SSE Yorkshire Division Five

Wibsey 10

Hessle 33

NOT even the fog that made the players become mere shadows on the far side of the Northfield Road pitch could obscure a wholehearted display by Wibsey in this bottom v top clash.

Many home fans must have turned up fearing the worst as the east Yorkshire club had scored 50, 52 and an incredible 141 points in their past three league outings, and Wibsey had only won one of their five matches.

However, they only trailed 19-10 at half-time and could have added another try in the second half had their line-out throwing been more accurate and their discipline better.

"We ran out of puff in the last 20 minutes and were blowing out of our backsides but all in all it was a pleasing performance," said Wibsey's team manager Steve Brooke.

"Winger Bruce Mpofu and flanker Alex Stephens were outstanding for us and if we can just get a couple of wins on the trot we will be in a much better position as no-one wants to play for a losing team.

"Also we hope to sign on one or two of the lads from Wibsey Warriors rugby league team, who now only have one team in the winter as one of their sides have switched to summer rugby league."

The effort gave the hosts heart ahead of their coach trip to Thirsk next Saturday, the north Yorkshire club being on the wrong end of that 141-5 reverse at Hessle on October 11.

Mpofu, who went off with an ankle injury in the 70th minute, was at the centre of Wibsey's fine start, being obstructed after he kicked ahead in the first minute, scrum half Elliott Gray landing the conversion from just inside the ten-metre line.

However, Hessle are averaging 66 points a game and they blew several opportunities before taking the lead in the 14th minute, being held up over the line following a catch-and-drive, being penalised from the same ploy and then knocking on and being pulled up by referee Warren Rimmer for a forward pass.

Centre Ben Parker, flanker Tom Nash and scrum half Joshua Moore got the visitors' first-half tries, fly half Lee Rollinson converting two, before Wibsey got the best try of the match, heavily-bearded fly half Bryn Worsley disappearing into the murk after making a break, and Gray being on his shoulder to score and convert.

The second half was difficult for Rimmer to control as it became more fractious but Hessle sealed their bonus point with No 8 David Leeman's try in the 45th minute, the same player getting on the end of a pushover in the 73rd minute for their fifth try, Rollinson converting both.

Wibsey deserved a second try, with Hessle's player-coach Gary Pearce conceding: "They played well in patches", but a lack of discipline cost the home side in the end, Rimmer blowing for full time after the match finished in a free for all following Hessle being penalised for a high tackle.