929 FOCUS

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FOCUS ON SPORT
24 Focus
South Woodham Ferrers RFC v Diss
RFC
Saturday 9th November 2019
South Woodham Ferrers made the trip to
Diss this weekend on the back of two
home wins and looking to gain their first
win on the road of the season. Sadly his
was not to be; the lads going down 31
points to 15 to a Diss team who’s attack
was incisive and clinical. The home side
made the most of their attacking chances
where the visitors coughed up the ball or
gave away silly penalties on their visits to
the opposition twenty-two.
SWF RUFC WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Diss opened the scoring with a penalty
early in the first half as the two sides
tested each other’s defence. Woodhams attack was starting to look
promising when a Diss managed to break through the line to score
the first of their four tries. Woodham hit back with a series of well
worked attacks and after two penalties found themselves on the
Diss 5 metre line. Diss were able to keep them out but with a scrum
under the posts Woodham looked like getting their first score.
Sadly, it was not to be; a knock on in the scrum enabled the
defenders to clear their line.
The home side scored their second before Woodham hit back with
a well worked try from the back of the scrum. Joey Dukelow
pounced on a ball chipped through the Diss defence to carry the
ball over the line.
The half ended with Diss on top 17 points to 5.
Some poor defending in the opening minutes of the second period
allowed Diss to draw ahead with a third try. The visitors then
enjoyed a period of ascendancy during which they scored a second
try from a dominant scrum, Jake Knowles touching down. Alex
Baker slotted the conversion and followed that with a penalty as
Woodham fought to get back on terms.
The last quarter of the game saw both sides testing each of others
defence but on each occasion the ball was either turned over or
stalled by a penalty. The game looked like fizzling out into a
stalemate until Woodhams Stuart Whatling was sin binned for a
high tackle on a falling Diss attacker. The home side took full
advantage and scored their bonus point try in the closing minutes
of the game.
ruck they scored again. Half times score was 35-10 to SWF.
The lad’s half time talk was to not to commit to the ruck, guard the
edges and get turn overs from the next one or two phases of play,
a tactic which worked well as they turned the ball over numerous
times in the second half. Brad opened up the scoring for SWF
making it 40-10. Clacton brought on some new forwards and
through pure strength and determination, they scored the next
two tries making it 40-20. Regrouping themselves after these two
scores against them, SWF had a lineout 10m from Clacton’s try line
and while SWF lifted a player in the air to look as if the ball was
coming to him, Oli was passed the ball at the front and went
steaming in to score. 45-20. Joe finished off the scoring with one
of his trademark runs from far out and made the final score, 50-20
to SWF.
Through good defensive work and decision making, SWF put
pressure on the Clacton team which resulted in a good number of
turn overs and opportunities to go forward. This was a good allround
team performance with all of the lads putting in an
enormous effort against a very physical side. Next week they have
Basildon, at home, in the 2nd round of the Cup.
Mini Section Observe 2 minutes Silence on Remembrance
Sunday
Both sides will have been disappointed with their performance,
handling mistakes or moments of ill-discipline saw promising
attacking moves halted. It seemed that neither side really hit their
straps but the visitors will be most aggrieved that they just couldn’t
hit the level of intensity that had seen them victorious in the last
two games.
U15 SWF RFC v Clacton RFC
On Remembrance Sunday, SWF U15’s hosted Clacton with all
showing their respect before the beginning of the game.
Having not played for four weeks since their first defeat of the
season to Rochford, hopes were high that the lads would bounce
back. The team could not have had a better start when from the
kick off the ball was caught, passed out to Joe who ran in 50m to
score. From the next restart this time it was Zach who returned the
ball and within three minutes the team were 14-0 up thanks to the
conversions by Will C. The next two tries were scored by Zach and
Tom and with the conversions from Will C, it was now 28-0. Clacton
now got into their rhythm and through good work from the
forwards, they got themselves on the score board. 28-5.
Woodham struck again; Zach scored again and Will C added the
extra’s. 35-5. The Clacton forwards upped their work rate again
and through a series of ‘pick up and goes’ from the base of the
FOCUS
The mini section of the club were at home this weekend training.
This didn’t stop them taking part in a 2 minutes silence to
remember those men, women and animals that paid the ultimate
sacrifice giving their todays so that we may have our tomorrows.
All groups of the mini section, coaches and parents created a
horseshoe shape in the centre of the 1st team pitch to observe the
2 minutes silence at 11:00. Well done to all involved. Lest we
forget.