Maldon v Epping 31.01.15

Conditions at Maldon proved very difficult throughout, with a blizzard blowing horizontally for most of the match and a determined and gutsy opposition who were not going to take a backward step in any form. Maldon certainly had every intention of making the fixture a home win to complement the VP lunch laid on.

Throughout the first half the Epping front five had begun to assert real pressure on the Maldon scrum, suggesting that in the second half this element of the game would be crucial, especially given the rapidly deteriorating pitch conditions.

With the blizzard increasing in its intensity and plummeting temperatures, Epping took the initiative to up the tempo and attacked through both forwards and backs alike. Whilst the conditions did not suit open rugby both sides consistently tried to open the game up when opportunities arose. The third quarter of the game saw Epping controlling possession and pressurising the Maldon line. A lack of patience and precision rather halted the Epping momentum during this period and frustration was beginning to set in, in the form of unnecessary penalties for both teams.

Considering the awful conditions both sides should be ‘warmly’ congratulated on the way they played a hard fought and very entertaining encounter.