Hard Fought Local Derby

South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Chelmsford RFC

Saturday 20th December saw the last rugby game of 2014 for South Woodham Ferrers rugby club’s senior teams with both the 1st and 2nd XV playing at their home ground of Saltcoats Playing Field. The 1st XV were hosts to local rivals Chelmsford RFC, who at the start of the day were riding high at the top of the London 2 North East League, and the 2nd XV were hosts to Old Brent’s II.
Having suffered a narrow defeat on the road the previous weekend the 1st XV were fully focussed and motivated for this game and this was evident when from the kick-off SWF pressure forced a line-out. A catch and drive from this line-out saw second-row James Wilson cross the line for the first score of the match and with the try being converted by kicker Jack Reeve SWF went into an early 7 – 0 lead. Conditions were very muddy underfoot but both teams were trying to play flowing passing rugby. SWF were penalised, just inside their own half, for not releasing in the tackle and Chelmsford successfully kicked the penalty taking the score to 7 – 3. A period of good open play followed with South Woodham pressuring the Chelmsford defence which held out against strong SWF scrumaging and rolling mauls. This pressure finally told for the home side when prop David Langley took a ball from a long line-out throw and then, after a couple of phases of play, picked it up from the bottom of a ruck to crash over for the 2nd SWF try. With the conversion kick being missed the score moved onto 12 – 3. Due to a shoulder injury Paul Pickford was then substituted by Sam Randlesome.
Chelmsford were competing hard in the middle of the park in an attempt to get back into the game and they were soon awarded a penalty, on the 10-metre line in front of the posts, which to the surprise of both home and visiting supporters, was missed. Both sides were evenly matched in the scrum and with high levels of intensity being shown all around the park it was an evenly matched and hard fought game when Michael Guest was sin binned and the whistle was soon blown to signal the end of the first half.
There was a half-time substitution of Olly Trig for Greg Tighe and the second half started with the same intensity as the first half had finished. A penalty, just inside the Woodham half, awarded to Chelmsford for SWF turning the scrum was converted to make the score 12 – 6. With both sides putting everything into their play Woodham were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts which the SWF kicker missed. The heavy, sticky, strength sapping conditions were beginning to take their toll on both sides, with play mainly confined to the middle of the pitch, when after a passage of Chelmsford pressure a solo run through a melee of players saw Chelmsford score under the posts. With the try converted Chelmsford went ahead 12 – 13 for the first time in the match. SWF then suffered two injuries (Lewis Gilbert – shoulder/upper arm and Adam Brown – hamstring) and Greg Tighe and Alex Baker replaced the injured. Strong Chelmsford pressure resulted in another penalty, which was struck against the crossbar, quickly followed by another which they scored to take it to 12 – 16. With only a few minutes left on the clock SWF went all-out to try to win the match and their pressure was rewarded with a penalty which was missed to leave the final score a hard-fought 12 – 16 victory to Chelmsford.
On a more successful note the SWF 2nd XV won their match.
A well earned 3-week break now follows with the next 1st XV match away to Basildon on the 10th January 2015.
South Woodham Squad – Neil Gittos (Captain), John Murphy, Michael Guest, James Wilson, David Langley, Greg Tighe, Liam Searles, Paul Pickworth, Joe Dukelow, Adam Brown, James Price, Curtis Apthorp, Leon Gatson, Warren Duggen, Jack Reeve. Substitutes: Sam Randlesome, Olly Trig, Alex Baker