Writtle Wanderers RUFC

Writtle Wanderers RUFC
(Founded 2002)

Quick Links

Club Info

Team Info

Fundraising

Writtle Wanderers 1st XV v Witham I
(Essex 3 Shadow Fixture)
by Jon Horne
(the self-proclaimed "Voice of Rugby")

Scorers:
Tries: Masuda, Janes 3 ,Dempsey, Clark, Challinor
Convs: Clark 5
Pen: Clark
Man of the Match: Tim Janes

Saturday saw the Wanderers welcome the Witham club to their Writtle ground in this Essex 3 shadow fixture. Great expectations of keeping their 100% unbeaten record were held at the beginning of the game and the mandarin marauders were not disappointed, amassing a convincing 48pts to nil victory.

The Wanderers, for the first time this season, were disorganised at selection with an imbalance between forwards and backs causing some last minute selections. Challinor was press ganged into service with the back line when looking more than comfortable in his spectators’ garb. The reverse was true in the forwards where a plethora of talent gave the option of loaning out Kenny G to the opposition. An offer which was readily accepted.

With equality in personnel the game began. Scoring was brisk from the home side with a Steve Clark penalty settling the home side’s nerves. This decision provided further evidence of a more steely approach to the game than that witnessed in the previous seasons from the clementine clad combatants.

As the game progressed running rugby was the order of the day from the Writtle based club. Masuda was at his mercurial best taking the ball flat and still before exploding into action either individually or combining with his back line to unleash the deadly finishers. His try was a gem. Taking the ball outside the opposition 22 left of centre he was able to dummy and sidestep through the Witham back row and half backs to complete a magnificent score. His inaugural try on British soil was met with tumultuous applause from his entourage of supporters hot foot from the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Clarke converted to open a healthy lead.

From this point right through to the end of the match scoring came with consistent regularity from the formidable tangerine back line. Janes was undoubtedly the pick of the three quarters, poaching a well deserved hat-trick. He showed pace, power, guile and imagination in fashioning his tri-radial scoring sequence which left Witham reeling in his wake.

The tangerine forwards were once again a dominant force with Sizer operating effectively from the Number 8 berth with his pick up and drives as well as his link play with the rapacious Szyczak at scrum half. The front row was also more than a handful, depriving the opposition of their put in with an exorbitant amount of strikes against the head helping to secure a stranglehold on possession.

Other try scorers who warrant a mention during this emphatic victory were Challinor at 11 and Compo at 15. The powerful winger was always looking for work during the game and this industry paid off as he rounded off a superb back move to score a scorching try in the corner. An unlikely looking source of fancy footwork and deft handling came from the debutant Compo at fullback. This rather portly northern gentleman had a wonderful afternoon reading the game with 20 – 20 vision and exerting pressure on Witham's weak defensive spots with an uncanny knack. This endeavour lead to a try in the corner just after the break which was much deserved fruit for his labours.

With tries aplenty kicking duty fell to the right wing Clark. With a glut of opportunities he was able to perform a virtuoso performance. From right and left with unerring accuracy the kicks went over like a shower of meteors. A try of his own capped a splendid afternoon and only a puzzling and uncharacteristic slice in front of goal at the end of the game marred a near perfect afternoon.

All in all a good afternoon's work for the Writtle Wanderers. They now go into their final friendly encounter versus Burnham next week with confidence high before their season defining Essex Presidents shield encounter with Millwall.

Burnham-on-Crouch II v Writtle Wanderers 1st XV
(BL Merit Table - Div 3)

WON 26 - 62

I'm afraid that no report has been forthcoming! Those who would normally supply one were involved in the game!

Writtle Wanderers 1st XV v Millwall I
(Essex President's Shield - 1st Round)
by Scott Taylor

Scorers:
Tries: Messo 2, Clark, Rawlinson, Janes
Convs: Clark, Bull
Pens: Clark 3
Man of the Match: Taka Masuda

The toughest test of the season so far saw the Writtle Wanderers draw Millwall in the Essex President's Shield. The visitors had kindly agreed to an 11.00 a.m. k/o so that both teams and spectators could dash themselves against the rock of the Writtle Bar for the remainder of a spectacular sporting Saturday.

Millwall looked a strong outfit from the kick off with the gulf between their 1st and 2nd XV's clear as soon as the visitors left the changing rooms. The Wanderers fielded a strong side, full of running and invention and the cup tie promised excitement and terror in equal doses. Much of the early game was played in the home half with Millwall seeking to establish their dominance from the kick off. Sadly for the combative guests their lack of a field kicker let them down early with them forced to forego a possible three points from an early Wallbank infringement.

The kick to touch was intercepted and good ground made by the pacey orange backline moving play back to the Millwall 22. The forwards, still fresh in the 6th minute supported well, forcing the infringement, with the multi-talented Clark stepping up to take the 3 points on offer. This galvanised the home side as they nosed into the lead. The visitors responded well to the early upset by battling back into the Wanderers half. At seemingly every turn the men from the East End were repelled by fierce tackling, or more often, let down by their own handling. Rawlinson, Redfern and Wallbank worked well in the loose, turning over ball and securing possession for the Tangerine Dreamers. The tight play was skittish at best however. Millwall seemed to lure the Orange tight five into a false sense of security in the scrums. After a series of wins against the head and the sort of scrums one can only look forward to, Millwall turned on the gas and took control in the tight.

Sadly their loose play let them down more often than not, a fault that the Wanderers turned to their advantage well. This backline function well in broken play; however their one fault is an inability to create in the early phases. Newly appointed backs coach, Gareth Bull, must look as this as a priority. On the day thought the invention was enough as Bull gathered on the short side from loose ball with Clark surging up the wing in support. As the 15th minute passed Bull made space well for the Tangerine Train and Clark rode the attempted tackle to score under the posts and give himself the easy conversion.

Despite it being early in the game the home tackling began to creak. With the occasional slipped tackle and moth dives a-plenty Millwall took the opportunity to turn up the heat. Surely a score must come, and come it did five minutes on. Ben Messo - a Millwall Old boy - faced Coops, the solid Millwall number 11. Despite his obvious front-row build, the Millwall Monster showed good pace and a refusal to be tackled. Messo and Iles falling off his capacious frame as he bundled over on the far side for their opening score. Their lack of a kicker showed and the scores remained at 10-5.

10 minutes more and it was obvious that the home side were comfortable with that score. This must be a lesson for them as they allowed Millwall back into the game. A lapse at the scrum saw Captain, Richards, lose the head at the scrum. The Millwall 8, an experienced silverback in a shirt, took the ball blind from the base and scorched through the wrong-footed back line from 25 yards for a popular score. Would-be tacklers were left thumping the ground in misery as the fell away from the surging back-rower. Millwall missed a kicker again and the scores tied up at 10 apiece.

As the game developed the half back battle got interesting. Szyczak (another Millwall OB) clearly had the better of his opponent and a series of minor tantrums ensued. With the nippy 9 turning up the pressure the Hosts were soon on the attack again. Another infringement in the line saw Clark increase his tally to13 with a 30 yard penalty and the Wanderers took a 13-10 lead into the break.

A robust talk at halftime saw the hosts re-start in better style and apply early advantage. The early penalty from Clark displayed the importance of stringing together scores either side of the break, adding confidence to the hosts. They were certainly guilty of overconfidence shortly after as Clark and Bull, villains this time, tried to link and run the ball back from a deep kick into their own 22. No French back division, this, and the chaos that resulted gifted 5 points to the Millwall centre, the kicker on target from under the posts to take the lead 16-17. Game on! A copycat error ten minutes later with the inept culprit, sadly, lost from memory (must be the port!) and all of a sudden the Commanding Clementine’s had to chase an 8 point lead with Millwall beginning to pull away to 16-24. With good reason this team are on top of Essex 3 and the Wanderers must be consistent if they are to conquer at that level.

Ten minutes to go and step forward experience and weight. The tight forwards designed to take matters onto their own broad shoulders. A textbook lineout and drive saw Rawlinson pop up as the maul collapsed over the line. A valuable, if not electrifying, 5 points with Bull, in place of the injured Clark, failing to convert, 21-24.

Now it was the turn of the Japanese fly half to show his pedigree. The Satsuma Shogun had a remarkable game in the week that also saw him debut for the Writtle College 1st XV. His tackling of players fully twice his size was valiant and his invention with the loose ball saved the day. He picked up deep in his own half from spilled ball and using his deft step threw the defenders off balance. Making it as far as halfway he looked for support to Messo, who gathered well and streaked in from halfway for the try that broke the Millwall hearts. Bull converted to nudge into a 28-24 lead.

The Wanderers looked for the backlash that never came. The game fizzled out as the Millwall backs tired. The broken field running that the Wanderers excel at came into play with Tey and the ever present Tim Janes in midfield linking nicely. The scrums solidified as well with Richards in the ascendancy. Quick ball against the head saw Rawlinson roll back the years, and the pounds, making good yardage into midfield. He linked beautifully with Messo who finished with his trademark dive to wild applause in the 79th minute.

By now the game was beyond the visitors and was closed up by the bravely injured Janes chipping through. Ignoring his turned ankle he charged after the kick to close the game at 38-24.

An important win for the Wanderers who displayed their league credentials for next season. All watching would support the inclusion of this much fancied side in next season's Essex 3. For now they must work on their tackling and target the President's Shield to further push for a league place in 2004/2005.

Braintree III v Wanderers 1st XV
(BL Merit Table - Div 3)
by Scott Taylor

Scorers:
Tries: Messo 2, Bull 2, Chepato, Janes, Masuda
Convs: Bull 5
Man of the Match: Tey Chepato

An outing to Braintree saw the Tangerine Try Machine return with maximum bonus points in this week's merit table clash. Many Wanderers players have a long history of fraternal involvement with this Braintree side, with more than one of the committee having played for the 'Tree social side. Any such feelings were neatly set to one side though as both teams took the field.

The hosts were busy preparing and warming up, seemingly, even as the Wanderers entered the changing rooms. The perennial problem for the Wanderers is consistency and where players are late, for whatever reason, the hub of the team ceases to function. The players must look at this as a major issue for the coming weeks if they are to avoid conceding early scores to opponents. Better sides will undoubtedly punish this slackness and the Wanderers cannot expect the mercurial backline to constantly chase games.

As it was the youthful 'Tree XV started well. With the visitors' minds still in the changing rooms 'Tree capitalised on early advantage to push the ball right to the Wanderers' try-line. Within 7 minutes the score had come with Braintree forwards barrelling over in the right corner. A combination of slack tackling and lack of awareness being to blame for the early try. The failed conversion left the Clementine Clowns chasing a 5 point deficit.

The Orange forwards battled back into game well and heavy pressure on the Braintree pack saw the resulting clean ball taken through the hands for a relieving Messo score in the right corner. Bull converted wonderfully from the wrong side to regain the lead. Five minutes later Bull again stepped up to punish the 'Tree pack for a ruck infringement. The resulting kick ricocheted off the upright into the path of the chasing Iles. The receiving Braintree player panicked however no impetus was gained from the resulting scrum, 'Tree defending well.

For the next 10 minutes possession was shared with neither team taking advantage. Not for long however as the backline, ignited by the ever present Masuda, sprang to life. The welcome return of Battye, this week at inside centre, added experience and strength to the Midfield and with Chepato outside him the gaps were sure to open up. Strong running from man of the match Chepato saw the 'Tree defence scythed through regularly. When this man takes the ball flat out he is an unstoppable Kumquat Comet, as the Braintree three-quarters found to their dismay as he streaked in from 40 yards, chipping ahead for Messo to gather his second of the day. Bull converted to open a 9 point lead.

Almost from the re-start the canny Fly Half noticed the gap deep behind the 'Tree defenders. Putting in the long kick Chepato chased 60 metres, winning the footrace for a jubilant try. A flat note sounded with Bull missing and evergreen prop, Dawson, leaving the field. Happily he was replaced by Neil "Housewife's Choice" Theobald who has really regained his form this season.

Just as the clock ran into half time, confusion reigned in both packs as play stopped, inexplicably. The schoolboy rule is "play to the whistle", an edict which both sides forgot momentarily. Bull, ever alert, gathered the scrappy ball and raced from deep within his 22 for a length of the field solo effort to wild applause. The home support may have issue with the refereeing decision but it would appear that the players mistook a whistle from the adjoining pitch, or from a spectator. As such the referee should not be blamed for player error. The Men in Orange taking a 5-26 lead into the break.

With the experienced Redfern moving forward, this week also saw the long awaited return of Dave "The Raging Potato" McKenna. Partnered on the flank by Cooknell the two played well together with the 3rd Writtle OB, Rawlinson, commanding from the back of the scrum. These three, with a combined age pushing 110, were up against some robust forward play with rucks strongly contested and some great use of the shoe by the young Braintree outfit. Surely there must be a West Country man involved in the coaching setup. Szyczak also had a torrid game at 9, facing the perennial 'Tree scrum half at his bristling best. Nonetheless, with that unit of 4 working well together they did secure ball a-plenty for the backline to use. And use it they did with Bull, now returned to the fold full time after work commitments, taking home a personal haul of 20 points, his long distance receive from Masuda giving him a second try of the day.

As the final quarter approached a raft of injuries disrupted the Wanderers' concentration. Chepato replaced by Janes and the mighty Gladwell in for the injured Wallbank. We must wish both players a speedy recovery. Five minutes gone and the new additions had slipped into place. Szyczak broke left with Rawlinson in support. Bull in at scum half offloaded to Battye who set vice captain Janes up for a belting try on his return from injury, Bull adding the 2.

Pick of the scores though has to be the solo effort from Masuda deep in the second half. From first phase scrum ball he utilised his sublime step throwing the whole defence off balance. Having created the narrowest of gaps for himself he managed to ghost between the Stand-off and number 12 for a romping score, converted by Bull. Hero turned to villain moments later though with a deft lay off to Battye from the Orange Oriental, being intercepted by the skilful Braintree 10. He scorched fully 50 yards, the pursuing Iles unable to make the tackle, for a popular and exhausting score. The game closed 5 minutes later 45-10 to the visitors.

On the whole a good result, but the Wanderers must stop allowing the early scores. This lack of concentration would be punished by the better sides with whom the Wanderers aspire to compete. The must now look to next week and the Essex 3 shadow fixture with Pegasus/Palmerians.