Westcombe Park 14, Barking 59
BARKING warmed up, ahead of three crucial games against Clifton, Ealing, and Barnes with a comprehensive victory at Westcombe Park.
Not for the first time this season, the East Enders scored a couple of early tries and then let the opposition back in the game.
Playing against the breeze and slightly uphill Barking were quickly into their stride and were awarded a penalty in Park’s 22. Scrum half Jack Gash saw an enormous overlap so took a quick tap; the ball went through several pairs of hands before full back Chris Jones touched down in the corner. Craig Ratford converted.
Shortly after another kickable penalty was eschewed as Ratford kicked for the corner. A catch and drive from the resultant line out led to a try from James Ngan which Ratford also converted.
Barking had a lapse in concentration making unforced errors which the home side took advantage of, two converted tries made the score 14 – 14.
However, Barking rallied and Andrew LaChevalier and flanker Anthony Andrews both scored tries and, with Ratford successful with one of the conversion attempts; the teams went in at half time 14–26.
In the second half a pushover try by Kellard and a penalty try, both converted, put Barking totally in command.
A clever kick by Ratford put winger Scott Shaw away and he made it to within 10 metres of the try line before being tackled by two Park defenders. Incredibly, Shaw managed to stay on his feet long enough for the support to arrive. The ball was moved out wide and flanker James Ngan went over for his second of the day and Barking’s seventh try, which Ratford converted.
Shortly after Jones scored his fourth try in two games, again converted by Ratford, and then Shaw finished off matters with a training ground backs move.
Southend 37, Canterbury 5
SOUTHEND needed to bounce back after their defeat by Barking and they did in style.
Within four minutes Chris Vaughan galloped over the line for his first try of the game. With Andy Frost still out injured, kicking duties again fell to Dan Boughtwood and he converted.
It was not long before Southend’s constant pressure again paid dividends, this time Phil Ellis, playing at outside centre, was the man in the mood as he dived over for the second try of the game. Boughtwood converted.
Mark Billings had to retire with an injury so on came Mike Stanley and Southend continued on their merry way. Canterbury conceded a penalty just inside their own half which Boughtwood dispatched.
Canterbury defended desperately but to no avail as Southend’s remorseless attacks resulted in the best try of the match. It flew from hand to hand until the final pass went to Chris Vaughan. Again he cut through the Canterbury defenders and went over under the post. Boughtwood converted, taking the score to 24-0 at the end of the half.
Canterbury came out for the second half in a more determined mood winning possession and taking the game to Southend. Despite conceding yet another succesful penalty kick from Boughtwood their efforts were finally rewarded when full back William Atkin scored a try in the corner but missed his own conversion.
Sensing an opportunity Canterbury kept up the pressure. Southend’s Andrew McClintock was yellow carded but resolute defence kept Canterbury at bay. Boughtwood added another penalty to take the score to 30-5. The game ebbed and flowed without any further advantage to Southend until Dan Boughtwood added a further seven points to his personal tally when he scored a smart try under the posts and then converted it.
Westcliff 26, Ruislip 9
WESTCLIFF'S players knew this one would be hard and it lived up to expectations even though, in the end they ran out clear winners.
Within two minutes they were into a lead they were not to lose when Ben McKeith hoisted the flags for a penalty goal. Five minutes later he doubled the lead the same way and each time judged the strong wind to perfection.
Stung by this, Ruislip, sitting in fourth place behind third placed Westcliff, went on the attack and the home defence had a couple of anxious moments before the visitors were repelled.
Westcliff's forward took on the experienced Ruislip eight and in the end were pushing them back in the scrum. On 25 minutes, Westcliff were back in the Ruislip half and speedy lock Simon Jones was on hand to go in for a try and an 11-0 lead at half-time
The Middlesex side got on the board with a penalty and added another to creep nearer at 11-6.
Ben McKeith landed his third penalty goal to take the lead out to 14-6. Then a super move took the ball from deep in Westcliff territory up field and Jon Sigwart was over for a try which was not converted.
Ruislip kicked a third penalty for 19-9 before Elliot Levy sped away for a try which Paul Dan converted to round off the scoring.
Acting skipper Ben Ryan said: “That was definitely a game of two halves with the boys getting better and better. The scrum really went well and that too is an aspect we are improving. Though he didn't score, Elliott Harvey was my man of the match. His running and tackling were superb.”
Rochford Hundred 16, Staines 44
STAINES are a big, well drilled & skilful outfit that sit firmly at the top of the London One North and Rochford gave them too much respect.
The Middlesex side started strongly and came out all guns blazing and sped ahead with two quick tries, one of which was converted before Rochford could draw breath. Their massive pack controlled the ball supply in this early period but gradually the home side picked themselves up and began to compete. The set scrum proved to be much more stable than it was feared it might have been and praise must go to experienced prop Andy Badger, who stepped in at such short notice to help out and did everything coach Mark Sexton asked of him.
The lineout also showed up well with Murphy, James Needham and George Chipper climbing high to compete against taller opposition. Captain Simon Webb used all his vast experience to keep his back line operating efficiently where Tom Ashton, Dan Needham and Dan Allen all had massive games. Rochford’s defence was once again very robust although the visitors lines of running opened gaps.
Staines continued to show why they are in the top position with excellent attacks and players interpassing at pace and at different angles.
They finished the first half with two more tries and a penalty. Rochford’s improved play during the latter period of the half forced Staines into giving away penalties and Ashton slotted one over before the break. Both wings, Jack Hall and Greg Stubbs looked full of running and gave Staines plenty to think about in defence.
Half time score was 6 – 27 to Staines and Rochford needed to dig deep. This was just what they did and started to take the game to their more vaunted rivals. The second session was far more even and Rochford had their chances to pull back points through some sustained pressure on the Staines line but were unable to get the breaks.
The sign of good, confident sides is their ability to finish off moves which was what the visitors did when they had the opportunity. Two more tries, one of which was converted,followed before Ashton once again punished them for an indiscretion with a well stuck penalty.
A final try finished off Staines scoring but Rochford were not finished as they increased the tempo and a fast flowing move through many hands found second row James Needham out wide who made no mistake to speed over for a fine try. Tom Ashton slotted over the conversion to complete a 100% kicking performance to make the final score more reflective of the game and with a little bit more finishing power and confidence could have been even closer.
Brentwood 0, Chingford 7
BRENTWOOD were forced to make changes following a spate of injuries. Anthony Sherwood, Killington and Paul Pickworth started in the pack with John Beith at scrum-half and Adam Thomas at centre.
Within five minutes the home side’s woes began when prop Anthony Sherwood went off with a facial blood injury to be replaced by Joel Bevans-Royston. An early penalty to Chingford was not converted and with Brentwood repulsing the visitors’ efforts the first quarter was very even.
In the second quarter winger Andy Lloyd was injured making a heavy tackle in mid-field but fortunately he made an early recovery. With young Brad Burr’s line kicking making much ground Brentwood kept the pressure on Chingford. However with Sherwood on route to hospital with a mouth injury, scrum half Beith became the home side’s next casualty.
Approaching half time Brentwood were becoming more and more penalised by the Kent society's referee, with captain Tom King being controversially yellow carded for a dangerous tackle. Chingford were unable to convert any of their penalties.
Brentwood enjoyed the advantage of the slope for the second half but a lack of a cutting edge in the backs prevented a try from being scored and the more promising attacking moves came from the committed pack.
Into the last quarter, hooker Matt Northall who had had a tremendous game went off with a damaged hand to be replaced by flanker Ben Amato. Uncontested scrums then followed.
Chingford stepped up their game as Brentwood started to slow up, weighed down by the referee unable to spot Chingford’s continual off-side. Any move by the home side was brought to a halt by a rain of penalties, frustrating the team. With minutes to go and against the run of play Chingford hacked the ball up-field through Brentwood's defence for a converted try. Brentwood desperately sought to equalize but further penalties and a tight defence from Chingford's back row prevented a further score.
Braintree 9, Harlow 14
BRAINTREE were narrowly defeated in this London League Division Two North East clash despite the best efforts of Craig Willis. The outside centre scored all nine of their points through penalties
Braintree started well and tested the visiting defence with some fast and tricky three quarter play but no-one could cross the line, though the sides swapped penalties to go in 9-9 at half time.
There was only one score in the second period, Harlow's try scored by the skilful Scott Romaine. The Rams had to graft to protect their slender lead and they spent much of the last quarter defending in their own twenty two.
Chelmsford 0, Colchester 8
CHELMSFORD needed nothing short of a win from this local derby to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding relegation, but this was not to be and they slumped to yet another defeat at the hands of their near neighbours.
Once again the home side made life difficult for themselves with some poor kicking to hand, and a lapse in concentration which allowed Colchester the only try of the game after 15 minutes when they broke from their own half and some good interpassing by Colchester’s backs saw them stretch the home defence out wide to score an unconverted try. Chelmsford had a chance to reduce the arrears from a penalty, but Tom Morrish was just short with his kick.
The second half saw Colchester increase their lead when Chelmsford were penalised. Gradually Colchester began to look the more likely side to score, but Chelmsford dug in and began to exert some pressure on the visitors, but for all their efforts, they couldn’t manage the vital score.
Mersea Island 7, Romford & Gidea Park 7
MERSEA Island secured their first London Two North league points of 2010 with a hard fought but deserved draw with third-placed Romford.
Romford played up the slope for the first half but had the wind advantage, forcing Mersea back with some good kicks. The match was played at a good pace and both sides competed well to get the upper hand.
As the half drew to a close, Romford stepped up a gear and played the better rugby, showing why they are in third position, and after stretching the Mersea defence ran in for a converted try.
With the wind picking up for the second half, the Islanders used the elements to good effect, with some long probing kicks from the boot of Williams deep in the visitors’ half. After a period of sustained pressure, the pack won good lineout ball through Pickard and fly-half Paul Le Marquand crashed over with two defenders for his first try of the season, Williams slotted a fine conversion to draw the scores level. Following the equalising score, a huge brawl broke out amongst the players with Mersea’s centre Spencer Priestley sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. Despite the player advantage, Romford could not get out of their half and the game was tied.
Billericay 5, Beccles 18
BILLERICAY remain rooted at the foot of London Three North East after another defeat, though they kept league leaders Beccles withing a reasonable score.
Canvey Island 25, Dagenham 0
HIGH-flying Canvey dismissed the challenge of second-from bottom Dagenham in this London Three North East clash.
After an early penalty from Ben Chandler, Dave Dennis went over for a try and later he grabbed a second.
Another forward, Jason Fardell, then crossed the line to wrap up a victory that impressed club spokesperson Richard Smith who added: “We were unlucky not to put a few more points on the board.”
Wisbech 17, Basildon 10
BASILDON dominated much of Saturday’s London Three North East encounter but were unable to grab victory in the Fens.
They did take a first half lead but had just a Lee Randall converted try and a penalty to their tally going into the second half and Wisbech were able to take advantage of several Basildon injuries to grab the advantage after the break.
Elsewhere in the division Upminster enjoyed a 22-7 victory at Lowestoft & Yarmouth, while South Woodham Ferrers were also away winners, triumphing 35-20 at Wymondham.