South Woodham Ferrers RFC V Campion RFC

South Woodham RFC 1st XV took to the road again on the 28th February, this time to face Campion RFC who had already beaten them at home (Saltcoates) this season. A late squad withdrawal saw SWF travelling with only 2 substitutes to face a Campion side who are vying for promotion this season. With only four games of the season remaining (after this encounter) each match, and every point, assumes greater importance in the battle for final league position.
Almost from the kick-off a strong SWF tackle sees then winning the ball at the breakdown and a Campion player giving away a penalty. With this happening on the 22-metre line Woodham elect to kick the penalty, which is successful (Jack Reeve being the kicker) and the score goes to 0 – 3. After this hectic start the game settled down and play was contained in the middle of the pitch. The first couple of scrums were evenly matched, with the two packs getting the measure of each other, but after this the SWF pack started to gain the ascendancy and this led to the whole SWF team putting pressure on in all areas. At this stage the Woodham team looked not only the more physical side but also the more determined to win. A period of play, deep in the Campion half, saw six scrum-downs in quick succession and the Campion forwards being spoken to for constantly turning the scrum in the face-of dominant scrumming by the SWF front row. This dominance was finally turned into points when second-row James Wilson scored the opening try. With the try being converted (Jack Reeve) the score became a well deserved 0 – 10. After the re-start there followed a period of disjointed and interrupted play as there were several stoppages to clear dog defecation from the pitch. Throughout this SWF continued to pressure the Campion defence and finally a Campion player was sin-binned, and a penalty awarded, just inside the half-way line and the resultant successful SWF kick (Jack Reeve) moved the score onto 0 – 13. From the re-start a mistake by SWF puts a Campion scrum on their 10-metre line and the resultant phase of play sees Woodham under pressure for the first time in the game. This pressure led to a yellow card being shown to Sam Randlesome (SWF) and a kickable penalty being awarded to Campion, which they converted, to take the half-time score to 3 – 13.
The second-half started with both sides being down to 14 men and a SWF error from the kick-off saw the ball knocked-on at the catch. There followed a good phase of play for Campion and it was the longest, thus far in the match, they had stayed in the Woodham half. Campion were further heartened by the return of their sin-binned player and continued to press for the SWF try-line when there was a scrum on the Woodham 5-metre line. However, SWF continued to dominate in the scrum and the kick-out relieved the pressure on the Woodham try-line but SWF were judged to have pulled down the resultant maul and David Langley was sin-binned. With only 13 men on the pitch SWF succumbed to the Campion pressure and the try, which they duly converted, moved the score to 10 – 13. With the first SWF sin-bin over, and a front row forward still in the sin-bin, John Murphy came on the pitch to replace Sam Randlesome and the SWF front-row was shuffled around. From the re-start SWF showed, to a man, great determination not to let their one-man disadvantage give Campion the edge and through a series of phases slowly edged their way up the pitch with a series of excellent plays. With strong tackling occurring in the middle of the pitch a rolling maul left Campion confused and a 3-man break-off sent James Wilson over the line for his, and Woodham’s, second try of the game. The try was converted to give SWF a 10 – 20 lead. With the second sin-bin over, and a reshuffled front row, SWF were restored to full strength and there followed a series of hard fought phases with neither team backing down as they fought for dominance and victory. SWF made their second substitution with Greig Tighe making way for Ryan Marshall. The next phase of play saw a real, gritty rugby match with both sides matching skill-for-skill and Campion worked their way into the Woodham half of the pitch. But yet again SWF proved too strong, and determined, on the day and great forward play saw them inch out of their own half with crash-ball after crash-ball and every forward lining up to take his turn at laying his body on the line for his team mates. The SWF backs were matching the forwards for effort and a strong run from Adam Brown saw him take the ball up to the Campion 5-metre line and get a pass off to David Bull who shrugged off the tackles to score a try. The conversion kick was missed and the score was 10 – 25. Having given his all for the team Sammy Sharp was now substituted to be replaced by Sam Randlesome. SWF were now playing sensible rugby keeping possession of the ball, being patient and not chasing the 4th try, which would assure a bonus point. As the game was drawing to a close a hint of desperation was creeping into Campion’s play but Woodham continued to be patient in their play-making and after a series passes from one side of the pitch to the other a superb sidestep and burst of speed saw James Price break through for SWF’s 4th try of the game. A final missed conversion made the score 10 – 30. In what proved to be the final play of the afternoon Leon Gatson was game was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-down.
So an exceedingly exciting, mainly high tempo match finished with SWF securing all the points on offer and seriously denting, if not ending, Campion’s hopes of promotion this season.
The next scheduled game, on 7th March, sees SWF 1st XV host Saffron Waldon RFC in what promises to be another close, hard fought encounter.

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