South Woodham Ferrers 1st team make a winning start

The first game of the season is always eagerly awaited by all clubs and this was no exception as Sudbury and South Woodham Ferrers took to the field at Sudbury's outstanding ground just over the Suffolk border.

After a long hard summer of training the SWF side took to the field and found themselves on the wrong side of pressure as Sudbury were quicker out of the blocks and within the first 5 minutes Sudbury had taken a 3 point lead through a softly conceded penalty.

The lads regrouped and in their first 2 scrums drove Sudbury back sharply and set the tone for their coming dominance. Jack Reeve making his debut for the club slotted over his first penalty as cool as you like to level the scores at 3-3.

SWF now cranked up the pressure on \sudbury's pack and from a turnover James Wilson found himself in space fed Joe Dukelow who slipped the ball to Jenks on the wing who neatly stepped the Sudbury cover to score, duly converted by Reeve to leave the score at 10-3 to SWF.

The pack again forced a which found Lewis Gilbert score the try and left us ahead 15-3, at this point the Sudbury team looked desolate and it took just another 10 minutes till the next SWF score, a scrum on Sudburys 5 metre line was comprehensively won and as the ball shot out from the Sudbury feet Ryan Marshall was the quickest to respond to touchdown to leave the score 20-3 to SWF.

Nothing more of too importance happened before the interval other than James Wilson was sin binned rather harshly just before half time. The score at the break SWF 20-3 Sudbury.

The referee evened the numbers up just after half time sending the Sudbury hooker to the bin. Seven minutes later Greg Tighe scored his debut try for the club from a period of forward pressure which was converted, to put the match beyond doubt. Unfortunately Greg a couple of minutes later was to suffer from the outbreak of Yellow fever and spend 10 minutes in the bin. But no matter Joe Dukelow was released by bully and skated over for another SWF try in the 61st minute again converted by the excellent Reeve.

Despite Sudbury's best efforts they could not make any headway and it was no surprise in the 75th minute when James Wilson redeemed himself and scored a well worked forwards try from a lineout close to the Sudbury line.

Sudbury did score a very late consolation try but nothing could detract from this emphatic start to the new season.

Every player including the 3 subs contributed 100% to a fantastic start to the season to send this supporter and all the other travellers home with a smile. Well done to all the lads.

Squad – Captain Neil Gittos, Sharp, Langley, Wilson, Tighe, Marshall, Gilbert, Bull, Gateson, Reeve, Apthorp, Reid, Duggan, Jenkins, Dukelow, Gregory, Price, McLellan.

Get down to Saltcoats next saturday for the 1st teams first home league game kickoff 3pm

South Woodham Ferrers vs Wisbech