Wisbech Rugby Club reintroduces no14 shirt in memory of Arturas

Wisbech ended the year with another league loss at home against a strong travelling Bury St Edmunds 2nd XV.

The match was marked by the reintroduction of the no14 shirt before kick-off. The shirt has the distinctive wording “Remembering Arturas" above the number.

Arturas's partner Jolita Kiseliovaitė presented the shirt baring his name to the team, while identical no14 shirts were also donated to Jolita and her and Arturas's three-year-old son Emilijus.

Wisbech struggled from the off with the well-drilled Bury team moving the ball well resulting in four first half tries scored out wide.

Similarly to previous weeks, Wisbech were tentative from the start of the second half and Bury ran in several tries as they ran out convincing 49-12 winners.

The second half saw The Men in Red play with more belief in attack and pierced the Bury defence on several occasions but did not have the patience or composure to convert this pressure into points.

Captain Jack Malkin said: "The frustration is that we have it within us but it’s just believing we can go and upset teams like this that’s the stumbling block at the minute, but it will come."

Wisbech man-of-the-match was young Ari Baghdouyan whose defence and tireless work rate was simply outstanding.

Wisbech are back in action on January 6 when they travel to Shelford as they continue their difficult league 2023/24 campaign.