London north east Division 3 - Canvey Island 17 SWF 25

SWF took the short journey to Canvey Island in the knowledge that a win in this game was vital to keep up their push for promotion and the title of champions. Both teams had plenty to play as Canvey Island really needed a win in their fight to avoid relegation, so there was going to be no quarter given and it was no surprise when both sides exchanged penalties in the first 5 minutes to level the game 3-3.
SWF and Canvey Island were penalised repeatedly by the ref at the rucks and he finally lost patience and sent centre Apthorp to the bin for holding on. Canvey immediately went on the attack looking to make the extra man count and 4 minutes later they scored when a wicked bounce of the ball took the SWF 15 out of the way and Canvey collected the loose ball to pounce. They pushed hard for more points but only came away with a penalty in the 25 th minute and led 11-3 when Apthorp was reintroduced. However Canveys tails were up and with the ref now penalising SWF at seemingly every ruck they went further ahead with a penalty in the 34th minute to lead 14-3. In the 34 th minute calamity struck when SWF flanker was adjudged to have stamped on an opponent and was red carded. This looked like turning into a very bad day for SWF and went further downhill when Canvey slotted another penalty to leave Canvey ahead 17-3 at half time.

The half time talk was needed and SWF went out with the wind behind the and a steely determination to right all the wrongs of the first half.The ref sin binned a Canvey forward in the 47th minute and a minute later Brown cut through the Canvey defence to score a much needed try which he also converted. The score now 17-10 to Canvey and game on with both sides reduced to 14 men. SWF then had to withstand 10 minutes of Canvey pressure as Canvey came on hard looking for the decisive score, but they did hold out and built some momentum of their own and only scrambling defence from Canvey held out Harper and Duggan from recording tries. The forwards from SWF were really taken the game to Canveyand in a reverse of the first half the refbegan to penalise Canvey at every ruck and finall awarded SWF a penalty try as Canvey continuously killed the ball at a ruck under the posts, and he also red carded a Canvey player with a second yellow. Brown converted and the game was tied 17 each with ten minutes to go.
The big crowd were tense as the game entered the final phases as both sides realised the importance of the situation. It was SWF who had the momentum and when Brown slotted a penalty in the 73rd minute it was greeted with some relief on the sidelines. Canvey immediately pushed forward from the kick off a great relieving kick from Harper brought the ball deep into the Canvey half, from theirclearingkick Duggan got his hands on the ball and took off down the touch line avoiding the despairing tackle attempts from the Canvey backs went over in the corner to secure the win with th last play. The final score Canvey 17 SWF 25. Phew a great second half performance of real character puts the title chase firmly in our own hands. Bring on the next game.
Squad - Neil Gittos (capt), David Langley, Martin Jenkins,Greg Tighe, James Wilson, Ryan Marshall, Liam Searles, John Murphy, Phil Lockwood, Adam Brown, Warren Duggan, Reid Fairbarn , Curtis Apthorp, Andrew Jenkins, Daniel Levy, subs Paul Morgan, James Price, Jordan Harper.
Next game Saturday 13th vs Sudbury at Saltcoats 3pm kickoff