Oct 08 - LNE3 Upminster (H)

W  33 - 10   Report attached

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Wymondham finally produced the performance that their coaches believed they had in them but the omens were not good when the home defence stood back on the five minute mark and watched the powerful Upminster Number Eight charge down the wing to score a try in the corner. Upminster were unable to convert and from that point Wymondham started to settle down and play their natural running game.

The pressure told and Sims coolly slotted a penalty after 10 minutes to reduce the arrears.

Wymondham were now beginning to string together some flowing moves and were denying Upminster any space or time to counter attack with some fine tackles and committed rucking.

After twenty minutes, flying winger Brugger was given the ball on the halfway line and left the defence for dead as he cut in twice and grounded the ball between the posts to leave Sims with an easy conversion.

Influential captain and centre Pena Sokia was then poleaxed by a flailing arm in the tackle and was forced to leave the field after lengthy treatment for a cut and badly bruised eye; on another day Upminster might have found themselves reduced to fourteen men. Tom Wilson took the field in Sokia’s place

 The resulting penalty was not landed but the injury to their captain seemed to add steel to the home side as they sought to drive home their advantage.

Another penalty was landed before half time to leave Wymondham 13-5 up at the break.

The second half belonged to young winger David Martin. A product of the excellent Wymondham youth system, he had never before scored for the first team but he soon put that right, finishing an excellent passing move with an electric forty metre run leaving the Upminster defence trailing in his wake as he finished under the posts.

Tom Wilson slotted another penalty before Martin scorched past three tacklers to score his second after a thirty five metre dash for the line.

On the hour mark, Wymondham put together ten phases and were rewarded for their discipline when the ball was passed along the back line and Martin, aptly nicknamed ‘Whippet’, joyfully added his hat trick try which also secured the bonus point for his side.

Wymondham then lost concentration and allowed Upminster to finish the scoring with an unconverted try to leave the score at 33-10 to Wymondham.

The mood in the clubhouse after the game was buoyant as players, supporters and coaches reflected on a performance that they felt had been coming for a few weeks. Chairman, John Mackay, commenting on a satisfying day on which his side had overtaken Upminster in the League, praised the hard work and patience of coaches Turner and Loveridge, and predicted that the young team would go on to in future weeks to capitalise on this superb all-round performance. 

Wymondham1st XV from: Forton, White, Canning, Hodgson, Blake, Duckham, Wright, Phoenix, Payne, Graham-Park, O'Sullivan, Sokia, Martin, Simms, Brugger, Phillips, Miller, Wilson, Reed.

Wymondham entertain Upminster at Tuttles Lane tomorrow in the wake of heavy defeats by local rivals Norwich and Holt.

A quick glance at the scores and points conceded (32-12 and 38-7) would lead the casual observer to fear for the home side in their first encounter of the season against opposition from Essex. However, Upminster lie only two places and three points above Wymondham in London 3NE and a decent win would see Wymondham move above them.

Despite the recent defeats, there are some encouraging signs for the Wymondham supporters as the coaches believe that they have players with enough skill and commitment to match any side in the League if they could only eliminate some of the tactical errors exhibited by their inexperienced team. The second half of last week’s match against Holt was actually even, with both sides scoring one converted try, as Wymondham finally learnt to play to their strengths and protect the ball rather than presenting skilled and pacey opponents with easy possession in open play.

It is also true to say that, due to a combination of factors, including injury, unavailability and returns to university, coaches Alan Turner and Justin Loveridge have yet to settle on their most effective formation at this early stage of the season.

The coaches were waiting until after training last night to finalise their team but youngsters Graham-Park and Martin both gave spirited performances as second half replacements against Holt and put in strong claims for starting places. In the pack, Phillips is an injury doubt and the unavailability of Nigel Brown opens the way for seasoned campaigner Forton to return after injury to the loose head prop position with Canning, who has put in some solid performances, moving across to tight head.

Wymondham will be hoping for a large crowd to get behind the team and inspire them as they search for their first home victory of the season.

The second XV are away to Medics in Merit Table 1 while, in Merit Table 2, the thirds entertain Lakenham Hewitt. On Sunday, Wymondham Wasps Ladies have an away League match against Hitchin.

John Mackay