Upminster travelled to Wanstead to start the season off, a fixture that has proved difficult for Upminster in the last few seasons. Wanstead utilised their larger forwards to try and punch their way through the Upminster line early on, but the away teams defensive line proved difficult to penetrate. With no way through the home side were forced to go round, with the winger touching down twice in the first half accompanied by a third Wanstead try. The hosts played with 14 for ten minutes after some malicious use of the boot and Upminster found their feet, spending the rest of the first half attacking the Wanstead try line. The referee grew tired of the penalty count approaching half time, and a penalty try was awarded to Upminster to go 21-7 down into the second half.
Wanstead opened the second half with a try early doors, after Upminster failed to retreat for the quick tap penalty. Putting the score behind them, the visitors looked to improve on their performance. Upminster stepped up to steal almost all of Wanstead’s scrums, and stunned the bigger opposition pack with a 40 metre driving maul up the slope. Their efforts were rewarded with an unconverted try, but poor kick chase defence saw three more tries from Wanstead to finish the game 45-12.
Stand out performances from the captain Sean Davis and his front row companions Daniel Feasey and Matthew Southgate, taming the Wanstead front row to turn over the scrums, and Craig Portsmouth was a much needed change in momentum stepping in at centre from flanker.
Match Report by Louis Lockwood