Writtle Wanderers RUFC

Writtle Wanderers RUFC
(Founded 2002)

Quick Links

Club Info

Team Info

News & Social

Fundraising

Club Archives

Writtle Wanderers 1st XV v Millwall 1st XV
(Essex President's Shield - Quarter Final)

Saturday saw Writtle do the double over Millwall as firstly the Wanderers Vets beat Millwall Vets in an inaugural run out for the Writtle old boys and then the first team chalked up a second victory in the President's Shield. Cheered on by the vociferous old boys who had played earlier, both teams put on a good display of competitive rugby that kept those on the sidelines well entertained.

Writtle started the game in what is almost becoming a weekly re-occurrence by allowing their opponents the first score. Millwall secured possession in the home sides 22 and from the resulting play went over for the try. At 5 – 0 down Writtle began to work their way back into the game with some good controlled rugby. Their first score however came from an opportunist moment from centre Tim Janes. With the ball lose in broken play, he hacked through the broken defence and won the race to score the try, converted by Steve Clark.

Millwall continued to play a varied game using their strong running No. 8 from set plays at the scrum along with a strategy of allowing their backs to run whenever possible. The Writtle defence was looking strong despite the pressure and from this stable foundation the home side were able to start testing their opponents.

Directed by scrum-half Dave McKenna, the Wanderers put together a number of good phases of play which finally resulted in John Smillie crashing through Millwall defence to score. Clark’s conversion took the score to 14-5.

Millwall then upped their intensity and put more pressure on the home side. After several minutes camped in the Wanderers half, something inevitable had to give and flanker Tom Fleming found himself sent to the bin for one infringement too many. Millwall made the most of their extra man and using quick ball, spun the ball wide to score leaving the half time score 14 – 12.

Starting the second half back at full strength, Writtle had the better of the opening exchanges and edged further ahead thanks to the boot of Clark who slotted a long range penalty from close to the half way line. Janes then managed to double his try tally for the afternoon as he found himself on the end of some good work from the Writtle backs to step inside his man to score.

As the clock ticked down, Millwall threw all they could at the Wanderers who held out for all but the final minute when the visitors ran over to score a try. Their fight back was in vein as the referee blew the full time whistle straight after the conversion attempt to see the home side win 22 -17 and progress to the semi-final.

The Wanderers can take many positives from this performance as they return to league action next week in desperate need of a win.

Scorers:
Tries - Batty, Featherstone, Cook S, Janes G, Denenga
Convs - Clackson 5
Man of the Match - Dick Battye

----------

With both sides in desperate need of league points, Saturday’s fixtures had some added importance to both teams. Writtle found themselves on the back foot even before kick off when all bar four of the squad found themselves stuck in traffic on the way to the game!

With pre-match preparations limited to simply distributing the shirts and running on to the field, it was somewhat surprising when the Wanderers took an early lead through a penalty for the boot of full back, Steve Clark. However, the home side were soon in the ascendancy and had much the upper hand for much of the first half. Writtle’s lack of preparation could not be blamed for what was a totally abject display, firstly missing three tackles to allow an East London try and then wrongly assuming that the home side were going to kick for points following a penalty offence, only to see the ball spun wide for a try.

At 12 – 3 down, the visitors knew that without a significant improvement in the second half, a defeat would leave them with a huge amount to do in their battle to still be playing Division 1 rugby next season. Early second half scores were vital and these came firstly from a Clark penalty and then the full back finished a breakaway move involving all the backs to score a converted try. Again though, the Wanderers were guilty of stepping of the gas and allowed East London to come straight back with another seven points of their own with a good score down the left.

It was Adam Jones that kept the visitors in touch with an elusive run that saw the centre glide through the home side's defence from the half way line to score. Clark kicked both the conversion and then a long range penalty to edge Writtle ahead.

The game had now broken up with spaces all over the field and the ever dangerous John Smillie then broke through to score and see the Wanderers extend their lead. This was then extended further by another Clark penalty. The home side continued to push for points and again broke the Wanderers line to score a try and keep in touch.

Writtle finally killed the game off with four minutes left on the clock when scrum half Dave McKenna fed fly half Tim Janes from the scrum. Janes stepped his man to add five points and take the final score to 24 – 38.

Writtle face local rivals Maldon in the Essex President's Shield semi-final next week, with a County Final on offer for the winners!