SWF U15’s take on North London

This weekend the boys took a similar route to last week’s feature with an away trip to Bancroft in North London. The weather was appalling with a strong wind and rain it was going to be a tough before the boys had even gotten on to the pitch.

With Bancroft having only 14 players Woodham dropped to match them, and with 16 boys available Woodham had the luxury of 2 subs for the game. It was also agreed to play on a slightly smaller pitch to compensate for the lack of the blind winger on each side. Woodham had the kick off and Bancroft took the wind advantage for the first half.

Both teams seemed up for the game despite the weather and both teams pushed at each other defences to look for weak points. It was the visitors who opened the score after 9 minutes, with a well work period of play from the forwards, with scrum half Michaels pushing the ball out wide after several phases of play, and the ball passing down the back line to Bullet on the wing who turned on the gas to outpace the Bancroft defence and score to the right of the posts. With the wind disadvantage the conversion by Ox was missed but Woodham were up 0 – 5.
Bancroft came back at the visitors and their scrum was to dominate the Woodham pack for the whole game. Bancroft we also strong at the ruck pushing the Woodham boys off the ball on numerous occasions to turn the ball over. And it was from one of these turnovers on 16 minutes, that the home side broke the Woodham defence and slotted the ball under the posts for an easy conversion. The score now 7 – 5 with 14 minutes till half time.

Both sides worked hard to secure the ball and defend the opposition defence but the score remained unchanged at the half time whistle.
Woodham’s game play for the second half was to use the wind advantage and try to keep the home side firmly in their half of the pitch. This worked well for the visitors and their efforts were rewarded after Bullet took flight down the wing, offloading to the supporting Ox who cruised in under the posts. With OX taking the conversion the score was now 7 – 12.

It would take Woodham just 2 more minutes to cross the home sides line for their 3rd of game through Gerrard on 41 minutes. However, the conversion proved elusive and Woodham now extended their lead to 7 – 17. The intensity of the game now started to take its toll on both teams, with several injuries on both sides, the teams eventually having to drop to 13 a side to keep things even.

Bancroft were not done though and spent the next 10 minutes camped in the Woodham 5-meter line, with an excellent defence from the Woodham boys Bancroft were held up over the line 4 times. Woodham managed to win the ball back at the ruck, but elected to run the ball back at the hosts rather than use the wind advantage to drive the hosts deep back into their own half. This call leading to Bancroft turning the ball over and crossing on 51 minutes, with the conversion good it was all to play for at 14 -17.

Both sides pushed for the last 9 minutes to secure the last try of the game, but it didn’t come from either side. An excellent balanced game for rugby from both sides, which was a pleasure to watch the final whistle 14 – 17. Man of the match chosen by the Bancroft coaches was hooker Bobo for his intensity with ball in hand and great tackling. Training at home for the next couple of weeks before our next home fixture against Benfleet on the 31st March.