After a victorious trip to Sheffield, Wetherby travelled to South Yorkshire for a second consecutive week in a 6th versus 7th battle at Wath-upon-Dearne. Wath had only been beaten at home once this season and were clearly hungry to overtake Wetherby in the table.

Wetherby welcomed Jack Kaye back into the squad, and after Chris Atkinson pulled out at last minute, he made his first start at inside centre. Chris had mysteriously come down with food poisoning after eating some dodgy fish after a night out as he went diving in Coral's reef.

Wetherby started the game strongly and piled early pressure on Wath. James Gibson won a nicely executed line-out and Wetherby drove forward. As the maul splintered the ball was moved out to outside centre Andrew Trotman as he slimed his way through defenders as they slipped off his overly gelled hair. 0-7.

Wath replied strongly and tried to make yards through their power runners. The Wetherby defence was far more organised than it has been recently and seemed to be in complete control as Tom Edwards and George Gilbert lead the line forward from the flanks. As Wetherby worked out the officiating from the referee Wath were the beneficiaries of two penalties within the Wetherby half, and converted both on the postage stamp pitch. 6-7.

The middle of the first half was a close fought affair in the middle of the pitch. Wetherby dominated the set piece, with their line-out a constant source of quick ball. Myles Oates pegged the defence back with some smart kicking, trying to impress his girlie again. Myles' hat-trick earned him a hickey last week on top of his usual cuddlywuddlys.

While Wetherby were solid in defence the only ground Wath were making came off the back of Wetherby mistakes. Wetherby tried to box kick their way out of trouble, but stupidly refused to let Steve Hoather take it. A charge down was snapped up by the Wath back row, and quick ball found Wetherby caught narrow for the only time in the game. 13-7.

With Wetherby safe in the knowledge that they had this game won if they played sharper rugby, they responded quickly. Harry Johnson made yards in attack before the ball was shipped to crash ball centre Jack Kaye. The forward momentum earned Wetherby a penalty fifteen yards out. The penalty was taken quickly and as Wath hadn't retreated ten metres they had a man sent to the sin bin.

With Wetherby a man up in the scrum only five metres out there was only ever going to be one winner. Scottie Wallis dominated from tighthead as the Wath pack splintered and Jonny Day nicked the ball off the number eights feet to force Wetherby back into the lead before half time.

Half-time: Wath-upon-Dearne 13-14 Wetherby.

With Wetherby tails up early in the second half, they looked to push forward early. Mattie Chappel had other ideas however as he wanted to roll around in the mud on his tummy. Despite him looking infectiously happy the referee awarded the penalty and Wath retook the lead. 16-14.

The game was starting to turn into a classic counter puncher's encounter and Wetherby again raised their game. First a sharp break by Jack Kaye down the left hand side came to no avail. He tried his hardest but he still hasn't got a sidestep. This was followed by a lovely line from Tom Edwards who burst through one on one with the full-back only to leave the ball behind before he got there.

Wetherby piled on the pressure on the home side and put Myles Oates in the pocket for a 'cheeky' drop goal. To be clear, drop goals are much like Nando's, pints and gym sessions: they are NOT cheeky. Either way Wetherby regained the lead and swung the pendulum again. 16-17.

At crucial times this season the visitors have been let down by two aspects of their game; cheap penalties and tackling too high. Both of these were evident as a needless penalty for a high tackle by a man with a toupee and a lisp gave the home side the advantage again. See, I didn't name names!! 19-17.

Much of the later stages of the game are somewhat of a blur as I took a knock to the head, which only usually means one thing. However I do remember the Wetherby forwards really growing into the game and forcing a line-out in the Wath 22. They pulled it down illegally and had a second player sent to the bin.

Wetherby opted for the scrum and with Bradley Mason teaming up with Elliott Lloyd Kinsey Griffiths the pressure came on again and Wetherby were rewarded with a penalty try and Wath were sent down to 13 in the process. Billy Cale continued his success off the tee, to keep mine and Elliott's boot at bay for another week. 19-24.

Despite Wetherby pressure, Wath held on admirably and were bolstered when they returned to a full contingent. Wetherby made life hard for themselves in the dying minutes. Gareth Plant nearly took someone's head off in a tackle that would've resulted in the mass murder of us all had we been the other side of Doncaster in Thorne.

Wath pressed and looked to drive over the line but a smart penalty from James Gibson dragged the maul down and forced Wath into overtime with no time for another line-out. He earned a yellow card in the process but it turned out to be the pivotal play as Wath failed to cross the Red and White line.

Full Time: Wath-upon-Dearne 19-24 Wetherby.

A hard-fought game at a tough place to travel, but a victory that should give them confidence as they welcome high-flying Ripon to Grange Park in the last game before Christmas.

MoM: Jonny Day - Pulled the strings brilliantly from scrum-half and capped it off with a meat pie.

DoD: Chris Atkinson - Ordinarily yellow cards are punished but skipping rugby cos you can't handle your beer is a cardinal sin.