1st XV
Matches
Sat 30 Nov 2013  ·  London 2 North East
Basildon
5
55
Saffron Walden RFC
1st XV
Tries: H Beddows (4), B (Sponsored by JUSTGYM) (3), T (Sponsored by Eco-Lotions Building Services)Conversions: T (Sponsored by Pellys Solicitors) (6)Penalties: T (Sponsored by Pellys Solicitors)
Perfect Start ensures victory in South Essex

Perfect Start ensures victory in South Essex

Graham Marshall1 Dec 2013 - 17:58
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The forwards set up great platform for the backs to score 8 tries in good all-round performance

Saffron Walden went down to South Essex to play Basildon in overcast but generally fine conditions although the pitch was what could be described as difficult it did not stop Walden starting the game perfectly.
It took Walden only 20 mins to score 4 tries to secure the bonus point victory as everything seemed to go right for the visitors and Basildon could not get their hands on the ball.
The first try came after 5 mins when right winger Harry Beddows received the ball in space and ran round his opposite number to score in the corner 5-0.
The second came from a Basildon scrum that was put under pressure as the Walden pack drove forward and as the home scrum-half tried to pick the ball up he was caught by Walden scrum-half Will Brown who stripped the ball from him and made progress towards the try line when he was caught by the covering full back he off loaded to Beddows who went over in the same corner. 10 nil 8 mins.
From the kick off Walden worked there way into the Basildon half and when the home team were caught offside at a ruck fullback Tom Price stepped up and kicked the 3 points. 13 – 0 12 mins.
Almost straight from the kick off Walden worked the ball into mid field and again sucked in the visitors defence to leave an overlap for Beddows to go over for his hatrick 18-0 14 mins.
Left winger Ben Stapleton then managed to get in on the act as he scored a fine try fending off his opposite number before stepping inside the full back to score under the posts. 25 – 0 20 mins.
For the next 10 minutes Basildon finally got their hands on the ball and had their best period of the half as the worked their way deep into the Walden 22 and applied continued pressure on the Walden try line. Eventually this pressure told and they burst through to score an unconverted try. 25- 5 30 mins.
From the kick of Walden pressurised Basildon deep inside their own half and they were penalised in front of the posts and Walden showed maturity to just calmly take the 3 points to stop any thoughts of a come back by the home team 28 – 5 33 minutes.
Then in the last play of the half Walden had the ball just 35 metres out and as they looked to spread it wide left wing Beddows came into the line at speed and found a gap and he was under the posts for his fourth before Basildon could react. 35 – 5 40th min.
The second half started like the first as Walden extended their lead within 3 minutes of the restart with a penalty and then 5 minutes later as the ball was worked through several phases by the forwards fly half Tom Hughes received the ball and dummied to pass wide out and as the space opened up in front of him went he through the line to score under the posts. 45 – 5 48th minute.
10 minutes later substitute fullback Mark Rea made a break on the right and with the full back to beat popped the ball inside to Ben Stapleton covering across from the left to go over for his second.
It was always going to be difficult to keep this intensity up and so it proved as Walden went off the boil slightly and there was no further scores for 15 minutes as Basildon did not give up and started taking the game to Walden but some fine defence kept them out and it was Stapleton who had the final say as he went over for his hatrick with 5 mins to go leaving the final score at 55 -5.
It was a great display by the whole team and although the wingers scored 7 out of the 8 tries it was the forwards who set the platform up for the backs to perform going forward at most scrums and winning clean quick ball at the breakdown.
Another test next week as Walden round off the first half of the season with a visit by Holt rfc who have proved difficult opponents over the last 2 or 3 years.

Match details

Match date

Sat 30 Nov 2013

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

London 2 North East
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

VP Lunch sponsors - Priors Hall Farm
Club Sponsor - Hexagon Consulting Ltd
Club Sponsor - Pellys RJP Solicitors
Shorts Sponsor - Duke of York, Saffron Walden
Club Sponsor - Kevin Henry
Coach Kit Sponsor - Taylor's Service Centre
Coach Kit Sponsor - Ridgeons