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Sat 21 Feb 2015 ·  London 3 North East
Beccles
1st Team
30
34
Tries: N Harvey, C Davie, N Maivuya (2), S Fischer, D SmithConversions: R Stanley (2)
Upmister get 1st win of 2015
Nick McConnachie24 Feb 2015 - 12:16
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Thrilling 6 try win away at Beccles
Upminster had an early start on Saturday with an away trip to Beccles, a notoriously difficult venue for Upminster in previous seasons.
And they were immediately off to a bad start with one player not being able to make the coach they had to make the tough decision to leave for Beccles with just 17 players.
The weather on the day was fine but the recent heavy rain had taken it's toll on the pitch which was sodden and very heavy under foot.
At the kick off Beccles lined up with their usual sizable squad and Upminster knew the key to this game was to keep the ball moving and make and put as much pace as possible on the ball out wide. But were instantly put into a scrum when the kick off was scuffed and didn't make the required 10 yards.
The first 15-20 mins of the game were mostly dominated by the home team, who were camped in the Upminster 22 for large amounts of the time, eventually after many attempts the forwards powered over the line and touched down, and although from out wide the kick was easily slotted.
It wasn't long from the restart though that Upminster were able to get there hands on the ball and a fantastic break by Alfie Simmonett down the right wing had Beccles on the back foot and although the covering player was closing, he was able to offload to Nick Harvey, who finished the move from 30 yards out. Scoring under the posts, but the conversion missed by Rob Stanley who would not have a good day with the boot.
Beccles seemed to hit straight back with a try of their own, when their backs broke the line and ran in a try, converted.
Beccles were next to score again when they were awarded a penalty for infringements at the ruck. This guy seemed to be able to kick from anywhere!
The game was open now and it was Upminsters turn to get there hands on the ball, some good play through the back line and Chris Davie was away up the wing, touching down out wide.
More ill-discipline at the breakdown saw 2 more penalties go Beccles way.
Halftime score was 21-10
As the second half kicked off Upminster knew they needed to up their game, and stop giving away points by way of penalties.
Straight into it and again more great running by the backline saw Niko Maivuya break through tackles and go flying over the line. The conversion was missed again by Stanley.
Then came the eyeopener for Upminster. Another penalty conceded, this time on the halfway line. They opted for posts and the ball sailed through the uprights. Upminster couldn't give away a penalty in there own half!!
Determined to get back on the board Upminster pushed up the field and from the back of a scrum, young Seb Fischer picked up and forced his way through the Beccles defence to score.
Upminster had now scored 4 tries but were still 24-20 behind due to the number of penalties given away and the quality of the Beccles kicker, and true to form Upminster gave away yet another penalty from the kickoff.
Time was beginning to run out for Upminster, but they didn't panic, and kept up the pressure on Beccles through the backline. They were rewarded when some good hard running and great offloads to supporting runners saw Niko get his second of the game, and this time Stanley converted which drew the game at 27-27.
Upminster had scored 5 tries to Beccles 2 and there was relief that they would earn a valuable 2 points from the match, but it wasn't to be. With 3 minutes to go the Beccles centre, who seemed to have had magic boots on all afternoon, stepped up and seemingly broke Upminster hearts with a drop goal.
But the mood was positive in the Upminster team who seemed to just accept that they needed to score again in the closing minutes of the game.
Then the break down the left wing by Dan Smith, with 3 in support he just needed to draw the player, but instead opted to chip the player. The ball lofted high over the head of the opposite winger, but not high enough, it was blocked, but fell straight back down into the Dan's hands who had no-one left to beat. He ran it in under the posts and Stanley got the conversion.
The game did restart, but with only seconds left on the clock, a knock on by Beccles saw the end of the match.
Upminster had won 30-34
And they were immediately off to a bad start with one player not being able to make the coach they had to make the tough decision to leave for Beccles with just 17 players.
The weather on the day was fine but the recent heavy rain had taken it's toll on the pitch which was sodden and very heavy under foot.
At the kick off Beccles lined up with their usual sizable squad and Upminster knew the key to this game was to keep the ball moving and make and put as much pace as possible on the ball out wide. But were instantly put into a scrum when the kick off was scuffed and didn't make the required 10 yards.
The first 15-20 mins of the game were mostly dominated by the home team, who were camped in the Upminster 22 for large amounts of the time, eventually after many attempts the forwards powered over the line and touched down, and although from out wide the kick was easily slotted.
It wasn't long from the restart though that Upminster were able to get there hands on the ball and a fantastic break by Alfie Simmonett down the right wing had Beccles on the back foot and although the covering player was closing, he was able to offload to Nick Harvey, who finished the move from 30 yards out. Scoring under the posts, but the conversion missed by Rob Stanley who would not have a good day with the boot.
Beccles seemed to hit straight back with a try of their own, when their backs broke the line and ran in a try, converted.
Beccles were next to score again when they were awarded a penalty for infringements at the ruck. This guy seemed to be able to kick from anywhere!
The game was open now and it was Upminsters turn to get there hands on the ball, some good play through the back line and Chris Davie was away up the wing, touching down out wide.
More ill-discipline at the breakdown saw 2 more penalties go Beccles way.
Halftime score was 21-10
As the second half kicked off Upminster knew they needed to up their game, and stop giving away points by way of penalties.
Straight into it and again more great running by the backline saw Niko Maivuya break through tackles and go flying over the line. The conversion was missed again by Stanley.
Then came the eyeopener for Upminster. Another penalty conceded, this time on the halfway line. They opted for posts and the ball sailed through the uprights. Upminster couldn't give away a penalty in there own half!!
Determined to get back on the board Upminster pushed up the field and from the back of a scrum, young Seb Fischer picked up and forced his way through the Beccles defence to score.
Upminster had now scored 4 tries but were still 24-20 behind due to the number of penalties given away and the quality of the Beccles kicker, and true to form Upminster gave away yet another penalty from the kickoff.
Time was beginning to run out for Upminster, but they didn't panic, and kept up the pressure on Beccles through the backline. They were rewarded when some good hard running and great offloads to supporting runners saw Niko get his second of the game, and this time Stanley converted which drew the game at 27-27.
Upminster had scored 5 tries to Beccles 2 and there was relief that they would earn a valuable 2 points from the match, but it wasn't to be. With 3 minutes to go the Beccles centre, who seemed to have had magic boots on all afternoon, stepped up and seemingly broke Upminster hearts with a drop goal.
But the mood was positive in the Upminster team who seemed to just accept that they needed to score again in the closing minutes of the game.
Then the break down the left wing by Dan Smith, with 3 in support he just needed to draw the player, but instead opted to chip the player. The ball lofted high over the head of the opposite winger, but not high enough, it was blocked, but fell straight back down into the Dan's hands who had no-one left to beat. He ran it in under the posts and Stanley got the conversion.
The game did restart, but with only seconds left on the clock, a knock on by Beccles saw the end of the match.
Upminster had won 30-34
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