Entertaining Game as Walden earn a Bonus Point Draw

On a bright cold November afternoon Saffron Walden and Eton Manor played out a thoroughly entertaining game in front of a good size crowd.
For the first 15 minutes neither side could gain an advantage but soon the pattern of play emerged with Eton Manor dominating the scrums giving them a great platform throughout the game with Walden preferring open play looking at a high tempo game and attacking at every opportunity,
It was Walden who opened the scoring after 15 minutes when the ball was fed down the blind side passing out to left winger Mark Kimberley who beat his opposite number and with just the full back covering he found flanker Ben Stapleton on his inside and a perfectly timed pass put him through to score the first try of the game, full back Tom Price stepped up to convert and Walden were ahead 7 – 0.
8 minutes later Eton Manor managed to work the ball deep into the Walden 22 and a couple of phases from an attacking line out they got the ball over the line only to be held up. From the subsequent scrum they nearly pushed it over only for Walden to infringe and the Referee awarded a Penalty Try. 7- 7.
Walden went back ahead soon after as this time Kimberley found himself some space and he used his pace to go over near the corner, a fine kick sealed the 7 points. Then on the half hour mark Manor were penalised for a deliberate knock on 45 metres out and were marched back a further 10 for denying the opportunity for Walden to tap and go. This put the kick in range and Price duly slotted over 17 – 7 30mins.
Eton Manor hit back with 2 tries using their scrum superiority to good effect and the half time score was 17 each.
Despite the elements now being slightly against them Walden started the second half brightly and with only 6 mins of the half played some great attacking play set Stapleton free and he scored his second to confirm his man of the match status and put Walden ahead 22 – 17.
A few minutes later the home team pushed into the visitors half with some fine breaks from inside their own half. A couple of phases tied in the Manor defence and sensing a gap behind the the first line scrum-half Paul Marshall and Tom Price now playing at flyhalf all combined as Marshall chipped over the top and Price timed his run perfectly to collect the ball and he was under the posts unopposed. 29 – 17 after 52 mins.
Walden were reduced to 14 men as they infringed at the break down deep inside the Red Zone and Manor capitalised with a another push over try to get back to one score 29 -24 with still 20 minutes to play. The visitors also had a player binned for a no arms tackle.
The visitors kept playing to their strength and from a close range line out they set up a driving maul which proved unstoppable and they went over near the corner the conversion sailed wide leaving the score level at 29 each with still 10 mins to play.
Both sides tried in vain to win the game but discipline held and there was no further opportunities for either team and they both had to settle for a draw and try scoring bonus point.
I suspect both sides could feel a little frustrated that they did not take all 5 points which just goes to prove how tight the game was, perhaps a draw was a fair result and one that newly promoted Walden will take at this stage in the season.
Next week Walden take on Shelford Nomads in the Cambs Cup at Henham with a 2.30pm kick off before returning to league action at Letchworth on the 19th November.