Epping 2s 24 - Witham 5

With the rightful focus on matters on the 1st team pitch it would have been easy to miss that another game was going on at the Club on Saturday.
The fact though was that Clapton 2s who currently sit at the top of Essex merit table 5 were playing probably one of there most important games of the season after the rather humiliating defeat (only the 2nd of the season) the previous week at the hand of those chelmsford Uundertakers
Earlier on in the season Witham had proved a tough opposition with the Club only pulling away in the final third of the game.
As with the first game conditions were testing as both pitches were barley playable.
The home side had made several changes from the previous week which on paper appeared to strenghthen the team some what.
In came Paul Baldwin, Alfie Renolds, Liam Rogers, Matt Sweeney, Tom Procell, John Gunnell, Dan Smith and Ali G...so quite a few changes there.
Now the club like to play at a high tempo and move the ball quickly away from contact where possible but with a very soggy pitch and wind to content with this was not going to be an easy task.
The game kicked off and for the first 15 minutes both teams attempted to break through the oppositions lines but were met by some feriousious tackling.
Clapton were findng it difficult to impliment there ussual game plan and so mid way through the half reverted to plan B. Use the conditions, kick to the corner and use the forwards to drive the ball in the tight.
This change brought about immediate rewards as they scored from two push over scrums with number 8 Liam Rogers controlling the ball well to touch down on both occasions. This was to leave the half time score at 10 points to nil.
Changes were made at half time with Procell replacing Kent in the second row.
Now playing against rhe wind the kicking option was taken away and so the club attempted to move the ball wider but with limited success. Witham were now enjoing the wind advantage which meant full back Joe Walker was kept busy. The second half was to remain scoreless until with 15 mins left Liam Rogers received the ball from a quick tap penaly and after knocking on the Witham try line door a couple of times managed to squeeze over by the posts for his hat trick. George convertng.
More changes were made with Rhys Peters and Andrew Green coming on in the back row. later Big Kev also made an entrance with Crouchy the final replacement coming on for Witham after there prop had gone off injured...thanks for that Crouchy.
One more try fro the club when Peters picked from another 5 meter scrum.
Witham were to have the last say though as the scored out wide after some sustained pressure on the Clapton line.
And so a good win the for Club afer the dissapointments of last week.
Many good performances but to name a couple,Adam Power standing out in the tight and hiding on occasions on the wing, some good defensive work and also nice take of a high ball but shame the tank was to low to finish it off. John Gunnell who makes such a difference when he plays at scrum half, alough the introdution of the little chip kicks will need to be looked at!!!. Finally our man of the match TC. A guy who leads from the front and is not araid to get his shirt dirty. Excellent defensive game along with some good yards with ball in hand.
Oh and Tom Roberts played as well!
Next week sees the club face Southend. A game that will be pivital if the boys are to win the merit table for this season