SATURDAY LEAGUE: Horrific injury brings top-flight clash to a halt

The Division One clash between Whitby RUFC and Westover Wasps had to be abandoned after just three minutes due to a nasty injury to Wasps man Harry Pollard.

Pollard suffered a broken leg after a 50-50 challenge with Whitby’s Harry Smith and had to be air-lifted to hospital.

Wasps boss Jamie Heritage said: “Their player was distraught afterwards so there was no malice in the challenge, they both went for the ball.

“Nine times out of 10 no injury would’ve happened.”

Whitby gaffer Steve Mothersdale echoed Heritage’s words. He said: “Harry (Smith) is devastated. He went for the ball and there was no nastiness in the tackle whatsoever.”

The scoreline was goalless when the injury occured and the game was abandoned.

There was another serious injury in the Division Two clash between Snainton and Duchess, which the latter won 4-1.

Snainton took the lead through Shane Macauley’s stunning 40-yard lob and held their lead until just before the half-time whistle.

JP Watson’s superb header brought the scores level as the sides headed in at the break and shortly after the interval a robust challenge and an awkward landing resulted in Regan Hewitt having to go to hospital with a serious ankle injury, which Snainton manager Andy Holt insisted was the turning point in the match.

Duchess took the lead for the first time in the contest when Craig Sherwin showed superb composure from a corner to turn and rifle into the roof of the net.

A rare James Hughes header made it 3-1 to Paul McBean’s side before Watson wrapped up the three points, much to the delight of boss McBean.

He said: “I have to give credit to Snainton, their performance showed they’re in a false position in the league and they worked their socks off.

“Based on the chances created throughout the game, I’d have to say we deserved the win though. We’re having a great season and the lads are confident at the moment.”

Snainton boss Holt disagreed with his counterpart. He added: “It was a very close game and the injury to Regan (Hewitt) really was the turning point in the match.

“It was a terrible challenge and Regan had to go to hospital with a bad ankle injury.

“We deserved a draw from the game, which is very frustrating.”

Holt singled out keeper Hayden Backhouse as his side’s man of the match.

Filey Town Reserves cruised past Commercial in terrible conditions to progress in the Junior Cup.

In torrential and boggy conditions that saw the game stopped for 10 minutes in the first half, Town cruised to a 6-1 victory.

Martyn Jenkinson opened the scoring before Tom Haxby’s 35-yard thunderbolt doubled their lead.

Just before the break a howler from keeper Johnny Hunter gave Commercial hope of a way back into the game.

Their hopes were quickly ended though as Nick Ellis fired in from the spot to make it 3-1 before Joe Gage made it 4-1.

Ellis’ second made it 5-1 before Gage completed his brace to wrap up the scoring.

Town player-boss Lee Cappleman didn’t think the game should’ve gone ahead but is glad to get the fixture done and dusted and make progression in the competition.

He said: “Conditions were terrible and I thought the ref was going to call it off when we came off.

“But having said that, we played some alright stuff and got the win. The game is out of the way and we can move onto the next round.

“Credit to Commercial, they kept going, although we missed a lot of chances and if it had been a nice day, we probably would’ve drummed them.”

Cappleman singled out right-midfielder David Tonks as his side’s man of the match.

Sherburn beat Filey Town Thirds 3-0 in the Frank White Trophy.

Man of the match Paul Mills, Liam Scott and Gary Tyson grabbed the goals that saw Andy Adamson’s side into the next round of the competition.

The overnight downpours and snow showers resulted in the rest of the Saturday League schedule being postponed.