Ongar 1st XV v Writtle Wanderers 1st XV
After the disappointment of not having last weeks win registered as a league result, the men from Writtle travelled the short distance up the A414 to play Ongar with nothing but a win on their minds.
The game started with the home team the stronger and applying a lot pressure to the Wanderers defence. It was a great cover tackle from Full back James Gresty that saved the Wanderers the embarrassment of going 5 nil down in the first 5 minutes, However the tackle did put an end to Gresty’s game after suffering a blow to the head This lead to an early opportunity for Wanderers Head Coach Jack Redfern to take to the field and marshal his team from the back (and prove to a few of the youngsters that he still has some silky skills in the kit bag).
The Wanderers lack any control in the tight and where unable to secure good clean ball to release the back line – which last week had proved they can finish for almost anywhere on the pitch.
As the first half drew to a close it was Ongar that managed to convert some of their pressure into points with a try on the 38th minute (converted) after a period of play deep in the Wanderers half.
From the resulting restart and on the stroke of half time the Wanderers where awarded a penalty just outside Ongar’s 22, Captain Fleming elected for the kick at goal which Janes converted.
Half Time - Ongar 7 – Writtle Wanderers 3
For the first 20 minutes of the second half the game was contested in the middle of the park, with both teams becoming frustrated by mistakes.
It wasn’t until the wanderers pack higher fitness levels kick in, that they slowly started to control the game up front and give a platform for the back line to have some clean ball, that the game opened up. It was from inside their own half where the Wanderers took Ongar’s line out ball against the head. The backs where quick to react, and ship the ball quickly down the line to Janes who had his first opportunity of the game to run at his opposite number. Breaking the line and feeding winger Richard (PJ) Parling who went over in the corner. – Conversion missed.
The try gave the Wanderers renewed energy and within 2 mins of the restart good forward play moved the Wanderers back into Ongar’s half. Kiff, playing at inside centre this week noticed the space out wide to the left, and released Janes once more who this time needed no assistance from the winger and went over in the corner himself – Converted.
For the remaining 10 minutes Writtle continued to apply pressure but were unable to break through Ongar’s tough defence and the game ended 7-15.
Writtle had hope for a more convincing result, and in all honest where probably taken back by the strength of the Ongar team, but a win is a win and when its ground out like that it can some times be more satisfying.
Full Time – Ongar 7 – Writtle Wanderers 15
Tries – Parling, Janes
Pens – Janes
Con - Janes