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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
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Writtle Wanderers RUFC |
September 2004 Match Reports
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Scorers:
Tries: Clark 3, McKenna,
Blanchfield, Culleton, Kanz, Brown
Convs: Clark 5
Man of the Match: Steve Clark
The Wanderers travelled down to a bright but windy Wanstead to take on Old Bealonians in a friendly for their first game of the season. The match kicked off with the Wanderers playing into a stiff breeze but this did not slow them down and after only a few minutes they came close to scoring the opening try of the game, but some strong Old Beals defence managed to keep them at bay.
The early part of the game saw some good moves put together by both sides but handling errors prevented these from resulting in a score. The Wanderers gradually increased the pressure and after several chances were missed due to unforced errors, Wanderers' captain Dave McKenna came off an inside move to score from 10 meters out. This try was quickly followed by some strong running from the forwards, which resulted in John Blanchfield going over for the Wanderers' second.
Old Bealonians gathered themselves and through some good interplay between their halfbacks released the backs, but they could find no way through the Wanderers' defence. As the first half came to a close the Wanderers scored a third try, when full-back Steve Clark caught the ball near the halfway line and danced his way through the opposition defence to score close to the posts.
The pace of the first half began to show early in the second half, with both teams tiring but playing more controlled rugby. This approach seemed to benefit the Wanderers more, as they began to dominate the game and after several set pieces of play, Steve Clark went over in the corner for his second try of the game. With the Wanderers making several key replacements, their dominance only increased and, after some good ball retention by the forwards, veteran hooker, Sean Culleton - lost in amongst the backs - skipped over for a try!
Old Bealonians dug deep and came close to scoring several times, but again found themselves defending their own line. As the Wanderers threatened to score another try, the Old Beals fly half intercepted a pass and ran a full 60 meters to put his winger in for a try under the sticks. This only seemed to rally the Wanderers who, in the later phases of the game through some good back row play, set up the ball to allow Steve Clark to score his third try of the game. This try was quickly followed by further tries from fly-half Wolfgang Kanz and centre Mike Brown who both made short work of the tiring Old Beals defence.
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Scorers:
Tries: Janes 3, Richards, McKenna,
Taylor, Rowan, Cook (S), Wallbank
Convs: Janes 3
Man of the Match: Gary Hall
Writtle Wanderers 2nd XV Show Strength in Depth
No official report has been submitted. However, it was great to see Writtle Wanderers field a very genuine 2nd XV for the first time this season. With no 1st XV game, the core 1st XV squad was rested with only a couple of them taking part in this game to cover the key positions of front row and fly half where we were lacking a suitable alternative. A number of old faces returned to the rugby pitch for the first time in a while, in particular the Cook brothers, Adrian and Simon!
With a strong looking forward pack - many of whom have been regular attendees at training - and a talented but less well drilled back line being run by the out of position 1st XV centre, Tim Janes, at fly-half, it was sure to be an interesting 80 minutes. Although I cannot remember the game particularly clearly a week later, I think it is fair to say that it was a patchy affair, but there periods of excellent play that saw forwards and backs working superbly together to create the space for the speed merchants to exploit.
Woodford found it very hard to compete with the Wanderers' pack and had to be assisted with the loan of our 1st XV hooker Sean Culleton after around half an hour of the game. Shortly after Sean's introduction, Chairman Scott Taylor scored his first try of the season - but for a more detailed analysis of this please see our News page!
Tim Janes scored a fine hat-trick while front-rowers Robin Wallbank and Glen Richards scored a try each through excellent support work. President Dave Rowan notched up 5 points with a typical barrelling run and barge over the line, Simon Cook crossed in the far corner at the end of nice back line move (sorry if you sold a dummy and sidestepped - I couldn't see that far) and Dave McKenna finished things off with a touchdown after he was introduced at towards the end of the second half - helped over the line in the corner by Jerome Manson.
Woodford did manage one consolation try in the second half after some sloppy defending and failure to get back in defence gave them an overlap, but to be fair they were never really in game after our forwards had established dominance. But for some poor handling in the back - something that we need to practice on - we could well have scored half a dozen more tries!
All in all, it was a very pleasing first outing for the 2nd XV and if we can keep the numbers up and get a regular core of players together we should do very well in the BL Merit Table. Perhaps more importantly, players will have a chance to show their skills and push for places in the 1st XV - but above all everyone seemed to enjoy themselves which is what it is all about!
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Scorers:
Tries: Brown 2, Clark, Rantell,
Blanchfield, Arnold, Szyczak
Convs: Clark 3
Pen: Clark
Man of the Match: Mike Brown
Winning Ways Continue
Writtle Wanderers were keen to continue the winning form they showed against Old Beals two weeks ago. With home advantage, the Wanderers were looking to put on a good display for the supporters.
The game started well but it soon became clear that this was going to a very physical encounter with the ref. having to get control of the game early on. Once things settled down, the Wanderers soon found themselves playing a very tough and wise team. The first half was a close affair, with the score 15-3 in the Wanderers favour as the teams changed ends.
As the game went on the Wanderers
began to dominate with their fitness beginning to show, with the forwards
winning good turn over ball which resulted in four 60 meter tries. With the
opposition tiring, the Wanderers set play start to work well, with some good
inter play between the backs and forwards which saw the home side eventually run
out winners by 42 points to 3.
This coming Saturday sees the Wanderers again playing at home against Clacton on Sea in the Essex Presidents Cup, so please come along and provide some vocal support, kick off 3pm Writtle Sports field.
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Scorers:
Tries: S Cook 2, Barrett, Rowan,
Sullivan
Man of the Match: Patrick Bidwell
Wanderers 2nd XV Go Down Fighting (Not Literally)!
With the Wanderers' original
opposition, Billericay III, crying off at the last minute, this friendly was
hastily organised to ensure a run out for all the 40 players available for the
club's two teams this week. The Wanderers' second string took on the challenge
of playing Old Brentwoods II who are four divisions above Wanderers II in the
Merit Table. However this fact did not perturb a side that saw some old and some
very old team-mates reunited, and with some youth mixed in the team was
confident of putting on a good show.
The game started well with a fast and furious 10-15 minutes of rugby which
resulted with the Wanderers close to the opposition line. The forwards won good
ball for the scrum half to find his fly half, Dave Rowan, who from 20 meters
tried to win the Chairman’s fiver by slotting a drop goal. As the ball sailed in
the general direction of the posts shouts could be heard from the crowd of “he’s
only f*cking got it” but the ball bounced off the cross bar only for the keen
Simon Cook to fall on it and score.
With the first try on the board, the Wanderers were keen to add to their tally
and from the restart they retained the ball well and made some good yards. This
allowed the ball to be recycled back to the No10, who kicked the ball into space
with Simon Cook giving chase only to be tackled off the ball. From the resulting
penalty five metres out the scrum half called a quick move, passed the ball to
the charging South African, Morgan Barrett, who skittled the opposition’s
defence out of the way to score.
Any thoughts of this game being a walk over were quickly quashed from the
restart, which saw the opposition score almost immediately through some sloppy
tackling from the Wanderers. After this score the game hit a bit of a lull with
both teams putting some good passages of play together, Old Brentwoods
eventually breaking the stalemate by running in two quick tries under the posts.
As the first half neared the end, the Wanderers once again found themselves
close to the opposition line and with a scrum called they went for the push over
try. Scott Taylor once again displayed great foot work (no space hopper
involved), controlling the ball with his feet at the back of the scrum like
Wayne Rooney, or should that be Mickey? After several shoves and the opposition
pack holding firm, Taylor picked up the ball ran a few yards before passing to
the barrelling fly half who crashed over for a try. But before the half was over
Old Brentwoods came back and scored twice before the whistle.
The second half saw some forced changes to the Wanderers line up and a
rejuvenated Old Brentwoods who started as they finished the first half. They
worked the ball well and made some good clean breaks, scoring twice more to
stretch their lead. With Wanderers both playing and facing an uphill challenge,
the crowd were beginning to think a cricket score was on the cards, but the
Wanderers dug deep and managed to score two further tries. One was a joint
effort through Gary Hall and Chris Sullivan - the argument as to who actually
scored will no doubt continue all season, but Gary did give it to Chris in his
captains report - and Simon Cook added a fine solo
effort from long range. Old Brentwoods may have scored again in the
closing minutes, but the reporter's memory is a little patchy!
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