South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Saffron Walden RFC

Saturday 7th March dawned bright and clear and although sticky and heavy underfoot South Woodham RFC 1st XV were able to play on their home pitch for the first time since January. Having secured a well deserved victory, on the road, the previous weekend hopes were high that the 1st XV could continue their winning form against a team they had never previously beaten and who were several places higher than them in the table.
With SWF playing into the breeze and with the sun in their eyes Saffron Walden pressured from the start putting SWF on the back-foot, having to manfully defend their try-line. This early attack saw SWF give away a penalty, 5-metres out in-front of the posts, from which Saffron Walden scored to give them an early 0 – 3 lead. This initial set-back brought SWF to life and they went forward from the restart, kicking into the corner at every opportunity to keep pressure on the try-line. Finally the pressure paid off and, SWF captain, Neil Gittos broke through the visitors defence to power over the line for the 1st try of the game. With the kick being converted by Jack Reeve the score became 7 - 3. For yet another match the powerful SWF pack were proving totally dominant in the scrum and when several of these resulted in them camping on the Saffron Walden 5-metre line (with Saffron Walden being penalised for ‘turning’ the scrum) anticipation rose in the spectators that Woodham could come away with another score. A final scrum saw them push to the line allowing David Bull to peel away, from the back-row, to score. With the try being converted (Jack Reeve) SWF moved into a well deserved 14 – 3 lead. Saffron Walden now started to show why they are so highly placed in the league table and their skilful backs started to play their way into the game. Four missed tackles saw a Saffron Walden player scythe through the Woodham defence to score a try which, when converted, took the score to 14 – 10. From the restart it was gathered by Saffron Walden who played the ball across the park for their winger to side-step the defence and, despite a flying final tackle, touch-down for a second try. The ensuing kick was missed so the score moved onto 14 – 15. SWF, finding themselves unexpectedly down on the score sheet, began to come back and were deep in their opponents half when a Saffron Walden player was sin-binned for talking back to the referee. SWF proceeded to make the extra man count in their attacking moves but despite the pressure they could not cross the line and convert this into points. The Saffron Walden defence was holding out and constantly held the SWF attack up-short and cleared their line at every opportunity. SWF maintained their attack and were straight back at them but whenever the Saffron Walden backs got the ball in-hand they looked dangerous and were slipping out of the Woodham tackles. SWF were playing patient, confident rugby but could not convert this into points and when Saffron Walden turned-over the ball, in the middle of the pitch, it went to their backs who again ran through the defence to score. With this try not being converted the half-time score was 14 – 20 and SWF were left wondering how they were going into this behind on the score board. A half-time substitution (Warren Duggen for Jordan Harper) and an appropriate talk from manager Tony Woods saw SWF start the 2nd half mounting attack after attack. They were now playing with the sun on their backs and the forwards were seriously threatening the opposition’s try line when Greg Tighe broke free to score the 3rd Woodham try of the afternoon. During the, successful, conversion kick David Bull and John Murphy went off and Ryan Marshall and Olly Trig came on to a 21 – 20 score line. SWF continued to press forward and were playing some lovely passing rugby with the backs making some incisive runs into the Saffron Walden half. During one of these phases Adam Brown showed good vision, and skills, to side-step the defence and go over the try-line (4th bonus point try) and succeed in touching down under the posts. The kick was duly converted (Jack Reeve) and the score moved on to 28 – 20.
SWF were playing with confidence and passing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Some creative rugby saw Leon Gatson go over the try-line only to be denied the score for a forward pass. There followed a passage of play with neither side gaining an advantage and the third set of substitutions occurred, Sammy Sharp, James Wilson, Leon Gatson off and John Murphy, David Bull, Jordan Harper on. Woodham continued to look powerful in the scrum and, playing in the Saffron Walden half, from a dominant scrum the ball was passed across the pitch for Warren Duggan to score their 5th try. The conversion kick just crept over for a score-line of 35 – 20. Saffron Walden were still trying to play their own rugby and came close to the SWF line only for Greg Tighe to achieve the turn-over and clear. During a Saffron Walden attack Jordan Harper was shown a yellow card for not rolling away in a tackle and this saw the visitors make a concerted effort to capitalise on the one-man advantage but some stout home defending saw them come away empty-handed. There followed a well crafted Woodham play across the park (where almost every player touched the ball) which saw the defence part in front of the final pass for Jack Reeve to score, and then convert, the 6th try. The final SWF substitution saw David Langley replaced by Sammy Sharp. With the score now 42 – 20 Saffron Walden played the best rugby they had played in the 2nd half and a series of attacking moves saw them cross the SWF try-line for their 4th, and bonus point, try of the afternoon. With the kick for goal missed the final score was 42 – 25 and an entertaining afternoon of rugby came to an end.
With next weekend scheduled as a ‘rest weekend’ the next scheduled game, on 21st March, sees SWF 1st XV travel to play Old Cooperians.

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