12 September - Wanstead II 26 UCFC A 27

Clapton ‘A’ followed on from their friendly victory over Cuffley last week with a win in their first merit table match of the season.

Again U.C. fielded a squad with a good mixture of youth and experience; five Clapton Colts took to the field during the match, combining well with the slightly older Carroll, Jones et al, and showing that this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Wanstead fielded a team of experienced players with a very robust set of forwards and from the opening salvos it was obvious to the travelling supporters that Clapton were in for a much stiffer examination than last weeks opponents provided.

With Joe Philps out of the team following the injury he received during last weeks fixture, the captains armband was handed on to Richard Jones.

Clapton found themselves up against it in the opening ten minutes and continued Wanstead pressure resulted in an early score line of 7-0 to the home team but, aided by the booming boot of fly half, Gary Akers, the visitors were soon camped inside the home teams half.

Continued pressure led to a kickable penalty to the visitors and Akers duly obliged; 7-3.

The game quickly returned to Wanstead territory with a line out, just outside the home twenty-two. A pinpoint throw, ball off the top and Clapton were on the attack again. The ball was fired quickly out to Akers from scrum half Michael Goodman, where a quick show of the ball and drop of the shoulder were enough for him to beat his marker. The home defence converged on Akers as he motored into the red zone but the ever present Goodman was on hand to receive the try scoring pass; under the posts; easy conversion; 7-10.

Again Clapton attacked and within moments a second kickable penalty opportunity; Akers again; 7-13.

With the half almost over the supporters were treated to probably one of the best tries they will see all season. The influx of youth to this Clapton side has brought about a mini renaissance in playing style and, although sometimes struggling with size and technique in the tight play, their open field play is a pleasure to behold.

Good lineout possession was again the foundation of the move; Goodman to Akers; onto Michael Tindall; through the gain line and soft pass inside the supporting Dean McFarlane.

McFarlane, a lock with aspirations of playing fly half, then sent out a long, spinning pass to winger, Tom Ferridge. More meters gained; ball back inside to McFarlane. With hands quick enough for any fairground chancer, McFarlane shipped the ball onto the supporting Michael Watts; ten meter sprint for the line. Try again scored under the posts; 7-20; half time.

Any thoughts of Clapton pulling away in the second period were soon dashed as the home team started the second half with a renewed energy. The play was now end to end with scoring chances being denied by stout defence from both sets of players. It was the home team who found the next gap and their unconverted try brought the score to 12-20.

Again Clapton went on the attack and following good interplay between forwards and backs Tindall broke through the defensive line. A desperate lunge from the last defender was enough to produce a try saving tap tackle but Goodman was on hand again to take the spoils. As Tindall went to ground, he managed pop the ball back to the supporting Goodman; a burst of acceleration and try number two for the Clapton number nine; 12-27.

The final five minutes of the match saw Clapton take their foot off the pedal and Wanstead double their efforts resulting in U.C. conceding two soft tries and a final score of 26-27.

Valuable lessons learnt.

The overall Clapton display, although far from perfect, showed that this team has the ability to play highly entertaining rugby and score tries of the highest order. Aspects of their tight play need some work and a certain amount of ‘mongrel’ is missing from the pack but it is still early days.

With a squad that contained five Colts, three players new to the club and another three coming back to the game from university, Clapton competed well against one of the strongest sides in their Merit table and, but for a five minute lapse at the end of the game, could have finished the fixture as comfortable victors.

The omens for the future could not be better.

Squad; Smith, Ferridge, Farrow, Tindall, T. Sweeney, Akers, Goodman, Brown, Franklin, Coker, McFarlane, Carroll, Jones, Foster, Watts, Tillett, Hack, M. Sweeney.

Man of the Match; Jones.