South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 24 October 1959

Wathonians Advance in Yorkshire Cup

Old Wathonians 22  Ripon 5

The rain that had been falling for an hour or two before the Yorkshire Rugby Cup game at Wath between Old Wathonians and Ripon made the ball slippery without softening the ground. Consequently the play was often tedious, if not dull.

The Ripon backs were strong runners and often looked dangerous, but owing to the stoutness of the Wath defence, Ripon failed to score till near the end of the game, by which time their opponents had obtained a substantial lead.

Early in the game White kicked a penalty goal, and afterwards he converted his own try. Later the Wathonians heeled inside the Ripon 25, and G. Wood scored near the S.W. corner flag. Just before half-time M.Wood, dribbling halfway up the field threw himself across the line and then converted his own try.

In the second half Old Wathonians were playing downhill, but the scrum evidently felt the loss of Shepherd who went off injured just before half time. There followed much aimless kicking about, but M. Wood kicked a penalty and G Wood dived across the line near the N E. corner eat.

The best movement of the game was lightning Rash by one of the O.W. backs, who shot like an, arrow through the Ripon defence, only to fumble the touch down. Within a few Minutes of time Ripon made a final effort, and their, scrum pushed the O. W.’s over their own line. The latter heeled, but a Ripon player was the first to drop on the ball and scored their first, try which was converted. It came too late to affect the result.

Details: Old Wathontans 22, (4 tries (White, G. Wood. M. Wood, G. Wood). 2 goals (White. M. Wood). 2 penalty goals (White. M. Wood)): Ripon 5 (1 try, Converted).