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Sat 22 Nov 2014 · London 2 North East1st XVSouth Woodham Ferrers
Tries: T (Sponsored by Pellys Solicitors), J (Sponsored by ...), S (Sponsored by...), P (Sponsored by The Duke Of York)Conversions: T (Sponsored by Pellys Solicitors) (2)Penalties: T (Sponsored by Pellys Solicitors)
27
7
Bonus point win keeps Walden in touch.
Graham Marshall16 Aug 2019 - 19:08
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Last gasp try to gain the 5 points
Walden played host to South Woodham Ferrers on a dank afternoon at their Henham ground with the ground reasonably firm underfoot despite the recent wet weather.
Once again Walden did not start off too well and neither side were able to get a foot hold into the game with SWF having the best of the opening exchanges but were never able to break through. Walden were struggling to get any possession during this first 15 minutes.
However the first score came when at long last Walden managed to work the ball into the visitors half and forced SWF into making an error at a ruck and Tom Price playing at flyhalf stepped up to take the 3 points. 3 – 0 15 mins.
Another lack lustre 10 mins past with both sides making some errors but gradually Walden were starting play the better rugby. Despite the visitors having the better of the scrums Walden's line-out was functioning well and in the loose they looked the better team as the visitors appeared to tire.
Then with 8 mins of the half remaining Walden managed to work the ball deep into SWF 22 and they attacked the line with several pick and drives sucking in the visitors defence and when the ball was thrown down the line outside centre Tom Hughes dummied wide and then threw a nice little inside pass to Tom Price who went through a gap to go under the posts converting his own try to take the 7 points. 10 – nil 33 mins.
Walden attacked from the kick off and had several phases working their way into the visitors half who defended well and with a few seconds of the half remining turned the ball over and kicked long. It was caught 60 metres out by left winger Paul Marshall who scampered up to half way and sensing the chase was good chipped over the top and then kicked the ball on the volley and it was a foot race between him and the covering fullback who did well to nearly retrieve the ball but under pressure it went loose and captain and second row James Gosden following up, gratefully picked it up and ran the last 15mtres to score wide out. Price converted and the half time whistle went with Walden leading 17 – 0.
The second half started much like the first 15 minutes of the first half with neither side looking likely to score. But again as the half wore on Waldens forwards looking fitter than the opposition despite giving weight away were often first to the breakdown putting pressure on their counterparts and Walden's backs looked sharp and a couple of chances went begging as the final pass went astray.
15 mins to go and SWF gave away a penalty and Walden kicked to the corner and from the line out 10 mtres out set up a perfect driving maul and the hard work on the training ground paid off as the trundled over the line with prop Steven Muggridge emerging from the bottom of the pile to claim the try. 22 – 0 38 mins.
Walden now needed one more score to gain the bonus point but things looked difficult as the visitors attacked the Walden line and things got worse as a Walden player was binned for some unnecessary off the ball action. SWF made good use of the extra man to score under the posts with 2 mins remaining 22 – 7.
Walden kicked off in determined mood and the visitors gathered the ball and as they tried to break through the Walden defence the 14 men remained strong. Several phases went by and then Walden got their chance as the ball was turned over and it was quickly thrown out to scrum half Will Brown who attacked the defence and threw a perfect pass to Paul Marshall running off his wing and he out paced the defence to score in the last play of the game. 27 – 7.
Walden got the 5 points they were looking for and can take a bit of confidence in this despite not playing to their full potential and a couple of hard training sessions going into the Christmas break will stand them in good stead for the away game at Braintree in 2 weeks time followed by 2 games at home to high flyers Norwich and Diss.
Once again Walden did not start off too well and neither side were able to get a foot hold into the game with SWF having the best of the opening exchanges but were never able to break through. Walden were struggling to get any possession during this first 15 minutes.
However the first score came when at long last Walden managed to work the ball into the visitors half and forced SWF into making an error at a ruck and Tom Price playing at flyhalf stepped up to take the 3 points. 3 – 0 15 mins.
Another lack lustre 10 mins past with both sides making some errors but gradually Walden were starting play the better rugby. Despite the visitors having the better of the scrums Walden's line-out was functioning well and in the loose they looked the better team as the visitors appeared to tire.
Then with 8 mins of the half remaining Walden managed to work the ball deep into SWF 22 and they attacked the line with several pick and drives sucking in the visitors defence and when the ball was thrown down the line outside centre Tom Hughes dummied wide and then threw a nice little inside pass to Tom Price who went through a gap to go under the posts converting his own try to take the 7 points. 10 – nil 33 mins.
Walden attacked from the kick off and had several phases working their way into the visitors half who defended well and with a few seconds of the half remining turned the ball over and kicked long. It was caught 60 metres out by left winger Paul Marshall who scampered up to half way and sensing the chase was good chipped over the top and then kicked the ball on the volley and it was a foot race between him and the covering fullback who did well to nearly retrieve the ball but under pressure it went loose and captain and second row James Gosden following up, gratefully picked it up and ran the last 15mtres to score wide out. Price converted and the half time whistle went with Walden leading 17 – 0.
The second half started much like the first 15 minutes of the first half with neither side looking likely to score. But again as the half wore on Waldens forwards looking fitter than the opposition despite giving weight away were often first to the breakdown putting pressure on their counterparts and Walden's backs looked sharp and a couple of chances went begging as the final pass went astray.
15 mins to go and SWF gave away a penalty and Walden kicked to the corner and from the line out 10 mtres out set up a perfect driving maul and the hard work on the training ground paid off as the trundled over the line with prop Steven Muggridge emerging from the bottom of the pile to claim the try. 22 – 0 38 mins.
Walden now needed one more score to gain the bonus point but things looked difficult as the visitors attacked the Walden line and things got worse as a Walden player was binned for some unnecessary off the ball action. SWF made good use of the extra man to score under the posts with 2 mins remaining 22 – 7.
Walden kicked off in determined mood and the visitors gathered the ball and as they tried to break through the Walden defence the 14 men remained strong. Several phases went by and then Walden got their chance as the ball was turned over and it was quickly thrown out to scrum half Will Brown who attacked the defence and threw a perfect pass to Paul Marshall running off his wing and he out paced the defence to score in the last play of the game. 27 – 7.
Walden got the 5 points they were looking for and can take a bit of confidence in this despite not playing to their full potential and a couple of hard training sessions going into the Christmas break will stand them in good stead for the away game at Braintree in 2 weeks time followed by 2 games at home to high flyers Norwich and Diss.
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