South Woodham Ferrers v Stowmarket 15/02/20

On a day when others chose not to travel the lads made the journey to Stowmarket to play their game in appalling weather. A fractious game that ebbed and flowed as the wind and rain set in, saw the home side come out on top winning 29 points to 15.

The game started in a moderate breeze with just a few spots of rain in the air but was to end in a full gale with heavy rain as storm Dennis let loose.

As with so many games Woodham started slowly allowing the home side to gain a seven-point lead early on, following a soft try given away by some poor defending. As the visitors got into their stride the game started to even out and the lads where soon back within four after Alex Baker landed a penalty.

Stowmarket, with the wind behind them kept the Woodham attack at bay clearing the ball deep into the visitor’s territory when they turned defence into attack. The wind was to play a part in the home sides second try when they were awarded a penalty in their own half. The resulting kick sailed deep into touch in the Woodham 22. The resulting line out was won well by the home team who worked the ball over the line to go into half time 14 point to 3 up.

With the wind behind them Woodham might have felt that the advantage would now work in their favour. Indeed, for the first twenty minutes this was to be the case and the Woodham attack got into their stride scoring two tries. One from James Wilson and the second from Alex Baker. With the score at 15 points to 14 in the visitors favour the away supporters sensed a possible victory.

Sadly, it was not to be the case, as conditions deteriorated, and tempers frayed the visitors lost their shape and Stowmarket played the worsening conditions to their advantage. Three more tries gave the home side their victory as they capitalised on defensive errors and more of those niggling penalties that Woodham are prone to giving away.

On a better day the game might have been more even; the lads had their chances but managed to spill the ball too often and allow a more clinical Stowmarket the chance to clear or break away. In the end it was the home side that played the conditions better and they earned the win by playing the right game for the conditions.

Congratulations to man of the match Alex Baker.