Wisbech Rugby Club lose 40-38 to Cantabrigian in Counties 1 Eastern Counties
The Wisbech 1st XV gained their first points of the season on Saturday – although they did lose two bonus points a thrilling spectacle that ended Cantabrigian 40-38 Wisbech.
The Men in Red showed great heart in defence and in attack to push their hosts all the way after a difficult start to their campaign.
Wisbech were physical from the off, with back rower Lewis Haddon leading the way up front.
However, early tries from the home side put them into an early first half lead, as they choose not to kick but to run everything and attacked at a blistering speed that caught Wisbech off guard.
Wisbech struggled with set pieces in the opening period, but performed well with ball in hand despite lacking some composure in the final third.
They did hit back with two tries of their own before the break, with a snipe by captain and scrum half being the pick of the tries. The sides went in for the break with the score were at 26-12, with Cantabrigian firmly in control.
And they started on the front foot again in the second half, but the Men in Red had other ideas – and started to move the ball through the hands to find space out wide, with Chris Parry scoring twice.
This was followed by Zach Lakey going over in the right hand corner, and these unanswered points took Wisbech into a lead with 15 minutes to play.
The hosts, who never reached the heights of their first half display again, did come back with two more tries after some tired Wisbech defence to regain the lead with ten minutes to go.
Wisbech had chances to win the game, but the Cantabs defence held firm to denied Wisbech their first win of the season.
Full back James Napier was awarded the man of the match award for an outstanding display in defence and attack, but coaches felt it belonged to all of his teammates – especially those battered and bruised from torrid body-slamming arm wrestles.
The Wisbech 1st XV will be at home on Saturday when they welcome Diss to Harecroft Road for Counties 1 Eastern Counties League round five, with kick-off at 3pm.
