Wilmslow 13
Whitchurch 13
LOWLY Wilmslow secured a single point against high-flying North Two West club Whitchurch, but deep down they won so much more.
The Wolves did not just stem the tide of successive league defeats, they could easily have toppled the Shropshire lads at Pownall Park.
A try by Wilmslow's junior international Chris Davies gave the Wolves a deserved first-half lead, but a huge touchline conversion and two crucial penalties from fly-half Bob MacCallum on his return from injury secured the draw.
For 15 minutes before half-time, the Wolves played their best rugby of the season so far and were unlucky not to take a bigger lead than 10-3 into the break after playing into the teeth of a gale.
Despite struggling in the scrum, they bossed the lineout and loose play, and for the first time in a long time, the back line was on song in attack, penetrating a leaky Whitchurch defence and gaining hard yards for their forwards.
Up front, they welcomed back Argentine prop Roberto Laschevoski, who stepped in for unavailable vice-captain Andy Vassell. Alex McLennan was back to his best in the lineout and loose, and Jamie Fletcher had a powerful 65 minutes.
The back row trio of Davies, Chris Jones and Charlie Levings frustrated Whitchurch, securing loose ball and supporting their backs.
Alongside MacCallum, centres Steve Braddock and Ross Hunter tackled hard and ran penetrating lines to keep the Wolves on the front foot.
Wilmslow's only mistake - and it was a big one - was not to capitalise more on the howling gale at their backs in the second half.
- WILMSLOW host Anselmians at Pownall Park this weekend in the quarter-finals of the Cheshire Vase county knockout competition, kick-off 2.30pm.
