Runwell Wyverns 0 Upper Clapton 71 .

Upper Clapton had not played a fixture since 11th December and after almost a month of no activity, were they ready to take up where they left off? The answer was an emphatic yes.

Nearly 30 players trained on Sunday afternoon and then a further 2 sessions mid week meant they arrived ready to go at the opposition. The pitch was like a quagmire and by mid way through the second half not even some of the players appeared to know who was who. Ross Stalley enjoyed his first Team league debut at fly-half and until injured in the second half acquitted himself very well in the tough conditions.

Despite the conditions Clapton played some superb rugby scoring 11 tries, four from Hack, 2 from Roberts, 2 from Thompson (plus 7 conversions). There were also tries from Mike Tindall, Connor Reynolds and Tim Matthews. Matthews typified the Clapton performance with his energy, speed and intelligence around the park; this bought him his first man of the match award of the season and rightly so.

Although he was the only forward to score on the day, the forwards dominated the opposition apart from 15 minutes of the second half when stern words from Club Coach, Tom Webb woke them from their complacency.

Clapton appear ready for the second half of the season. This was also the day that Clapton went to the top of the league for the first time this season as Writtle Wanderers dropped a bonus point. Although Clapton have a game in hand, the point’s difference has now put them top. Are Clapton going to travel Writtle Wanderers with the complacency that had threatened them earlier in the season?

We will see on the 22nd January.

Clapton play Kings Cross Steelers at home next Saturday 15th January. Kick Off 2:15pm.

Team:

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

16 Ayres, 17 Reynolds, 18 Winkworth.