Feb 19 - Wellingborough (H)

W 12-14  Report Attached

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Wymondham travelled to unbeaten Wellingborough for this top of the table clash.
Wellingborough dominated the early exchanges with a powerful set piece display,
strong running and their possession advantage was obvious as a result. Powerful
Wellingborough runs were repelled time and again by a strong defence. A quickly
taken penalty awarded to the home side five metres from Wymondhams line allowed
the ball to be passed to the centre who crashed through under the posts despite the
attention of two Wymondham players. Conversion missed.

After rallying calls from Wymondham captain Taylor, the team fronted up with
renewed vigour and determination and although the set piece still proved difficult our
own ball began to come back. After some good quick ball the backs were unleashed
and a break was on from Crowther with Eldridge and Perry in close support. The ball
being passed both in and out saw the covering defence perplexed as to who to tackle
next, however a forward pass thwarted what looked to be an inevitable try. Play
continued with Wymondham dogged in defence, occasionally breaking out with pace
and precision passing. Just before the end of the half a last pass error following good
interplay from Crowther, Perry and Eldridge spurned what should have been a well
earned try. With two minutes of the half to go and Wymondham five metres from the
home sides line an injury halted play, the Wellingborough fullback suffering a serious
lower leg injury. At the resumption of play Wymondham applied the pressure and
won a penalty but still could not breach the Wellingborough defence. Half time score
5 – 0 in favour of Wellingborough.

Having repelled what looked to be an irresistible force and built some good play in
the first half Wymondham entered the second half with increased confidence and
indomitability. The ball was won and recycled and eventually the Wellingborough
defence narrowed, opening the space for the fleet footed Crowther to score under the
posts. Conversion scored by Kaciubskyj. Wymondham had the lead for the first time
in the game.

The lead was only held for five minutes as the Wellingborough forwards won good
ball which was shipped to the 10 who executed a scissor perfectly with the inside
centre who evaded the wrong footed would be tacklers to score under the posts.
Conversion scored and the lead again in the hands of the home side.

Play continued to ebb and flow with Wellingborough’s strong runners being tackled
time and again. Quick reactions from Dyche, Taylor, Pigg and Kaciubskyj won
turnover ball time and again and the pace and skill of the Wymondham backs
made ground repeatedly. Despite incisive running from Crook and Sweetman,
Wymondham could not cross the line until an inside ball to Walsh whose power and
pace created an opportunity only to be denied by a cover tackle preventing the ball
being grounded.

Eventually Wymondham got the ball to Crowther who found the space to run around
a narrow defence and had just enough pace, running up the hill, to score under
the posts once more to tie the game with a conversion to follow. Tense moments
followed as Kaciubskyj lined up for the kick. Despite a committed charge from the
home side the kick found its target and bisected the uprights - Wymondham had taken

the lead with 4 minutes to go.

The last four minutes epitomised the Wymondham attitude and commitment on the
day. Resolute defence, support running and absolute belief carried Wymondham
across the line two points ahead of the previously unbeaten Wellingborough team.

Squad: Lockwood, Hanser, Bendall, Spruce, Lewin, Kibblewhite, Pigg, Elliott,
Dyche, Taylor, Walsh, Gomez, Kaciubskyj, Eldridge, Crowther, Perry, Sweetman,
Crook.