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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
March 2005 Match Reports
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Scorers:
Tries: Gillitt 2, Clark, Brown,
Rowan, Manson
Convs: Clark 2
Man of the Match: David Rowan
Wanderers Winter Warmer!
In a game picked up off the fixture exchange, Writtle Wanderers were able to get a taste of the surroundings at Thurrock RFC, where they will be playing the Essex President's Shield final against Canvey Island on Sunday, 24th April. Those who braved the cold and the blizzard conditions in the second half of this game will be hoping the weather is a little fairer in seven weeks time!
Against a big Thurrock pack, it was obvious that the key to this game was to move the ball around as much as possible. The conditions, combined with a few changes of personnel and the cancellation of last week's game meant that players were a little rusty and an injury to prop, Kevin Cansell, in the warm up caused more disruption!
However, as the game got underway, it was soon apparent that the visitors possessed gas a-plenty in the back line and back row. Within 20 minutes, Writtle had run in three tries through Steve Clark, Graham Gillitt and David Rowan and taken a 0 - 15 lead. As can often happen in this situation, the Wanderers then dropped off their game a little and let the larger Thurrock forwards start to get more ball. This resulted in Thurrock driving over a maul to score an unconverted try of their own.
A few words from Sean Culleton, taking over the captaincy from Tim Janes who had departed with a bang to the head, steadied the ship and Wanderers were able to reply with another try through winger, Mike Brown, who showed an excellent turn of pace to scoot round the outside of his man and touch down.
As the second half got underway, Jerome Manson made a welcome return to the side following a long lay off with shoulder problems. The Wanderers' pack started to get the upper hand in the tight as Thurrock's big men ran out of steam and Gillitt was able to score his second try of the afternoon with a pick up and drive from the base of a scrum.
As the snow began to fall, Man of the Match, David Rowan, ploughed his way through the home side who were clearly thinking about getting back into the warm dressing room! Finally brought down on the Thurrock 22 metre line, he presented the ball and the supporting Manson was able to pick up and surge through the remaining defenders to score.
With the conditions worsening and Thurrock reduced to 14 men due to injury, the referee blew for time a few minutes early. The Writtle side now look forward to next week's trip up to Clacton-on-Sea for an Essex 3 top of the table clash. The 2nd XV are also back in action in the BL Merit Table and the ladies' side take on North East Essex Boadiceas at Writtle on Sunday.
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Scorers:
Tries: Young
Pens: Clark 4
Man of the Match: Tommy Young
Wanderers Secure Promotion!
This was it - the biggest game in the Writtle Wanderers' short history! Assuming that the Essex league structure stays the same for next season, the side travelled to Clacton in the knowledge that a win would guarantee promotion to Essex Division 2 for next season!
On a day that appeared ideal for running rugby, with a big crowd of home supporters, both sides appeared to be feeling the tension of the occasion as the game got underway. The Writtle side seemed to be lacking their usual fire in the opening exchanges, yet they managed to open the scoring with a Steve Clark penalty after three minutes.
However, a couple of minutes later, Clacton respond by scoring a fine try down the left wing, having worked an overlap on the usually solid Wanderers' defence. Although unconverted, this took the home side into the lead and the pressure was on! Clark responded with two more penalties to take the visitors back in front, but Clacton were looking the more dangerous team in the opening quarter.
As the half continued, the Wanderers began to come more into the game with some good ball carrying from No.8 Tommy Young and support from the forwards, including John Blanchfield making a welcome return after several months off with a broken jaw. However, Clacton managed to sneak in another try as they mauled their way over the line, taking them into the lead by 10 points to 9, and then followed this with a penalty to consolidate their lead.
With Blanchfield taking a knock and being replaced by Martyn Howarth, and a tactical change seeing Glen Richards in at loosehead prop in place of Kev Cansell, the Wanderers started the second half with a new determination. The first 15 minutes of the half saw the best of the Wanderers, with forwards and backs linking well, and a penalty kick by Clark brought the gap back to a single point.
The visitors finally worked their way back into the lead with a fine team try. Quick hands in the centres gave winger Mike Brown the chance to make an outside break down the right flank and he fed inside to Howarth who had made good ground to be in support. Howarth brushed off the first would be tackler and looked to be heading for the line himself, but was brought to ground ten yards short. Recycling the ball, the Wanderers drove for the line again and were awarded a scrum as the ball became unplayable. From the scrum, Young picked up at No.8 and headed for the corner. Despite the attentions of a couple of Clacton defenders, he managed to get over the line for a deserved try which took the Writtle side into the lead by a solitary point!
The last 15 minutes of the game were played under immense tension with Clacton converting a penalty to reduce the margin back to 1 point. However, a further penalty and an attempted drop goal both missed and when the final whistle went, the relief on the visitors' faces and disappointment on the home side's was clear to all.
It was not a great game of flowing rugby and the Wanderers were a long way short of their best form, but as a sporting contest between the two best sides in Essex 3 this season, it had all the tension of a grand slam decider! The Wanderers now look forward to their game away at Witham in three weeks time, where a win will guarantee the Essex 3 title. Clacton have to beat third placed Pegasus Palmerians to ensure that they too will win promotion to Essex 2 for next season.
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Scorers:
Tries: W Young 3, S Cook 3, Taylor,
Arnold, Rowan, Sizer
Convs: Rowan 2
Man of the Match: Dave Kenwell
Sorry, no report submitted.
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Scorers:
Tries: Janes 2, Cansell, Barratt,
Sotriades, Brown, Wolfe
Convs: Clark 3
Man of the Match: Phil Sotriades
This game, picked up off the fixture exchange, saw the Wanderers start with just 13 men due to the 2nd XV having an away game in the Merit Table and therefore taking a full 15 with them. Some of the details are a little sketchy, as regular match reporters were away with the 2nds and so this relies on the memory of players who didn't expect to be submitting reports!
From Compo's memory, Mike Brown
scored the first try with a 70 yard effort from a breakdown
of one of South Woodham's backline attacks, picking up the loose ball running
for the right hand corner. The conversion was missed by Steve Clark, who
confesses to have had a poor day with the boot! Writtle's second came from
good defence by Phil Sotriades, who stole the ball in a tackle and cantered over
the line. Clark converted to give an early 12 - 0 lead.
With club coach, Mark Rawlinson, arriving shortly before half time, the home side were able to plug a gap in the back line and level the game up at 14 a side - with the visitors also being short of a man. However, SWF were still able to score their first try of the game with a nice move from a scrum, putting the half time score at 12 - 5.
With Jake Wolfe turning up at half time, Writtle were able to field a full team for the second half. Indeed, Wolfe was next on the score sheet, touching down from a rolling maul set up as a result of the first straight lineout throw of the game from Glen Richards. Although the conversion was missed, Writtle now had a more comfortable 17 - 5 lead.
A few minutes later, a quick tap by Richards from a penalty gave Writtle field position from which Tim Janes fed Sotriades. He made good yards towards the line, with Cansell supporting at the ruck to pick up and dive over for his second try of the season. This was converted by Clark to take the Wanderers into a 24 - 5 lead.
However, a knock on by Writtle from the kick off handed an advantage back to SWF. This was followed by a penalty which the visitors put into the corner for a lineout. From this, they mauled over for a converted try to keep in the game with scores at 24 - 12. This was not to last for long, though as a deep kick into South Woodham territory put pressure on their full back who kicked back to "flying" winger Rawlinson! He launched an attack feeding Clark, who in turn fed skipper, Tim Janes, who was able to go over for an unconverted try.
Another mishap at the kick off resulted in a lineout for South Woodham, who repeated their previous effort by mauling over for a converted try taking the scores to 29 - 19. However, Writtle showed that they too can maul, with Clark putting a penalty into the corner for a lineout. From the rolling maul that was set up, Barratt broke free and carried two or three would be tacklers over for a converted try.
As the game drew towards a close, a lack of concentration and ill discipline gave the visitors good field position from which to work a move from the scrum base to score a converted try to make the scores 36-26. But Writtle had the final word with Janes scoring his second try of the game following a nice piece of work with Paul Read. Final score 41 - 26.
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Scorers:
Try: Denenga
Pen:
Young
Man of the Match: Scott Taylor
The return match against last week's opponents, Pegasus Palmerians, was a very different one to the home leg! Pegasus had been upset by our failure to lend them any players last week when they turned up short - although I understand that the two chaps we had on the bench then had never played a game of rugby union and we had two men starting with injuries who did not expect to last the game. Anyway, the home side had made sure that this time they had a full team plus subs and they were determined to show that their two man deficit last week had made all the difference between the teams.
As it was, the visitors threw this game away anyway with ill-discipline and bickering! This even culminated in the Club President, Dave Rowan, being yellow carded by the referee, only for Pegasus to request that he be allowed to play on "cos he's having a cr*p game anyway"! We have talked about the bickering and back chat to the referee before in match reports and I think we all accept that it has no place at this club and must be stamped out! Once again, this was a perfect demonstration of how it can cost us a game!
But what about the good points? Against a fortified Pegasus pack, the front row of Martyn Howarth, Neil Theobald and John Stimpson stood up very well. Jerome Manson bravely played the entire game despite an injury during the warm up and his second row partner, Scott Taylor, played one of his best games for many months getting around the park and deservedly winning the MOTM award. Captain Gary Hall also led by example with some excellent carries of the ball.
Bernerd Denenga, always a threat with the ball in hand, scored the Wanderers only try of the game, and fly half, Will Young, slotted a penalty to keep the visitors in contention right up to the final whistle. However, with so many penalties committed in the Pegasus half, we really failed to apply sufficient pressure on their defence and lost any shape to our attacks. If everyone could have just concentrated on their own game and played rugby, then I'm certain that the scoreline would have been very different!
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