London North East Division 2 - SWF 39 Braintree 36

SWF returned to Saltcoats after two games in a row on the road and looking for a much needed victory. However today's opponent brought a strong pedigree to this fixture and would be looking to secure maximum points.
Almost immediately SWF were awarded a penalty outside the Braintree 22 and up stepped full back Reeve and slotted it to give SWF the perfect start. SWF were dominating especially in the scrum and after 2 big gains from the set piece Reeve was given another opportunity from more or less the same position but just narrowly missed, this seemed to wake Braiintree up and within a couple of minutes they scored their first try which was converted to leave them ahead 7-3. There then followed a mad 20 minutes when SWF couldn't seem to find any grip in the game and Braintree scored with every opportunity they got. Firstly on 18 minutes their strong running number 6 scored a try, followed in the 20th minute when a wayward Woodham pass was intercepted, and finally from an SWF line out Braintree scored under the posts to leave the score 26-3 and SWF with a mountain to climb for the second week in a row.
The SWF forwards pushed deep into the Braintree 22 and a penalty was punished by a yellow card and a five metre scrum to SWF. The scrum was reset once and at the second attempt Marshall went over to start the fight back, Reeve converted. SWF put Braintree under real pressure for the rest of the first half and Marshall, Searles and Gittos were carrying the ball to great effect and right on halftime from another 5m scrum Marshall scored, Reeveconverted to leave the score SWF 17 Braintree 26 at half time.
Time to draw breath and ponder which way this game was going to go. We didnt have to wait long as from the kick off SWF secured a lineout and when the ball bobbled about and despite Braintree protesting a big knock on Searles played on and scored a try, again Reeve converted to now leave SWF just 2 points adrift. SWF were now going for the next score with some gusto and after a number of opportunities were spurned captain Gittos found himself in open space with the Braintree winger in front he slipped the ball to winger Duggan who broke the despairing tackle of the Braintree full back to score in the corner and complete the comeback, SWF ahead 29-26. But as mentioned earlier Braintree bring a strong pedigree and 3 minutes later they were in the lead when they put together a full team move to score in the corner, Braintree ahead 31-26. Phew 9 tries so far and still 30 minutes to go. The SWF forwards were playing very strongly and again some opportunities were going a begging but there was no sign of panic and they were rewarded in the 70th minute when the very impressive Searles who we'd great strength to score his second try of the day, crucially Reeve again converted, SWF ahead 36-31, ding dong. Braintree showed great powers of resilience and again they broke out of their own 22 and with there winger bearing down on the try line only a flying tackle from winger Price stopped them scoring. They did however score from the ensuing lineout but crucially missed the conversion and the scores were tied 36-36. There would have been many a supporter who would have settled for that and retired to the bar but there was still 10 minutes to go. In the 74th the SWF forwards got the game into the middle of the pitch and won the penalty, up stepped Reeve who had kicked splendidly all day and showed no nerves as he nailed the kick. SWF ahead 39-36 and 5 minutes to go. And so it finished up a narrow win for SWF but a win needed and job done, well done to both sides for a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby.
SWF SQUAD - Captain Neil Gittos, David Langley, Lewis Gilbert, Paul Morgan, David Bull, Liam Searles, Chris Milner, Ryan Marshall, Joe Dukelow, Jordan Harper, Curtis Apthorp, Warren Duggan, James Price, Jack Reeve, Jack Norkett, Phil Lockwood, Andrew Jenkins.
No game next Saturday for the 1s, next game is coach trip to Norwich on 26th all support is welcome