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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
Canvey Island III v Writtle Wanderers 1st XV
WON 0 - 34
Scorers:
Tries: Hermann, Rawlinson, Battye, Messo, Galvin, McCreadie
Convs: Battye 2
On the coldest day of the year so
far the Wanderers arrived on the Island for a potentially tough game against the
Canvey 3rd XV. Traffic caused chaos with the planned early arrival and warm up
and also a late airport run from the Visitor's Winger meant that the Tangerines
turned out with only 14 men. The most significant casualty of the day being the
referee who never arrived. The game was ably, and kindly, refereed by one of the
home players who made an excellent stand in at the last minute.
So, with your correspondent developing frostbite in 8 of his toes the game
kicked off in a howling cross field wind that did neither side any justice. The
first half was what can only be described as a torrid test for the visiting
team. With a man short from the kick off and a home team sporting two
substitutes the visiting support of two people feared the worst. It was never to
be though as a series of well worked moves by the Canvey standoff, surely their
most talented back, came to naught as the ball was spilled in the centres on far
too many occasions. Had Canvey managed to work the ball through the line the
Wanderers would surely have struggled against their greater numbers.
It was clear though that the Wanderers were up for the battle despite their
stuttered preparations. A fiery Hermann attracted the attention of the Referee
early on when he was involved in a bit of dark work with his opposing centre, a
man fully twice his size. Both players were lucky to avoid the sin bin but after
that the match settled down to a rough battle centred around the middle 30 yards
of the pitch.
Not since the Great War has such a small piece of ground been so hard fought
over with tackle after tackle raining down on the Canvey fifteen. This approach
did credit to each of the Wanderers team who showed true character in both
attack and defence. It also damaged the resolve and the stamina of the Canvey
players who ended the game with only 13 players on the pitch, having used both
substitutes.
As the players got into the swing of things the superior handling and fitness of
the visitors started to show with debutante Gordon Young giving a good show at
the set piece and picking up the extra player in the loose. His Wednesday side
must be happy if he can turn that sort of performance out on a weekly basis. His
Lock partner also took his chance to shine with the first try coming from some
lovely hands in the backs, orchestrated by Battye from stand off. The ever
present Gladwell popped up in midfield to make the hard yards leaving a quick
rucked ball for the visitors and a spin out wide to the waiting Second Row,
Wilkins, who deftly laid the ball off to Hermann to cruise in for his second try
in Orange.
After this flash of brilliance the visitors settled down to their weekend job of
grinding down opposition, one which they are becoming ever more skilled at. The
first half ended 5-0 to the visitors and both sides knew they were in a game.
From the first kick of the second half the game came to life. A series of short
bursting runs by Battye and Galvin created gaps in midfield. With the ball being
kept alive with some delicious handling the move got as far as Rawlinson who
sniffed the line and used his pace to crash over two minutes into the second
period.
From then on everyone wanted to be in on the action. The spectators were treated
to the sight of Cansell popping up in the centres and, worryingly, the wing with
some deft handling which ensured continuity. Inroads were being made into the
Canvey defence and almost every time the ball went to hand a gap appeared
despite being outnumbered. Battye took the opportunity 15 minutes into the half
running in unopposed leaving the defence wondering how to plug the gaps. With
the harsh wind he was not to convert his own score.
The wind couldn't stop Messo a mere two minutes later. This man goes from
strength to strength and injected much needed pace into the back line. He always
looks dangerous with ball in hand and was heavily marked throughout the game.
Nonetheless the gaps did appear, thanks in part to the skills of Hermann inside,
and Messo took his chance to coast round two defenders and score under the
posts, Battye with the conversion.
Having been shown the way the outside centre, Owen Galvin, took the right option
following a sublime dummy which threw the defence off balance leaving him free
to trot in the game's fifth try with Battye converting. Topping off this ten
minute try fest was McCreadie. Wilkins making a burst up the left flank was held
just short of the line and Macca picked up from the ruck with a classic
poacher's effort. Battye handed over kicking duties to Warren Edwards who had a
better game at fullback. He is growing into this uncomfortable role and it is a
tribute to him that he is prepared to take on the difficult task when everyone
knows he is much more at home in a number 7 shirt. This didn't help him convert
however and he was beaten by the wind.
A total of 24 points had been scored in less than 10 minutes. I was a blow from
which Canvey were never to recover and seeing the injury rate for the home team
rocketing the referee blew up slightly earlier than time. He was also driven
towards this by the growing gloom rolling in off the Thames Estuary which
limited visibility.
This game showed how easily 10 minutes of effort can kill off an opponent. The
players must realise, however, that they are susceptible to just this sort of
attack and the skill is in maintaining concentration of the full 80 minutes so
as not to let your opponents into the game. Against weak and injured opponents
this is easy but the real test will come in the New Year when the Wanderers
travel to Westcliffe, leaders of EC Div 2 South, for the Essex President's
Shield Quarter Final on 12 January.
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14th December 2002
Upper Clapton II v Writtle Wanderers 1st XV
DREW 5 - 5
Scorer:
Try: Rawlinson
A dull, dreary Saturday afternoon 10 days before Christmas saw the Wanderers return to the club who provided the opposition for their first ever game back on the 7th September. This time they were taking on Upper Clapton's 2nd XV, having thumped their 3rds 62 - 0.
On a pitch that looked more like the floor of a pottery after a party of toddlers had attempted to turn their own vases on the wheels and thrown clay all over the place, the Wanderers started strongly with some good runs from the forwards and fly-half. However, the conditions were so heavy underfoot that the backs found it very difficult to accelerate round their markers - and that was on the occasions when the ball managed to stay in hand!
Despite the conditions, the Wanderers were the more enterprising of the teams and dominated territory for most of the first half. However, it took a long time for their efforts to pay off - with Rawlinson forcing his way over from short range with the help of the pack. Battye was unable to convert from a long way out on the right. This try was the only score of the half and the sides turned round with the Wanderers 5 - 0 to the good.
In the second half the Wanderers started off the stronger and were threatening the Upper Clapton line for the first 10 minutes or so. However, they were unable to convert the pressure into points and Upper Clapton were able clear their lines and start to bring themselves back into the game. After about 20 minutes, Upper Clapton were able to mount a series of attacks on the Wanderers line and were eventually rewarded with a try. Fortunately, they too were unable to convert and the last quarter of the game looked set to be a tense period with the scores tied.
The Wanderers absorbed a lot of pressure from Upper Clapton and it required some good tackling to keep them out. Once back into the opposition half, the Wanderers were awarded a couple of penalties from which they elected to go for goal. However, with the very tricky conditions underfoot, Battye was unable to convert either opportunity. As the dark descended and the players were quickly beginning to run out of steam, the referee blew the final whistle to end the first drawn match for the Wanderers.
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