Bees cannot get their season off the ground, despite improving second. half performance

Can there be a more picturesque setting for a Rugby Ground than Wensleydale's Cawkhill Park? Against this sumptuous backdrop and under a baking September sun, the newly promoted Wensleydale side gave their spectators a glorious opening half to their first game ever at this level of the English Rugby Union pyramid and the visiting Bees had no answer to the onslaught at least in the first forty minutes. After halftime, things improved for the visitors, but the home side's 38 points to seven lead was always too much for Carl Paterson's men. Leading the charge in the opening exchanges was Wensleydale's number 7, Toby Newton, who bagged an early hat trick with tries after 2, 5 and 23 minutes. All three of his scores came after the home pack had set up a decent field position and were able to release the ball into space where the on rushing Newton galloped home untouched by a Bees defender.

It seemed that it might not be all one way traffic though as the Bees began to make some inroads on their own and on 12 minutes, Connor Capper was able to accelerate past the final defender to dot down to the left of the posts. With Will Marshall slotting the extras, it seemed the Bees would be competing with their hosts. The Bees lost James Exley to a head injury in the opening quarter and the home pack just seemed to be gaining an edge as their experienced big men at second row and number eight started to make good ground every time they got their hands on the ball. Number 8, Stanwix, Wensleydale's player-coach, ploughed over on 29 minutes to claim the four-try bonus point, again barely impeded by a Bees tackler. Second row man, Harris, was next to score from close range, although, to everyone on the touchline, he seemed to clearly lose possession as he crossed the line, perhaps celebrating the score before safely grounding the ball. However, the referee thought he dropped it backwards, so gave the score, and with the conversion added, Wensleydale was now 33 points to seven in front with 31 minutes on the clock. On 37 minutes the home side completed the scoring for the half with a simple move off a scrum, scoring under the posts.

It took Wensleydale eight minutes to extend their lead as the Bees defence proved to be ineffective in stopping a powerful run straight up the middle, but as the half wore on, the visitors started to get a level of parity and make a game of it. Had the home side taken their foot off the gas or were the Bees finally shaking off the bus journey, remains up for debate, but with James Exley restored, his brother David tackling himself to a stand still and Charlie Layas starting to make some ground in the pack, the Bees appeared to be a different outfit for the final half hour. Wensleydale added another score to make sure they won the second half, but Ben Bottomley's score on 71 minutes was thoroughly deserved after some periods of much better play both in attack and defence from the Bees.