A Game of Two-Halves

South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Holt

Saturday 13th December saw the South Woodham Ferrers 1st XV rugby squad make an early start as they had to travel to Holt, in Norfolk, for their farthest away game of the season. South Woodham had a good victory the previous week so hopes were high they could reverse the narrow defeat they had suffered on the road at Holt last season.
South Woodham began the game in a determined mood and early pressure from the start saw a penalty awarded to the visitors which was missed by their kicker, Jack Reeve. From the restart Woodham harried the hosts and another penalty was soon awarded, this time very close to the posts, and this kick was slotted over to give Woodham a 0 – 3 lead. SWF were totally dominant in the scrum and more Holt ill discipline saw a 3rd penalty given away by the hosts but the kick was again missed. A steal at the line-out by the South Woodham forwards put more pressure on the Holt defence and for some time they were unable to get out of their own half. From another SWF dominated scrum the 1st try was scored by Ryan Marshall. The try was not converted so the score was 0 – 8. This try seemed to ‘wake up’ the home side and they began to make a game of it but SWF were playing some lovely passing rugby easily moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Despite being in the ascendancy SWF seemed unable to convert the pressure into points until a neat side-step saw Ryan Marshall crash over under the posts for his, and South Woodham’s, 2nd try of the game. Yet another missed conversion saw the score move onto 0 – 13.
Holt players were still being ill-disciplined and giving away quite a few penalties in the middle of the park which allowed Woodham to build wave after wave of attack. The SWF passing game was still going well with, seemingly, all passes going to hand. Another penalty, given away by a Holt player coming in from the side, led to another scrum and the 3rd Woodham try which was again scored by Ryan Marshall with the conversion kick again being missed by Jack Reeve. The 1st half closed with a dominant SWF being a deservedly 0 – 18 in the lead.
South Woodham made a substitution at half time swapping No 5 Greg Tighe for Olly Trig and Holt made a substitution to their front row. The second half started as the first had finished with Woodham looking to further increase their lead and a mis-kick from Holt saw SWF again threaten the Holt line. A penalty at the scrum, against SWF, gave Holt their first real scoring opportunity but the final pass to their last man was too high and the opportunity was missed. It was now SWF’s turn to give away penalties and one in the middle of the pitch saw Olly Trig yellow carded for not releasing in the ruck. The Holt supporters now started to vocalise their support for the first time and from Holt made their man-advantage immediately tell by scoring their first try. With the conversion kick missed the score moved onto 5 – 18. For the next 10 minutes the play stayed mainly in the middle of the park with the SWF defence standing strong and this play was typified by a spectacular tackle from winger James Price when Holt were in full flow. Olly Trig came back onto the pitch and almost immediately Jordan Harper was yellow carded. With the home supporters fully behind their team the 14-man Woodham side had to soak-up sustained Holt pressure and during this run of play a second Woodham substitution was made John Murphy for Sammy Sharp. Despite strong defensive play Holt scored, and converted, their 2nd try which made the score 12 – 18. SWF continued to defend even when Jordan Harper returned to the pitch and during this spirited defence a 3rd Woodham player, the prop David Langley, was yellow carded. Holt players, and their supporters, were now totally ‘fired-up’ and when, with only a few minutes to go, Holt went under the posts for their 3rd try, which was duly converted, the score went to 19 – 18 and Holt led for the first time in the match. With the clock ticking Woodham knew they had to attack from the off and strong pressure in the Holt half led to them conceding a penalty within kicking distance. In what proved to be the final play of the afternoon the kick was missed by the SWF kicker leaving the home side jubilant at their unexpected victory and the SWF squad pondering on what might, and should, have been.
SWFRFC 1st XV must now pick themselves up for their next game, on Saturday 20th December, where South Woodham play hosts to local rivals Chelmsford Rugby Club.

South Woodham Squad – Neil Gittos (Captain), John Murphy, David Langley, James Wilson, Greg Tighe, Sam Randlesome, Lewis Gilbert, Ryan Marshall, Joe Dukelow, Adam Brown, Dale Borthwich, Curtis Apthorp, Jordan Harper, James Price, Jack Reeve. Substitutes: Sammy Sharp, Olly Trig, Martin Jenkins