Writtle Wanderers RUFC

Writtle Wanderers RUFC
(Founded 2002)

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A bare 15 travelled over the river to take on Cranbrook in Kent. Arriving 15 minutes late for kick off, the delay gave Cranbrook more preparation time and Wanderers the chance to get their boots on and organise who was playing where...

Playing four sets of 20 minutes, inspirational captain ‘Big’ John Stimpson rallied his troops and urged for a big performance to get the season off to a good start. The first 20 minutes went off with out a score, with each team exchanging blows and testing the other out. One thing that was obvious, Cranbrook had spotted what they thought to be Wanderers' weak link in the back line, club coach Mark Rawlinson playing at stand off. They consistently got caught of side trying to catch the veteran in possession, but he had the last laugh when his place-kicking skills stole the game for Writtle.

Cranbrook were the first to get points on the board, after a miss-timed kick from scrum half Tim Janes was charged down over the try line and touched down for the try. The Wanderers responded by playing the territory game, with good interlinking in the forwards and touch kicking getting them in a great attacking position. With the Cranbrook backs still targeting Rawlinson, this gave space to Messo^#1, who showed that he isn’t just fast as he pushed a cross field kick into the direct of Jon Horne and Tey Chepato. With the resulting bounce falling straight into the hands of Chepato, the scores were levelled as he touched down in the corner.

The Wanderers continued this attacking form for the remainder of the quarter and went in into the break 7 points up after Messo and Chepato showed their pace and passing skills in ripping the Cranbrook back line apart.

The third quarter saw the Wanderers return to the problems of last season, giving away a series of penalties and putting themselves under pressure. From a resulting penalty the Cranbrook forwards took it upon themselves to score a try and allow an easy conversion for game to be brought back to all square.

The Wanderers came straight back into the game, again kicking for territory and securing a lineout 10 meters from the Cranbrook line. Stimpson sent his pack to work and ordered the drive over, and with great communication and mauling skills new boy Rhys Berry touched down. Rawlinson converted for another 7 point lead. Not to be out-done, Cranbrook responded and got a quick unconverted try straight from the kick off.

After 5 minutes of exchanges in the middle of the park, Cranbrook exploited a gap down the left and went over to score in the corner, again the conversion being missed. The Wanderers now faced an uphill battle, being 22 - 19 down with the final 20 minutes to play.

The Wanderers soaked up lots of pressure as the opposition looked to put the nail in the coffin and finish the game off in style. However it was the Wanderers who would have the last word, with great build up play from the forwards giving quick ball to the back line. Great hands gave Chepato space to break up the left flank, supported as always by Messo, who got the resulting pass and finished off in style with his trade mark ‘swan’ dive over the line.

With the Wanderers now two points in the lead, Cranbrook piled on all the pressure, but the Wanderers absorbed it as they had done for a large period of the game. Cranbrook's indiscipline let the Wanderers off the hook as they cleared their lines with some good touch kicking. Finally with one infringement too many, the hosts were penalised in their own 22, giving the Wanderers the opportunity to close the game off with a kick at goal. The kick was missed by Rawlinson, but the final whistle went for a hard-earned victory!

With some big games coming up over the next couple of weeks, this should give the club the belief that they need to go into these games with confidence. Also the strength in depth with in the club has to be taken notice off, and it’s the responsibility of the players that weren’t present to prove their worth in the coming weeks. In my eyes the pressure is on, and we all need to step up and take note.

A mention must also go to the guys playing the first games for the wanderers, who seem to have adopted the club sprit very quickly and will be great assets to the club going forward.

Team: Stimpson, Richards, Berry, Manson, McCarthy, Hall, Fleming, Rigna, Janes, Rawlinson, Fitzgerald, Chepato, Messo, Middleton, Horne, Redfern.

#1 - Astonishingly, Messo was actually the first Wanderers player to arrive at Cranbrook and had to wait for the rest of the team to arrive. How things change as a new season comes along!