Extra A 10 - Westcliff 20

Clapton’s Extra A succumbed to their first defeat of the season at the hands of a strong Westcliff side on Saturday. The result means that the two sides now sit level at the top of the merit table but with Clapton edging it with a superior points difference having beaten the seasiders earlier on in the season. If current form continues the two teams could possibly meet for the decider in the final of the merit table cup at Southend in April.
It was a shame that for such a key game the conditions were nasty with a strong wind blowing horrid rain droplets directly down the pitch. Westcliff, with their big pack and centres, adapted better to the conditions by playing a one out driving game. Clapton struggled to cope with this and spent long periods of the match defending for their lives. Another problem the club had was the complete lack of line out jumpers. With Kenty withdrawing during the morning of the match with a dribbly nose it was left to Shieldsy to be thrown up more in hope than anything else. He even got caught on the way down....occasionally.
Clapton played with the conditions in the first half and although struggled to retain the ball for any amount of time, still managed to pin their opponents in their twenty two. Time and again they shunned the opportunity for points when winning very kickable penalties in preference for attacking the line. Ayrsey and Big Kev cam close but the solid Westcliff defence held firm. With five minutes of the half remaining a loose pass was collected by the Westcliff Centre who outstripped the Clubs defence to score under the posts. The conversion was made to give the visitors a seven point advantage at the break

Clapton now faced the task of facing the ever deteriorating conditions and a defence that until then and not yielded.

Westcliff were soon on the front foot in the second half and extended their lead by first adding a penalty and then a neatly struck drop goal. It all looked bad for the home side but back they came with a try moments later when Damo put Use2be away to score in the corner. Claptons rally was short lived however as an interception by the Westcliff number 8 put the game out of reach. Clapton did manage a consolation try late on when the ball was fumbled over the line for an extremely grateful Sin Bin to touch down but it was not enough and Westcliff ran out deserved winners.

The MOM Medallion went to Use2be who not only scored a try but ran around the field like a screaming banshee making countless tackles....weirdo!!

No game this week for the Extra As but they do return in two weeks time with another merit table match at home to Woodford.