Aireborough 44

Wibsey 0

IN wretched weather conditions at Nunroyd Park, Aireborough put in a disciplined performance against lowly opposition to win this Thwaites Yorkshire Division Four game.

Attempting to play an expansive game throughout, despite the conditions, was greatly appreciated by their brave supporters who were present in surprising numbers.

With total domination of scrums and line-outs, where Martin Hemsley showed great dexterity, the result was never in doubt.

The pounding prop partnership of Tim Baxter and Chris Dine made the hard yards and Aireborough opened the scoring when hooker Richard Leather drove ove on the blind side.

Paul Mackie's conversion kick into the teeth of the wind never looked like getting there.

Aireborough broke in the centre and James Kinghorn made the incision before shifting a well-timed pass out to winger James Williams who went over.

Scrum-half Stuart Williams' conversion was sliced but it did not take Aireborough long to add to their score.

Wibsey were outnumbered on their left and full-back Mike Nield entered the line and sped 35 metres to the line. Williams struck the conversion beautifully but it hit the far upright an d bounced out.

Wibsey failed with a 29th minute penalty attempt from fly-half Rob Greenwood when skipper Graham Rackstraw held the ball with his fingertips to prevent it falling over in the wind but then appeared to let go too early and Greenwood's kick slewed across the field.

Aireborough established a healthy half-time lead when stand-off Dave Moyes used his strength to force his way over for centre Paul Mackie to convert and make it 22-0.

As the weather deteriorated after the interval Aireborough had to keep their strategy simple and flanker John Rhodes extended their lead with a 50-metre race to the line for scrum- half Stuart Williams to convert.

Prop substitute Steve Jones, making his first senior team appearance of the season, maintained Aireborough's forward supremacy which freed James Williams to score his second try in the corner.

Aireborough had the raw speed of substitute winger Lee Scatchard to thank for their final two tries.

The first came in the 70th minute when fellow replacement Gwyn Jones missed with the conversion attempt.

Scatcherd was over again four minutes later after a left to right attack.

Aireborough.- Nield (Scatcherd); Martucci, Kinghgorn(Jones), Mackie, J Williams; Moyes, S Williams; Baxter (Jones), Leather, Dine, Fall, P Exley, Rhodes, Hemsley, Moorhouse.

Wibsey.- Calvert; N Carter, Jones, Pickering, Kershaw; Greenwood, Brophy (S Rose); Brear, McDonnell, Rackstraw, Vallery, Case (D Ryan), Swaine, A Rose, M Carter.

Referee - John Davies (Yorlshire Society).

l Aireborough have now won all their home league games this season but the real test will come on Saturday when they entertain league leaders and local rivals Old Modernians with the prospect of a highly competitive game.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.