Woodham face Harlow Away

This week the boys travelled to Harlow. The team were a little lighter than normal with the Easter Half Term and a number of the boys away. Harlow had a large side, about double the 13 players fielded by Woodham, the sun was shining and it looked promising for a good game of Rugby.

Harlow took the kick off for the first match, straight to Oli who took a great catch and set off up the pitch. Harlow were straight into Woodham and were soon pressurising the Woodham line. Harlow were wining the majority of the ruck's and after 2 minutes pushed over the Woodham line for the first try of the match. Harlow would soon add to the score after Woodham one a penalty kick, but had the ball turned over allowing Harlow through. Just before half time Woodham had taken control of the game and were competing at the ruck and maul, turning Harlow over. With pressure now on the home side, defending their line, Woodham charge down the kick for Harrison to drop onto the ball for Woodham's first of the day.

The second half would see Woodham pick up 2 injuries. Oli took a knock on his knee and had to come off, followed quickly by Mojo who was winded and took a rest for the remainder of the half. Harlow loaned Woodham a player for the remainder of the half. Woodham continued to pull back again turning the ball over on a number of occasions, and their efforts were rewarded after Harrison crossed from a driving maul off of a free pass. Woodham's next try came from a similar move, this time Rhino passing out of the maul on the line to Harrison to score his hat trick. One final laps of concentration near to the final whistle allowed Harlow to level the score, 3 - 3 at Full Time.

The second game saw Woodham take the lead on 4 minutes, again through Harrison. The whole Woodham Team were working well, talking to and supporting each other. Tackles were strong, aggression was there in the maul with the ball being ripped again and again. The whole team played a part in the second try with the forwards driving Harlow back and dominating the ruck, winning the turnover, passing to the backs who set-up a maul, driven forward to allow Harrison again to dive over for the points. The final try of the match came just before full time when Rhino ripped the ball from Harlow and surged forward to cross the line. Final score 0-3 to Woodham.

Harlow asked for a third game, which was to be shorter halves. Harlow kicked off and there was an immediate change in the tempo of their game. This caught Woodham off guard and allowed 2 tries in quick succession on 4 and 6 minutes. There was also a different ref who was more stringent on the offside than the ref from the previous 2 matches. Harrison manage to claw one back for Woodham with the half time score 2-1 to the hosts. The second half saw more of the same with Harlow taking 2 more tries to Woodham's one, this time from Rhino. Final score was 4-2 to Harlow. Player of the week was Dylon.

Next week were at home to Thurrock, then back to training on the 17th, before the last match of the season Away at the Essex Festival at Thurrock on the 24th.