Union come so close! Taking the lead in the final quarter...

Match Summary: Brad Pearce

Prior to the game there was a one minute’s clap in honour of Jack Jefferey who tragically lost his life playing for Evesham RFC last weekend. Union also temporarily retired the number 11 shirt for the game as a tribute.

In the tail of storm Eunice conditions were more suited to ducks than Rugby, with both teams finding it heavy going, it was well into the second quarter before either team could break the deadlock.

It was the visitors who drew first blood however, a powerful play off the back of a scrum resulting in a score under the posts, despite this the conversion was missed to take a 0-5 lead.

Wisbech followed this up shortly after with second try following sustained pressure and some great movement in the Union 22 and despite some great defence in particular from joint man of the match Jon Spicker. The conversion sailed wide resulting in a 0-10 score with half time approaching.

Union rallied and got within 5m of the Wisbech line with the half time whistle beckoning, but were unable to convert this pressure into points, so went in 0-10 behind despite their efforts.

Early in the second half, Union outside centre Ryan Day spotted the opportunity to intercept a loose pass as Wisbech appeared to tire, scoring under the posts, Alex Sinclair adding the extras to narrow the score to 7-10.

Union scored a second try, this time from Johnny Short a last minute replacement for Joe Morrell, who was the beneficiary of a driven maul setup by a Union lineout, Sinclair again adding the extras to take Union into a 14-10 lead.

With 15 minutes of play left on the clock, Union were dealt a devastating blow as a clearance kick by Luke Hill was charged down and caught, the Wisbech player running through to score under the posts, a successful conversion taking the score to 14-17.

A further unconverted try in the closing stages of the game by Wisbech took the score to 14-22 and in the process denying Union a losing bonus point, which would have been some reward for their efforts in a game they could have so easily won.

Next week is a rest week for the 1st XV, with only the Firebirds in action, who take on Swaffham at home.

Team: Martyn Webb, Ben Bond-Webster, Simon Pitcher, Lewi White (C), Jon Spicker, Matt McLaughlin, Jordan Read, Craig Dunbar, Ben Girling, Luke Hill, Graham Hunt, Nick Trataris, Ryan Day, Tristan Smith, Alex Sinclair

Replacements: Lloyd Davis, Johnny Short

Scorers: Ryan Day 1T, Johnny Short 1T, Alex Sinclair 2C

Whalebone Men of the match: Martyn Webb, John Spicker