Walden go Third

With persistent rain driving across the Henham countryside it was credit to the groundsman that the pitch held up well providing reasonably firm footing for the players.
Walden kicked off and asserted prolonged pressure to Sudbury who found it difficult to clear their lines. Walden had the ball over the try line on two occasions in the opening 15 minute spell but both times the Referee ruled that it had been held up. Finally the pressure told when Walden again attacked and after several phases of play finally found an overlap and Matt Holden starting for the first time at Hooker received the ball and he went over in the corner to put Walden ahead 5 nil after 17 minutes.
This was the only score in the half as the weather got the better of both teams and handling errors crept in.
Soon after the break Walden dominance paid off when winger Adam Miles was put over in the corner a recipient of some good work by his fellow backs as they created the space for him to dot the ball down, Tom Price stepped up from full back to kick the conversion and Walden were 12 points up.
Despite a tough start the forwards were now edging it in the scrums and the line out was working well this enabled Walden to keep Sudbury pinned in their half and when on the odd occasion they did mount an attack some good defence by the team and clearing kicks by fly half Tom Hughes kept Walden firmly in control.
With 10 mins to go Walden got their 3rd try as Sudbury tried to clear the ball from behind their own dead ball area, but the kick only made 5 metres and from the subsequent line out a catch and drive was set up. A well executed driving maul saw Captain and second row James Gosden get the ball at the back and as the forwards drove over the line he scored. Once again Tom Price converted to stretch the lead to 19 points to Nil.
Walden tried in vain to get the bonus point and Sudbury never stopped trying to run the ball out of defence and it was the visitors who nearly took the final points as Sudbury winger made a break and was just tackled inches short of the line before knocking it on. The Referee blew the final whistle.
Great Credit must go to Walden forwards who with a much changed look to the front row gave their all. The set piece provided the platform for the win that sees Walden climb the table to 3rd place 2 points behind Norwich. Walden now travel to Norwich next Saturday and if they work hard and put in another good performance they will go at least second in the table.