This score gave confidence to a Bancroft side also looking to reinvent their season, but Writtle had different ideas. The forwards started really well giving steady platforms for the backs to run the ball.  Excellent support at the break downs allowed Writtle to retain the ball and gave Tim Janes the opportunity to to do a bit of dribbling himself to kick through for Writtle's first score.

The pace that Writtle got themselves back into the game only continued to grow as phase after phase saw the Wanderers crash up field.  Good open running from backs and forwards alike saw five phases carry the ball through the heart of Bancroft's defence with Tommy Young, Lee Amman and a very enthusiastic Gary Hall all making good yards.  A good flash ball saw Tey Chepato go wide for Writtle's second score, the conversion being missed  to leave the game at 7 - 12.

The rest of the first half was much the same, Writtle's forwards looked strong in all set pieces and the backs look confident with ball in hand.  Bancroft managed another score against the run of play, but Writtle managed another three of their own before the break with Tim Janes scoring his second and Sean Culleton going over before the whistle.

Half time saw the first of the changes with Smillie replacing the injured Wallbank.  A fairly even 20 mins of rugby got the half underway with good defence from both teams.  Some clever thinking from Lee Amman saw two good chips just missed by Chepato and Mike Brown on opposite wings.  A good break saw the now inform Janes break away for his third try of the game, however the kick was placed just wide to take the game to 12 - 37. A penalty kick to Bancroft shortly after made it 15 - 37.

Writtle were in a good position to put this game to bed, but a few quiet moments in the latter stages allowed a slightly ruffled Bancroft back into the game.  Some good running from their very quick full back gained them vital yards and with tackles being missed they were delighted to get another score on the board as a penalty for infringement at the rucks gave them another 3 points from the resulting kick 18 - 37.

The final ten minutes saw some good rugby from the Wanderers who were looking to finish the game on a high.  Again good work from the forwards gave the backs the platform they needed to work off.  Strong running lines were being made from a pumped up Hall, which kept the game moving into the final moments.  Janes produced again to finish off a profitable day for Writtle and secure the first league victory of the season.

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11th November 2006

However, Writtle were able to call on a sizeable and experienced pack with over 450 caps for the club between them - 250 of these in the front row of Martyn Howarth, Glenn Richards and John Stimpson!  The half back pairing of Marc Congdon and Jon Horne  also had plenty of caps, although not many in the respective positions of scrum-half and fly-half!

The game got underway with a strong breeze across the ground and into the Wanderers faces.  The referee had given both sides a clear indication before the game started that chat back was completely unacceptable and he proved true to his word by penalising both sides several times in the first ten minutes for questioning decisions.  Whilst we wholeheartedly support the cutting out of the sort of soccer field behaviour that has been creeping into the game, the unfortunate effect of this was that all players seemed to be reluctant to use their voices at all throughout the first half.  Communication is vital to the game and with virtually no-one calling for the ball, the mute mandarins struggled to put together any meaningful phases of play!

In a fairly even first half there was little to stand out, but Writtle were grateful to Bernard Denenga for one superb covering tackle that prevented a Southend try in the corner.  With the first half coming to a close, Writtle conceded a penalty in front of their posts and looked certain to turn around three points down; however, the Southend kicker somehow sliced his kick wide to let the visitors off the hook!

The half time team talk focussed on the lack of communication - picked up by both on field skipper Richards and off field captain Colm Coyle, sidelined through injury but hoping to be back in the next couple of weeks.  With the wind now at their backs and the new found confidence to waggle their tangerine tonsils, Writtle looked a far more effective side.  Excellent runs around the fringes from the pack started to make serious dents in the Southend defence and the forward power was telling in the scrums and lineouts.  In fact, I'm not sure that the Southend jumpers, under great pressure from Man of the Match Matt Morris, took a clean catch all day, instead choosing to tap the ball back towards their scrum half, where the hungry Scott Taylor was regularly to be seen feasting!

Having made their way close to the Southend line, Writtle were awarded a penalty and chose to exploit their dominance by electing for a scrum.  With a solid platform, No.8 Martin Featherstone was able to make up for earlier fumbles to crash over for a deserved score.  The conversion was missed, but with the Southend pack starting to suffer from the onslaught, Writtle continued to use the forwards to carry the ball.  A short pass from Congdon to loosehead Howarth saw the prop make excellent ground only to spill the ball as he tried to pop it back to Congdon who was in the clear ten metres out.

However, the Congdon/Howarth partnership was to work some magic a few minutes later as the scrum half put in a kick for the corner from 45 yards out.  Howarth, showing wonderful anticipation by having positioned himself out on the wing, took off like a startled hare with the Southend winger tearing across the field to cut him off.  With the ball teasing the touchline and the winger breathing down his neck, Howarth managed to gather the ball and dive for the line to score only his second try in Writtle colours!  The conversion from the touchline fell short, but the game had now swung firmly in Writtle's favour.

The victory was sealed with an excellent run in by Lloyd Hariram, playing only his second game since returning from a serious shoulder injury.  Yet more tidy forward play had given Writtle the position on the Southend twenty two and when the ball was passed down the line the pacey Hariram was able to exploit the gap and notch up his first of the season and give the Wanderers a very much deserved first away win of the season.