WOODFORD UNDER 10's WIN FOR JUDE

Despite the threat of snow and some pretty cold temperatures to contend with the turn out for the Exhibition match against our local rivals Wanstead that was staged ahead of the annual Flamehead game was very impressive indeed, and once the match started the temperature certainly began to rise.

The Woodford team comprised: Jack Brynes, Rory Chick, James Coady, Simon Cook, Bryn Elliott, Souhail Ferdjoukh, Finley Jacobs-Roth, Nathan McCutcheon, Nathan Morris, Owen Morris, James Preston, Ben Sharratt, Lennon Tidmarsh, Matthew Unwin & Lewis Walcott.

The game was split into three eight minute thirds so as to enable all the boys to get a decent run out and by the end of the first third Woodford left the field holding a narrow one try lead after a superb passage of play that started in our own half with each boy getting a touch of the ball, which finally ended up being carried over the line by the rapid Lewis Walcott. Woods almost doubled their score with a typical strong run by Souhail Ferdjoukh which, according to the ref, wasn’t grounded, but the boys still left the pitch on a high.
After a raft of changes before the next segment the Woodford team continued to dominate possession both in terms of time on the ball and position on the field but they were unable to add to their score and in fact succumbed to a Wanstead breakaway try which saw the scores levelled at 1-1 and only for a fantastic try saving tackle from Matthew Unwin things could have been much worse at the end of this second period.
Another round of changes occurred as the boys once more took to the field in their final chance to take victory, and take it they did with both hands. Once again Lewis Walcott, who snatched the ball after his clever reading of a stray Wanstead pass, ran it over the line. Again though our opponents continued to push and certainly did not make this an easy task by any means, they kept the game a tight and edgy affair and with the last play being called they launched a foray along the wing which was ended when Owen Morris made a strong tackle to deny the Wanstead winger from a possible score.
At the final whistle the boys were given a huge roar of appreciation from the large and partisan crowd that watched the action from the clubhouse, maybe for some of them it was their first experience of watching mini rugby but I am sure they were very pleased with what they saw as our boys did us proud once again, I know the boys totally enjoyed the experience of playing on the top pitch in front of those spectators and were proud to win Judes Match for Jude. The applause from spectators and opponents alike as our boys went up to receive their Medals and Easter Eggs were more than justified, as was the mutual appreciation shown for our guests as they received theirs, and we now have to show our Wanstead neighbours the same courtesy when we play the return leg at their ground next month, with just one vital difference, we want to take an away win from that one!!