Nov 19 - LNE3 S.Woodham Ferrers (A)

L 41 - 10  Report attached

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Forced into a number of last-minute changes as injuries failed to heal in time, Wymondham called on veteran John Moorfoot and coach Justin Loveridge to make up the numbers and paid the penalty with a heavy defeat as South Woodham Ferrers welcomed back a number of their own casualties and an excellent flanker who returned to the fold after trying his luck at a higher level with Southend.

Wymondham started strongly with Alex Brugger carving holes in the home defence from the kick off before slipping the ball to Josh Wright who was halted just short of the try line. The resulting attempts to clear the ball ended with SWF giving away a penalty on the 22metre line as scrum-half James Wyatt was illegally pulled in to the ruck. Wyatt duly converted to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Having made a strong start, Wymondham’s momentum was halted as O’Sullivan received lengthy treatment to a cut head caused by a stray boot in a ruck. Although Wymondham were awarded the penalty, the clearing kick failed to find touch and SWF earned a kickable penalty as a Wymondham flanker strayed offside.

The game was now becoming very stretched and the home side were spending lengthy periods in their opponent’s half; inevitably their chance came when the ball was moved quickly along the back line and their winger exploited the resulting overlap to nudge them ahead 8-3.

As the game entered the second quarter, SWF found themselves a man down as the referee gave one of their forwards a spell in the sin-bin for a ruck offence.

The one man advantage brought a change of tactics from the away side who won a line-out and drove the home forwards fully 25 metres back to their line before claiming the score wide out. Wyatt duly converted to give Wymondham the lead at 10-8.

The lead was to prove short-lived as SWF slotted another penalty followed by yet another on the stroke of half-time when Wright was judged to have gone off his feet at the ruck, an offence for which he also received a yellow card, leaving the home side ahead by 14-10 at the break.

The second half proved very hard going for Wymondham as the home team stepped up the pace and Wymondham had to play virtually the entire half with men off the field having been yellow carded for for technical offences at the breakdowns.

SWF opened the half with a swiftly taken line-out throw to the front of the line which saw a home forward scamper half the length of the field to touch down in the corner.

Wymondham were then forced into a major re-shuffle as prop Nigel Brown joined Wright in the sin bin and Tom Masters came in to replace him which meant Barry O’Sullivan having to leave the field.

Ironically, the Red and Blacks, with their replacement front row, were then penalised for wheeling which allowed SWF to capitalise on 13-man Wymondham’s lack of defensive cover to take a tap penalty and score in the left wing position.

Scrum half and kicker James Wyatt was then forced to leave the field as he was feeling unwell and was replaced by Jonathan Payne.

Wymondham were now struggling to make any inroads on the game and, to compound their woes, influential centre, O’Sullivan, was the next to receive a yellow card for handling in the ruck- an offence for which the referee also awarded a penalty try to give the home side a 31-10 advantage.

Having played the entire half with reduced numbers, Wymondham began to tire and the home side took the opportunity to run in two more tries in the final period to leave Wymondham defeated by 41 points to 10 and  looking forward to a week’s rest from league action which will give time for injuries to heal and the team to regroup. 

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Directions to South Woodham Ferrers Rugby Club CLICK HERE

Having recorded a good home win against Campion last week, Wymondham must now try to build on this result and improve on their current mid-table position.

Essex team,South Woodham Ferrers, were soundly beaten last week by the Division’s form team, Holt, but are likely to prove a different proposition on their home turf where their last league game saw them lose by a scant 4 points to Norwich.

Wymondham coaches Justin Loveridge and Alan Turner have seen their side display flashes of excellence in several of their matches this season but have been emphasising the need for consistency, particularly in defence, if they are to achieve their true potential.

Several players are struggling with injury and the unfortunate winger David Martin looks set for a long lay-off with a hip injury. Captain Sokia hopes to play at least some part in the match- possibly in the pack- while last week’s debutant, Simo, is unavailable due to family commitments.

The rest of the side has a familiar look with young half-backs James Wyatt and Billy Graham-Park having established a useful partnership and evergreen centre, O’Sullivan, adding his wisdom and experience to the mix.

The selectors were unable to name their replacements until after fitness tests on several players which they were conducting last night.

Wymondham 2^nd XV has a home fixture against Diss while the 3^rd XV travel to North Walsham.

Wymondham 1^st XV: Brown, White, Canning, Wright, Blake, Phoenix, Duckham, Sokia (Capt), Wyatt, Billy Graham-Park, Crowe, O'Sullivan, Dodds, Brugger, Simms. Replacements: TBC