Braintree U15 v SWF U15

The SWF under 15s team travelled to Braintree on 25th October 2015 for a second round cup match. The SWF team was affetced by injuries and illness and only 15 players were available for the match, of those 15 some were carrying injuries.

SWF under 15s kicked off the match and within 4 minutes Braintree had broken through the SWF to score a quick try that was not converted. A damp pitch forced handling errors from both sides and for the next 10 minutes there was a strong performance from the forwards who matched the Braintree team and managed to turn over the ball during loose play won scrums against the head. Ethan Burrell made good inroads in to the Braintree half by picking the ball up as Number 8 from the back of the scrum. Despite having a nagging back injury Ryan Galvin proved to be very effective in the rucks stealing possession of the ball.

With SWF dominating the play the forwards were able to feed the backs possession. Martin Bowers used his aggressive style of play to break through the Braintree backs but Braintree tackled well to deny SWF a try. Angelo Kyriacou playing at hooker proved to be a mobile player gaining yards with strong runs.

After 18 minutes SWF were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on the SWF 10 metre line. After winning the ball during a scrum for a Braintree knock on Arda Guynesh, playing at prop, scooped up the ball and ran free from the Braintree pack. At the breakdown Ben Plank at fly half was able to free the SWF backs and through a combination of Martin Bowers and Nathan Markham SWF levelled the match by scoring a try in the far corner of the pitch. Ben Plank was unable to convert the try.

The next 10 minutes saw some intense play with crunching tackles being made on both sides. A kicking game emerged with lots of up and under balls being played from both sides. George Murtha led the forwards with strong tackles. JImmy Anderson, playing at full back, showed that he was a safe pair of hands securely catching the Braintree kicks.

At 28 minutes the SWF team defended a penalty for offside on their own 10m line. SWF were successful in securing possession of the ball at the breakdown with Nathan Whittle, at scrum half, passing the ball out to Martin Bowers was able to run the ball towards the Braintree try line - unfortunately good tackling and kicking from Braintree brought the ball back deep in to our 22. Lewis Anderson had been enjoying an excellent game on the wing and at 28 minutes after making an essential tackle he injured his knee. Lewis received treatment and then chose to stay on the pitch as no substitutes were available.

The constant pressure from Braintree at the end of the first half proved too much for SWF and Braintree scored a try just before half time. The conversion was missed.

Early in to the second half George Phelps-Knight, playing at prop, injured his knee after finding himself at the bottom of a ruck. SWF were now down to 14 men. Arda Guynesh continued to have success with strong runs in loose play but within the first 10 minutes of the second half Braintree exploited their "extra" man and used an overlap in the backs to score a try despite good covering tackling from Joshua Maxfield This try was not converted.

At 15 - 5 the SWF team lined up quickly for the restart and caught the Braintree team asleep. Through several phases of play the forwards released the ball to the wing and after an excellent run Dan Crees was able to score a try in the corner. This try was not converted.

With the score at 15 - 10 the SWF team fought hard for possession of the ball. The game was marred in the second half by a series of off side decisions, and a Braintree taking advantage of not being penalised for their offside positions from the scum and in rucks. SWF suffered with 14 players on the pitch and some of those players were not at full fitness. Braintree scored a try at 9 minutes which was not converted.

SWF maintained their fight and despite the score being 20 - 10 the SWF did not give up. Martin Bowers again enjoyed a run that took him 50m down the pitch and he passed the ball to Lewis Anderson he was tackled 10m from the Braintree try line. Owen Pamphilon, playing at second row, picked the ball from the floor and broke through a number of tackles before a final tackle 2 metres from the try line stopped him running. Using his inertia and his long arms he was able to score a try to placing the ball just inside the the try line.

At 20 -15 the 14 man SWF team chased the game. During the final moments of the game SWF were awarded a penalty 10 metres in to the Braintree half. The SWF team decided to take the tactical approach and kick the ball in to touch to contest a line out closer to the Braintree try line. Unfortunately the referee chose the end the game at this stage.

The score in this match did not fairly reflect the gameplay. SWF under 15s showed great determination playing virtually all of the second half with only 14 men.

Man of the Match award this week goes to Ryan Galvin for playing the entire match whilst carrying an injury.