Writtle Wanderers RUFC

Writtle Wanderers RUFC
(Founded 2002)

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The New Year kicked off to a bruising start with the now traditional midwinter Thames fixture. The Aveley visitors signalled their intent early on with one of the biggest packs the men in orange had faced this season. Despite this the hosts forwards stood up well to a ferocious onslaught from the Thames men early doors.

It was certainly looking like a bleak midwinter in the first half as Battye, uncharacteristically off target with the boot, squandered 6 points. Some good poaching from College captain, Bosman, kept the under pressure Writtle side in the game. He linked well with new signing, Rob Shields, to provide a formidable back row combination. The third man in this triumvirate was the experienced Redfern. He always injects passion into the game and in this instance was unable to control the fire. He took a 10 minute breather with the Thames number 5, a result of a midfield hand-bagging incident with the Referee looking on in interest.

Sadly this was not enough as the Thames men scored a quality pressure try which went unanswered, taking a 5-0 lead into the break.

Come halftime and come the changes. With a total of 9 substitutes for this game, in the absence of a second team fixture, the Wanderers selectors took the decision to give all attendees a game, rather than concentrating on their first team squad. This introduction for 1st XV rugby was welcomed by the Writtle new boys who gave a good account of themselves, of particular interest are Benning and Ellis, both backs but substantially larger and pacier than many of their contemporaries. If their raw talent can be harnessed they will play a large part in the future of the club.

Immediately from the off the changes showed with Messo gathering excellently from Battye's looped pass to streak home from 30 yards. This is one man who hasn't lost his pace or enthusiasm for the game despite some hard weeks. He must now look to the future with interest and aim for the top of the scorers boards. He will do well to catch Janes who also had a stormer. Although he could not score today his pace, strength and new sidestep (perhaps left by Santa) served him well with him shining as the star of the midfields.

The remains of the second half saw a torrid midfield battle. Thames further bolstered their pack and backline, bringing on some giants. Despite this supposed lack of pace Writtle could not find a way around the defence giving the lie to the suggestion that pace always wins.

The game was heading to a deserved draw when a questionable penalty 5 yards out combined with a lack of preparation by the orange defensive line. The Thames 8 stormed over from short range with people hanging off him. The score was converted and the match wrapped up at 12-5 to the visitors. How Battye must rue his 3 missed penalties.

A good start to the New Year for the Wanderers, Thames currently sit atop Essex 2, and with the Wanderers aiming for Essex 3 entry next season they must be happy at their showing. More work must be done on self-discipline however. A series of niggling penalties and needless back-chat probably cost the Tangerines the game.

Scorer:

Try - Messo

Following one of the promptest turnouts of the season - the Wanderers' back three were all in the Plough before the official meet time - the Tangerine Tractor made it's way down to windswept Canvey Island for what was originally intended to be the return BL Merit Table fixture with the island's 3rd XV. However, your correspondent had been informed earlier in the week that Canvey intended to put out a side somewhat stronger than the one that had visited the loftier climbs of Writtle last November. This was confirmed when the Canvey notice-board revealed that the Islanders were treating this as a 1st XV fixture. Whilst it may not have been a full strength Canvey 1st XV, there was undoubtedly a large contingent of players more used to the top level of the Essex Leagues than the relative depths of the BL Merit Table's Div 3!

Having assembled all but one of the Orangemen for warm-up an hour before official kick-off, the Wanderers were well prepared for an early k/o - especially after being in the biting wind coming off the Thames! However, the hosts were unwilling to bring forward the start time and instead retreated to the warmth of their changing room - refusing to come out until the allotted hour!

Those of you taking any notice of this report may have realized that I am three paragraphs in and haven't got the game itself yet! Well, your correspondent has to admit that most of the game is only a dim memory, maybe due to a bang on the head received early in the second half and certainly partly due to the fact that his head was in rather too close a proximity to the Housewife's Choice's freshly shaved cobblers for much of the game! That's surely enough to put even the Sunday Times' Stephen Jones off his tilt!

It was clear from the outset that this was a well drilled Canvey team - particularly in the back-line where confident hands enabled them to make plenty of breaks out wide. The visitors were hampered after 10 minutes or so with the loss of solid centre Battye - succumbing to a groin strain and being replaced by the only sub, Sotriades, forced to play out of position in the backs.

In the set pieces, the Wanderers' scrummage worked exceptionally well and caused the Canvey-ites untold problems, Richards winning more than one against the head. The line-out functioned well with Manson and Hess taking most of their own ball and disrupting much of the home sides. However, in the loose, it was all a bit of mess for the Slapstick Satsumas - far too many turnovers being conceded and the Canvey forwards able to cross the gain line far too regularly.

The combination of the forward gains and well executed back moves led to Canvey taking a comfortable lead as the first half progressed. Try as they might, the Wanderers' could not turn their set-piece dominance into points. The speedy wingers had little chance to show their class on a sticky pitch and facing a stiff breeze were forced to spend much of the half assisting fullback Iles in trying to return Canvey kicks. However, turning round at half time there was a feeling that the Canvey lead was less than might have been expected with the wind advantage!

The second half saw a more concerted effort, eventually rewarded with centre Janes, returning to full fitness following an ankle injury, making a trademark break to go in close to the posts. Clark converted to give the visitors hope of a comeback. However, some silly errors and slack tackling allowed Canvey to increase their lead to an unassailable level and it was only an excellent consolation try from Man of the Match, Hess, in the right hand corner in the last few minutes that brought the Tangerines into double figures.

All in all, the team can be pretty happy with the performance against a Canvey side including many players with Essex Div 1 experience. Heads did not drop and the set-piece work was of a high order. What should be a slightly easier game next week against Old Bealonians should get things back into full working order ready for the Essex President's Shield game on 7th February.

The ever stronger Writtle second string saw a record 17 players this weekend for the home tie with an Ongar club XV. With the 1st XV carrying the flag away to Canvey it fell to the B side to keep the home fires burning and the crowd entertained.

Despite the longest warm up in the history of 2nd XV rugby, the Black and Ambers started badly, conceding 2 tries against the run of play in the first 10 minutes. The hosts were working the tight ball well with good support and the props, Gladwell and Edwards, working extremely well off the fringes. The cold hands could have had something to do with the two intercepted passes that let the Ongar prop-turned-inside centre rampage through midfield, effectively setting up both tries. Take nothing away from this Ongar side. They showed superb handling and awareness to run the ball the length of the field and through 10 pairs of hands for both scores, each a carbon copy of the other. The Ongar 10 converted well in both cases, clearly on target with the boot he would be a man to watch as the game developed.

The shell-shocked hosts took encouragement from the wisdom of the club elders, taking the field en masse for the first time in many moons, and were soon back in the game. The front three linked wonderfully with Silke, the debutante Hooker, coming into his own in the lineout. His throwing straight as an arrow he never failed with Chandler and the senior lock, Wilkins. Every lineout saw the advantage fall to the Towering Tangerines with mauls working well off the sides.

Pressure told in the end and tight ball was released to Masuda, back to his best. He showed his opponent the outside and then used his delightful step to ghost through the defence to open his account. So many defences have underestimated this pint-sized powerhouse, to their ultimate despair. The Satsuma Shogun is certainly back on form - watch out Dempsey.

Again the Orange forwards turned up the gas with further pressure leading to a penalty, punished again by Masuda, on form with boot as well. Wanderers creeping back into the game at 10-14. The backs this week taking on the majority of the defensive duties, performed solidly. Where experience is lacking enthusiasm surely compensates and, with the assistance of the rampaging Edwards and Swain in defence the holes were stopped.

With his halfback partner on the sheet Light was keen to get his name in the frame. This skilful scrum-half was everywhere, looking keen and sharp he is surely a contender for 1st team selection and is a more than able understudy to the bristling Scyzak. His sidestep and dummy showing him the way to the line with Masuda adding the 2. So, from a 14 point deficit the Writtle men were back to 17-14.

That was until the three-quarters got in on the act. Berry, working well off Masuda and Horne, scraped over wide for a good team score. The forwards had made the gaps and sucked in the Ongar defence to Berry's delight. No conversion gave the Wanderers a half time lead of 22-14.

Bring on the Chief, an ample substitute for the ailing leviathan selected at Number 8. Chandler moves to the back row and Barrett steps into the engine room to shore up the quaking scrummage. This he did and with some rampaging charges to boot. All to often though he was alone with support wallowing in his wake. The lines continued to function well with Ongar all but conceding aerial superiority. With Rowan coming off for Sizer to step back into his familiar role, the average age of the team dropped to below 30 with startling results.

Chairman and President had left their side with a commanding lead, expecting interest on the return. It was not to be as Ongar were allowed back into the game through some slack tackling. Another excellent conversion from Ongar left the narrowest of margins at 22-21 to the hosts. The game moved into a heart stopping last 10 minutes.

Each time wave upon wave of Ongar attack was stifled, often by group tackling with the tight forwards playing out of their skins. The obvious result was a penalty, midfield on the Orange 10m line. Given the Ongar kicking today this looked a cert. Up steps the 10, overcooks the kick and slices it into the hands of the waiting Saxon. The hearts just about re-start as Saxon clears......as far as the attacking blue and yellow wing. Hearts back in mouths the support looked on as the ball was spun first inside and then out. Ongar retained the ball well in this final chapter but were ultimately let down by a knock on. Orange players and support breath again. The ball cleared, the 2nd XV took their first scalp of the season in a good old fashioned nail-biter.

Scorers:

Tries - Masuda, Light, Berry
Cons - Masuda 2
Pen - Masuda

Man of the Match - Nick Edwards

The Mandarin Marauders played host to fellow non-leaguers, Old Bealonians, this week. With both teams looking for entry into the Essex Leagues for the 2004/2005 season this would be a test of who wanted it more. Before the kick off it looked as though the men from Beals School were keener, with most of their team arriving a good 75 minutes before the whistle.

Some chaos ensued with selection with a number of players late for the meet owing to a memorial service for the late James O'Sullivan. This young man died in the saddest of circumstances before Christmas and the thoughts of all players were with his family. A well observed one minutes silence before kick off set a sombre mood for the game.

From this the Beals men started strongly. They had a large and mobile pack with a particularly exciting south-sea centre. The Writtle pack stood up well and turned the tide early in the game, exerting themselves in the set pieces and at the breakdown. As the match wore on, and the visitors were worn down, Richards took ever increasing ball against the head. With Hess leaping like a salmon in the lines the Wanderers commanded ground and air superiority.

This was used to the full to secure good ball for the wings. Within 5 minutes old hand Arnold, 2002/2003's most improved player, took the ball wide without support. Overcome with emotion he tried a drop goal. The ball wobbled towards the uprights and rebounded off the post to wild cheers from the home fans. Despite over 1 and a half seasons the Wanderers have never managed to drop a goal. With pace and strength though they don't need to rely on the Wilkinson method. 5 Minutes later Janes took the ball well from Masuda, returned to the first team fold, and surged over the line for a classy score. Clark converted with a kick that bore all the hallmarks of a wet rag being slapped against a rock.

This should have opened the floodgates but Beals stood firm for 2 more minutes. With some robust tackling and rucking you almost felt they would score any moment. Only exemplary defence from the thin Orange line kept them out with an excellent display of drift defending. The Wanderers forced their opponents back up field, and when Manson took loose ball from the line 30 metres out the crown waited for the score. He ran well, and taking on two men slipped the ball to the supporting Richards. The captain cruised in from 15 metres for a rare and popular score. Again Clark added the 2 with his kicking coming to form.

This time the floodgates were opened. With Hess, having another storming game at 8, fielding a wayward kick perfectly and offloading to Clark under pressure. Clark scorched a full 50 metres in a superior solo effort. There is no substitute for pace in this game and this boy has in in spades. He converted his own score from under the posts, clearly intent on finishing the season as leading try-scorer.

Within minutes Hess again came into the limelight with a sneaky kick through, well chased and retrieved by Redfern. The Strawberry Blonde utility man is a classic performer and had a strong game in the centre, despite the front 8 being more his cup of tea. The recycled ball was spun to Iles who showed his pace credentials to go around 3 to put and end to his recent scoring drought. He will be sorely missed for the President's Shield Quarter Final on Feb 7. Fortunately this team has pace to spare. Clark put the nail in and the game to bed before halftime with the conversion. The home side taking a 28-0 lead into the break.

The Second half saw the visitors becoming more frustrated with the Orange defence. Masuda, so electrifying in the opening half, was targeted for some robust play as was the ever present Janes. The Visiting side also showed their frustrations in the rucks with a war weary wanderers pack taking the brunt. Credit to them, the orange men never let up and maintained pressure throughout the half. 10 Minutes in Clark gathered a loose kick and set off on a winding run. Using all the width of the field he lost his tacklers and managed, somehow, to cross the Beals line. A try from nothing and unlucky to miss the conversion.

The Wanderers forwards dominated throughout the game, and with the inclusion of Bosman at open side and Sotriades on for Shields, the back row showed real pace. The pressure eventually told with the Wanderers putting Old Beals under pressure 5 metres out after a great chase and tackle in goal by the flanks. Hess took the ball up cleanly and drove over from short yards with tacklers falling off him. A classy try and just reward for the forward domination.

The remaining 20 minutes of the half saw a strong defensive effort from the Orange line. Saxton came on at Full Back and caught everything that was kicked his way, putting in some nice clearances with the boot. Williams stepped in for Arnold and had a good 15 minutes. Both of these younger players will develop from playing first team opposition and must be nurtured if they are to reach their potential.

The game ended on a sour note with Masuda the victim of some slightly late and over-exuberant tackling. The Beals open side caught at last. No further play was allowed by referee Mr Horne and the game was wrapped up 38-0.

The Writtle side must now look forward to their cup clash with Burnham in 2 weeks. Next week sees a full squad training and selection session at Lordship Road in preparation. Be there for 1.00 sharp for fun, games and fiddling about.

Scorers:

Tries - Clark 2, Janes, Richards, Hess, Iles
Convs - Clark 4

Man of the Match - Takahiro Masuda