Clapton Nearly Click

14.1.2012
Upper Clapton hosted top of the table Old Brentwood’s in the first Essex 1 League match of the New Year The home team started strongly and forced Old Brentwood’s into defence through carries from Clinton Dorling and Nicholas Trevillion; both were stopped just short of the line. Unable to register any points, Old Brentwood's cleared the ball and marched down field as Upper Clapton conceded five penalties in a reckless two minute spell. Now it was Old Brentwood’s time to apply the pressure deep in their opposition half and they were not going to leave empty handed. Good handling from the visiting backs allowed the outside centre to finish a well-executed move and put them 7 points up following the conversion.
Upper Clapton replied instantly when the restart was gathered by Pablo Beccera and he was impeded at the breakdown. Outside half Ross Stalley stepped up and neatly slotted the ball through the posts. A minute later Stalley kicked his second penalty, following a break through the middle by centre Adam Prince, taking the score to 7 points to 6.
The momentum quickly swung back in the favour of Old Brentwood’s though as the restart was allowed to bounce and kindly landed to chasing the winger who passed the ball inside and set up the second try for the visitor’s to touch down under the posts and convert.
With half an hour played, the Epping side had to roll their sleeves up and drive up the field, attempting to break through the middle of the opposition. Their efforts resulted in them forcing two further penalties in central positions which sharp shooter Stalley successfully put over.
With a minute left to play of the half, Clapton were awarded a scrum. The ball came shooting out of the side of the tunnel and was gathered by the opposing flanker. As he recycled the ball to his backs, the centres ran a ‘crossing’ line which impeded the home defence and was allowed to continue by the referee who had a clear view, and Old Brentwood scored their third try of the game taking a 19-12 lead into half time.
Old Brentwood stretched their lead as Clapton lost influential players to the sin bin, including Captain Mike Tindall and flanker Guy Prince. Two tries were scored by during this ten minute period and effectively took the game away from the home side at 29 points to 12.
But with fifteen minutes to go, the Epping side still fought hard and their fitness resulted in some of the best phases of rugby of the game being played. Centre Liam Rogers making a great impact with his distribution skills as he came off the bench, allowing opportunities for wingers John Gunnall and Tom Roberts to sprint down the wing before being tackled short of the line. Following wave after wave of attack, UCFC scored their only try of the day through prop Clinton Dorling, who found himself the recipient of an overlap and he cut a tight line against a drifting defence to go in under the posts. Again Stalley converted.
Despite having five minutes left and camping on the Old Brentwood’s line for that time, Upper Clapton could not reduce the deficit. The final score Upper Clapton 19 – 29 Old Brentwood’s
This side were dramatically different to league winning side of last season with over half of team missing through injury or other commitments but this side are a fraction short of real success, an Old Brentwood player stated after the game that Clapton were one of the best sides they had encountered all season
Many player were considered for Man of the Match and it ultimately went to Nicky Trevillion who played superbly

The Epping side play at Ilford in the quarter final of the Essex Shield next Saturday. The next home league game is on the 4h February against Old Coopers, this will be preceded by a club lunch
UCFC – 1. Dorling 2. Beccera 3.Trevellion 4. Jones 5.McFarlane 6. Howell7. G.Prince 8. Dobbin 9. Ross 10. Stalley 11. Gunnall 12. Tindall 13. A. Prince 14. Roberts 15. Philps 16. Rodgers 17. Garwood