Saltash 18 Wath Upon Dearne 22

Saltash were edged out in the RFU Senior Vase Final in a pulsating game at Twickenham which was short on outstanding free-flowing rugby, but a compelling spectacle nevertheless, writes Gareth Davies.

In blisteringly hot conditions, the match ebbed and flowed one way then the other with the Ashes’ inability to profit from two Wath players being sin-binned and the fact the Cornish outfit missed a number of penalties and conversions also proving costly.

Inside the opening two minutes, Wath Upon Dearne took the lead when fly-half Jack Whitlam slotted over a routine penalty conversion from bang in front.

But Saltash hit back almost immediately when prolific winger Will Morton crossed in the corner to register his 33rd try of a remarkable season and despite the conversion being missed by Harrison Reburn, the Ashes were up and running.

Reburn then spurned the opportunity to increase Saltash’s lead at the mid-way point of the opening half when his penalty attempt from long-range sailed just past the posts, but it was a case of third time lucky for Reburn after 24 minutes when he found the mark and Saltash were 8-3 to the good.

The lead was nothing more than the Ashes deserved as they dominated with ball in hand and in terms of territory too with their Yorkshire opponents cause not helped by the sin-binning of scrum-half Joseph Bartlett just before half-time.

Losing a man for a 10-minute sabbatical didn’t have a detrimental effect on Wath, however, as they levelled the scores in fortunate circumstances on 37 minutes.

A hopeful high bomb by Jack Whitlam was fumbled by Saltash full-back Ryan Cruickshank and after the ball was successfully recycled wide, Stephen Mason touched down for Wath.

Whitlam failed to add the extra’s, but remarkably, Wath continued on the front foot and nearly took the lead when winger Sam Holt was denied by Morton with the line beckoning.

That let-off was only temporary for Saltash as in the half’s dying embers, replacement prop Richard Hill burrowed over from close range for Wath and after Whitlam slotted over a routine conversion, the Yorkshiremen lead 15-8 at the half-way point.

Salatsh started the second-half determined to exploit the last few minutes of Bartlett’s yellow card and both Morton and fellow winger James Moriarty were both denied.

With Wath visibly tiring due to the searing heat, Saltash were looking potent in attack and seemed able to find space at will for their free-running backs.

Ten minutes into the second-half and after a break from Ashes scrum-half Olly Mulberry saw him come up just short of the try-line although Lewis Wells was on hand to touchdown and the deficit was cut to just two points as Reburn failed to add the extras.

But in keeping with the nature of the game, Wath regrouped and after finding themselves camped in Saltash territory, they were awarded a penalty-try after the Ashes deliberately collapsed a scrum close to their own line on 61 minutes.

Saltash then failed to cut the deficit when their kicking woes continued as replacement Keiron Down failed to convert a very straightforward looking penalty.

It was then Saltash’s turn to wilt due to conditions as Wath’s big pack found an extra gear and the Ashes were lucky not to concede a second penalty try.

With time running out, Saltash threw caution to the wind and after Wath’s Luke Stead was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, Saltash thought they had grabbed a lifeline, but referee Thomas Davis chalked off the try for a double movement.

With less than 90 seconds of regulation time remaining, Ryan Cruickhanks broke free and finally gave Saltash a glimmer of hope but Wath clung on to claim a narrow victory.