Writtle Wanderers RUFC

Writtle Wanderers RUFC
(Founded 2002)

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To use a footballing analogy, Saturday’s game at Fox Burrows Lane was a true “6 Pointer”. With both sides hovering just above the bottom two in the league and desperate to avoid the drop, the game was always bound to be a hard fought affair and so it turned out to be.

The Wanderers played with all the elements in the favour for the first half with the downward slope and wind behind them. However, any plans to maximise this advantage were often thwarted by handling errors in key areas. One area where the home side had a clear advantage was in the scrum where they were frequently in the ascendancy with the front row of Dom Pearce, Glen Richards and John Smillie constantly causing problems for the Upper Clapton pack.

With possession largely even and both sides struggling to offer a real threat to the try line in the first 40, it was no real surprise when the first score came from broken play. Steve Clark, making a rare appearance at centre, charged the ball down as Upper Clapton looked to move through their backs. Clark made the most of a favourable bounce to pick the ball up and run to the try line to score a converted try.

Despite only scoring 7 points in a half where conditions suggested that a larger lead should have been established, the home side's cause was boosted by the sin binning of an Upper Clapton player for throwing punches a minute before the turn around . However, the punishment had little effect as the visitors soon opened their account by sucking too many Wanderers into the ruck and then spinning the ball wide to make the most of an overlap to score a try 5 minutes into the second period. With the conversion missed, Writtle held onto a slender lead.

In what was a very physical game, the referee was forced to send a player from both sides to the bin for a 10 minute cooling period. As a result, gaps began to open up. Fly-half Tim Janes took full advantage as he released Clark who stepped his man and broke the gain line. The centre was snared a few metres from the line by Upper Clapton’s last man of defence but flanker Tom Fleming showed superb support play to take the popped pass and score under the posts. Clark converted leaving Writtle 6 points ahead with 5 to go. For all their efforts, Upper Clapton could not add to their score and Writtle ran out winners 14 – 8.