South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Wanstead

Woodham continue to show better form at home edging out the visitors in a game where defences were to dominate. The final score of ten points to six.

The game started with the visitors showing the greater promise with a series of attacks that threatened the Woodham line. Some great defending kept them out, but pressure finally resulted in a penalty to Wanstead in front of the posts. Fortunately for the home team the kick was missed and that seemed to wake the lads up. For the rest of the half it was the Woodham attack that dominated play.

Strong defending kept the home team at bay until an accidental offside resulted in a Woodham scrum just inside the visitors 22. Quick ball from the scrum and some fine passing out to James Price on the wing allowed the speedster to cross the line for the only try of the day. Alex Baker, having just missed a penalty in front of the posts, landed the more difficult conversion.

After more Woodham attacks the lead was stretched to 10 points with a further penalty from Baker. Wanstead couldn’t quite get their attack going and when they looked to threaten, the Woodham defence was equal to the challenge and pegged them back.

The half ended with home side on top with 10 unanswered points.

The home supporters could have expected the team to kick on in the second half and build a big score, but this was not to be. Despite having most of the possession, they simply couldn’t crack the Wanstead defence. A series of mistakes and some silly penalties let the visitors off the hook.

The frustration may have got to the lads as when Wanstead did manage to clear their lines and go on the attack, they gave away penalties and allowed the visitors to reduce the lead. Twice Wanstead were gifted kickable penalties which they took.

With the lead down to four points a tense closing 15 minutes was to follow. Woodham continued to have the best of possession but just couldn’t find that final killer pass to break the spirited Wanstead defence.

Fittingly it was a defender who produced the defining moment of the game when, in the closing minute, one of Wansteads rare attacks was halted by a bone crunching tackle from Sammy Sharp that not only stopped the attack but gave the ball to the home team who were able to put it into touch to close the game out.

This was a must win game for Woodham and they showed real spirit throughout. Both sides turned in a massive defensive effort neutralising each other’s attack but in the end it will be the home side who will feel a little frustrated that they couldn’t turn possession and field position into more points.