Upper Clapton 55 Stanford le Hope 0

Clapton’s last league encounter was on the 13th November. Since then the weather and lack of opposition had stopped this talented side from furthering their league aspirations. A well supported luncheon was held at the club prior to the game; the club is starting to buzz with anticipation at what may happen in the future. But the way this Clapton side played there was never any sign of complacency from the team.

The side showed a few significant changes. There was a league debut for Connor Reynolds at Fly Half and Tim Matthews, last season’s Colts captain came in for his first team debut in the second row. Both players excelled under the intensity of first team rugby. Luke Howell returned in the wing forward position. Matt Thompson returned from overseas to play Full Back.

As the mince pies were served in the club house, Clapton kicked off and within three minutes had scored the first of nine tries. Ollie Stokes, having his best season ever drove over from a short penalty move 5-0. The next try was scored after a fine break from Tindall from the Clapton 22, followed up with fine support from Hack. Hack then offloaded back to Tindall to score under the posts, a fine try but much better was to follow as the game progressed 12-0.

Thompson and Roberts combined out wide on the left wing for the third try, Roberts ran through his opposite number and managed to offload to Matthews to score on his debut, a second row supporting a breakaway move, how times have changed. 17-0.

Thompson scored the next try on the right wing after good work from the forwards in front of the posts. The try was converted to make the score 24-0.

As the tries kept coming the young fly half Reynolds went about his task with a maturity way beyond his 17 years and his next contribution led to a fine try by Roberts on the left wing 29-0. The final score of the first half was a fine individual try by Thomson who chipped over the top on the half way line, collected to run in under the posts 36-0.

The second half saw Clapton play some of the best rugby seen all season from this young maturing side, a miss move from Reynolds with Hack as the decoy saw Thompson score on the right 41-0. The next try was the pick of the day again Hack was involved, this time he allowed the ball to pass across his body after a call from Roberts who took the ball on, a return pass to Hack saw a ruck formed on the opposition 10 metre line, the backs cleared out the opposition and Garwood fed Reynolds, a long pass to the mid field saw prop Dorling sprint under the posts from 30 metres try converted 48-0.

The final try was scored by Ayres after a break from just outside the 22 metres to make the final score 55-0. Stanford were a credit to themselves and for 10 minutes of the second half pressured the Clapton line, they held resolute in their defence and the replacements used all played their part

Coach Tom Webb has been looking for a team performance where every player can complement each other in any position on the pitch; for periods of the second half they achieved it. Connor Reynolds was awarded man of the match, Tim Matthews was a credit to himself and Hack for the first time failed to appear on the score sheet, but his contribution was tremendous. Tindall showed real prowess and was selfless all day.

The names above have one thing in common, they are all products of Clapton’s youth and mini section as are most of the players in this first team. The thirty plus volunteer coaches and managers in the section are to be thanked for all their hard work and we look forward to many more first team debuts when the time is right.

On a sadder note the first team squad will be missing two players until next season. We wish them both well and are thinking of them in tough times. Clapton go into Christmas second in the league with a game in hand it’s up to them how far they progress in the New Year.

1 Dorling, 2 Becerra, 3 Ayres, 4 Matthews, 5 Procel, 6 Jones, 7 Howell, 8 Stokes, 9 Garwood, 10 Reynolds, 11 Roberts, 12 Tindall, 13 Hack, 14 Day, 15 Thompson.

Replacements: 16 Trevillion, 17 L. Hunt, 18 Winkworth.