doncaster started the stronger with good possession and a series of rucks that Wharfedale defended effectively, causing a knock on and a scrum on the home side’s ten metre line.

A powerful scrum led to a break by Kristian Sharples, well supported by Josh Prell which should have led to a Wharfedale try but a missed last pass went into touch.

The first score went to Max Bell, with the Foresters camped on the Donny half the ball was worked wide well and Max crossed unopposed into the corner. The converted try gave the Foresters a 7-0 lead.

The next score went to the forwards; a superb scrum drove the visitors back 20 metres and a scintillating break down the left wing by Eddie Gill ended with Simon Borrill scoring out wide to make it 12-0.

The forwards were enjoying the better of the loose play and a powerful surge from George Altham provided the impetus for Prell to touch down in the corner. Another excellent kick from Rory McNabb made it 19-0 to Wharfedale after 20 minutes.

The next quarter belonged to Doncaster, as they offloaded impressively in attack and their pacey backs handled well.

Wharfedale defended stoutly but Doncaster’s possession and persistence led to their forwards driving over for a try that was quickly followed by neat interplay between backs and forwards the Doncaster centre crossing the line to cut the lead 19-10.

With the final play of the half, a stunning break from Prell down the right led to perfectly executed cross field kick from McNabb to winger Gill who scored the try, putting Wharfedale 24-10 up at half-time.

Within five minutes of the re-start, scrum half Will Lawn recorded what must be the fastest ever hat-trick of tries; one set up by the forwards, one a fantastic solo effort and one the result of awesome back play. All tries were converted by McNabb to give the Foresters a commanding 45-10 lead.

Doncaster never recovered from the Lawn onslaught and the rest of the half was dominated by Wharfedale; the backs ran riot, with Sharples, Prell, Ralph Wellock, Gill and Ben Blackwell, from the bench, all displaying pace and skill.

Wharfedale’s bench was once again fully utilised and showed just how much depth there is in this squad.

Gill completed his hat-trick, Lawn scored another to edge Eddie out on tries, Prell bagged a brace and Sharples topped his outstanding performance with a try. McNabb converted six times and grew in stature as a game controlling fly half.