Mud-bath victory for South Woodham

South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Old Cooperians

Saturday 6th December saw the South Woodham Ferrers rugby club play host to Old Cooperians in a London 2 North East League 1st XV game. South Woodham have had a mixed season thus far and, following an away defeat, began the day looking for a home victory against a side currently anchored at the bottom of the London 2 North East league. Old Cooperians are a team formed initially by the masters of Coopers Grammar School and although the club is now open for anyone to join the whole travelling squad, bar one player, were ex-pupils of Coopers Grammar School.
Despite the match being played in wintery sunshine conditions underfoot can only be described as ‘boggy’ and this made for difficult playing conditions. The South Woodham team started brightly but found themselves 3 – 0 down early on when, after an infringement in the ruck, a penalty within kicking range was awarded to Old Cooperians which Joe Bilton duly converted. This score only seemed to spur on the Woodham team and after sustained Woodham pressure their reward came when prop David Langley went over the try line to open the scoring for the hosts. Jack Reeve then converted to give South Woodham a 7 - 3 lead. Woodham were now clearly in the ascendancy and playing some good team rugby despite the muddy conditions. Even though a Woodham penalty kick was short it seemed, to the expectant home team supporters, that a further score was only a matter of time and winger James Price duly obliged before half-time. With this second try also being converted South Woodham went into half-time with a well deserved 14 – 3 lead.
The second half started as the first had finished with Woodham looking to further increase their lead and Old Cooperians determined not to let this happen. The South Woodham players were looking superior to their opponents all around the park but a particular mention must be made of their (prop) captain Gittos’ unexpected “salmon-like” leap to intercept a 4-man line-out ball. This superiority was shown when David Bull went over, from a driving scrum, to score their third try. With this try also being converted the score rose to 21 – 3.
The heavy, strength sapping conditions were beginning to take their toll on both sides but when Woodham went down to 13 men (due to two yellow cards being shown in quick succession to Olly Trig and David Langley) their quality in defence was called on to deny a freshly energised Old Cooperians team. Woodham had been pinned down in their own half when an intercept on his own 10 metre line saw Jack Reeve sprint away for Woodam’s fourth, and a bonus point securing, try. Woodham seemed determined not to let their opponents cross their try line and held off many attacks but finally, and almost at the end of the game, John Woodhall squeezed through to score a consolation try. With the kick not being converted the final score was a 26 – 8 victory for the hosts in what can only be described as a hard fought but thoroughly deserved win by the whole squad. All South Woodham substitutes were used during this game with Alex Baker making his 1st team debut.
For their next game, on Saturday 13th December, SWFRFC 1st XV travel to Holt Rugby Club in Norfolk for the first meeting between the teams this season.

South Woodham Squad – Neil Gittos (Captain), John Murphy, David Langley, James Wilson, Greg Tighe, Ryan Marshall, Sam Randlesome, David Bull, Adam Brown, Curtis Apthorp, Dale Borthwich, Jordan Harper, Leon Gatson, James Price, Jack Reeve. Substitutes: Sammy Sharp, Olly Trig, Alex Baker