Mosborough give Wibsey big Pat on the back

WIBSEY are a far cry from the team who only won four league matches out of 36 in seasons 2009-10 and 2010-11 and shipped 100 points at Nestle Rowntree.

Thanks to the efforts of Steve Brooke, Rob Greenwood, Andy Rose and Andy McDonnell, Wibsey are now in the driving seat for promotion – whether that be one or two places.

Mosborough held their hands up after losing the top-of-the-table clash at Northfield Road between clubs who were played four, won four going into the clash.

"We didn't turn up", admitted the visitors' player-coach David Pattimore, "and Wibsey wanted it more, were more aggressive and were the better team.

"They were also the best team that we have played this season but we were also caught out by playing such good opposition in our first away match of the season as our four previous games have been at home against easier opponents, apart from Sheffield Oaks, who gave us a good game."

After finishing third last season with six victories and a draw, Wibsey have almost matched last season's efforts with five straight wins.

But skipper James Brown isn't listening to those at Mosborough who are saying that the title is now Wibsey's to lose.

After all, they still have to face the south Yorkshire side away on December 10, and 24-year-old Brown said: "Although promotion was the aim from the start of the season for what is a squad, rather than a team, we are very much taking it a game at a time."

Watched by Wibsey's biggest crowd for a decade, which included former player Damien Cope – last week's star of ITV's The Chase – the hosts were conscious of staying on the right side of referee Nicholas Leadbeater, who controlled the potential flashpoints well, and the home side had the first three pots at goal.

Full back Bradley Wright slotted the first kick as easy as you like in the 12th minute from the right-hand side of the pitch between the 22 and the ten-metre line.

He also struck the ball well in the 15th and 19th minutes but the prodigious goal-kicker was frustrated at hooking the ball wide both times.

With centre Chris Clough, fly half Bryn Worsley and Brown always threatening to make ground, Wibsey thought they had the first try in the 26th minute, only for the referee to controversially rule that prop Danny Carr was held up over the line.

However, the reprieve for Mosborough was brief as Clough used his footwork and strength to dance his way over two minutes later, with Wright's easy conversion making it 10-0.

The visitors, who were missing their Armed Forces quartet, got on the scoreboard themselves in first-half stoppage time.

Fly half Jake Eyre's break put Mosborough into the red zone, and they shipped the ball left via good hands to give left winger Dale Addey the chance to go over.

Jon Nall gave Wibsey early impetus in the second half, and they settled matters with tries by industrious fellow flanker Chris Farley and Brown in the 47th and 57th minutes, with Clough being prominent in both attacks.

Mosborough, who were relegated last season after being decimated by injuries, responded with a pushover try by replacement Lee Bishop in the 72nd minute, Addey converting to raise their hopes for a losing bonus point, but instead it was Wibsey who bagged the extra point.

Their fourth try came via replacement Isaac Khan (supporters close at hand reckoned that he dropped the ball) after hooker Mark Darragh had laid the platform in the 77th minute, Wright nailing the conversion.

And there was almost a fifth try right on time, but Brown knocked on near the line.

The latter added: "We played well and stuck to our game plan well of attacking around the rucks and moving the ball out to our backs.

"We blew one or two chances in the first half but weren't thinking about the bonus point in the second half, merely the win, and each win takes us nearer to our aim for the season."

While Wibsey have next Saturday off, Mosborough are having a training game.

"We will be working on everything," added Pattimore tellingly.