Stanford RFC weekend roundup 15 & 16 November 2014.
Stanford IIs (15) vs Mavericks (74) home loss
After a good couple of weeks Stanford IIs didn’t have the measure of their visitors fast back line and were under cosh early on. Stanford is a maturing side and will bounce back from this loss and showed that they had the right stuff in their kit bag by getting their own well-earned tries. The first coming from the forwards dominance close to the Mavericks line.
The only way Mavericks could stop the inevitable try was to persistently handle in the rucks so only option was a penalty try which Grant Ferguson converted. Stanford’s 2nd try came from a good kick and chase, where Sean Cochrane showed he still had good pace and put in a crunching tackle of the Mavericks full back.
Adam Gander was there backing up Cochrane and as the ball was spilled by the visitors Gander bounced and was over the try line before anyone could stop him. A heavy loss maybe but a spirited effort from the home side. Stanford’s try came from Penalty Try and Adam Gander. Grant Ferguson added a penalty and a conversion.
Stanford’s man of the match was Clive Broad who didn’t actually play for Stanford as Mavericks turned up without a complete front row, so Broad stepped up and played against his team mates.
Stanford u15s (21) vs Epping & Upper Clapton (45) away loss
Stanford under 15s despite being depleted in numbers to just 15 travelled to play their 2nd league game of the season. The going under foot was very heavy, which Stanford’s forwards had trouble getting to grips with.
A very slow start saw Clapton run in 5 tries without reply. Stanford were a frustrated team and no matter what they tried they were just didn’t not getting decisions that should have gone their way. Try’s conceded in the first half could have been debated and definitely a TMO would have offered a different view on a number of them. Just before the end of the 1st half Stanford forwards and backs linked together to power their way towards the line.
A penalty 5 out saw Sean Loughran pumped up wanting the ball. He hit the tacklers low and dropped just over the line, although there was some doubt from the side line as to whether the grounding was true, it was given and Zack Burdett added the extra two points with a good kick.
The 2nd half started with the home side scoring a very good try using their fast backs. Stanford having no subs battled on but were cut down to 14 men when Ross Gale who had giving everything took a hard knock to the temple and needed to leave the pitch. Although offered a player Stanford declined the offer as this team plays together and for each other and was committed to unite and play their rugby.
Harvey Cassidy was really making himself a presence in the game and a break through saw him bounce several tackles only to be stopped by a clothes line tackle. Cassidy’s only words were "I’m not coming off" so back on his feet he took the penalty on the charge and gained his revenge with an excellent try. Burdett stepped up and again added the extra points. Stanford were getting better ball and used their forwards to great advantage.
The 14 men were pleased to see Gale return to the pitch and he left no time in proving he was fit to play by linking up with his centre partner Jamie Wooffitt. Gale held up his oncoming tacklers and put Wooffitt into space. Wooffitt got very close to the line only to be cut down by a very good cover tackle. Following Wooffitt through was Peter Colbert who with pace and a good step dived over the home sides line.
Burdett once again added the extra two points giving him 100% off the tee. Stanford’s try scorers were Sean Loughran, Harvey Cassidy & Peter Colbert. Zack Burdett added 3 conversiosn. Stanford’s man of the match was a very hard decision but was given to Jake Tottman for his constant work in the forwards and open play.
Stanford Sirenettes very 1st home games.
The early nerves showed with knock on from both sides handing scrums to each other. Basildon broke the gain line first to be halted with a Wiggins special, causing another knock on and handing the ball back to the Sirenettes. Basildon won the ball back running from right to left wing, with our girls missing tackles, to touch down in the corner.
The extra points were not taken. After the re-start, a brief stop for a head injury saw a Sirenette scrum inside the Basildon half. Strong running put the girls inside the 22 and there they stayed keeping pressure on Basildon phase after phase, winning another scrum 10 meters out.
Bex Boultwood picked up, spying a gap and breaking tackles to slip in for a snipers try. Though her kick was straight it was too low to convert her own point. The Sirenettes now relaxed into the game and were beginning to enjoy themselves, thriving on the great support and (as usual) gave there all to the half, seeing them go in at half time level with 5 all.
The second half began with a Basildon knock on from the kick, giving the early initiative back to the Sirenettes. The girls broke from the resulting scrum, committing their opposite numbers and producing offloads ending in a well worked try.
Once again the line from the kick was true but not the height. The next ten minutes saw a real good battle in the middle of the pitch, with all girls from both sides producing good running and tackling; with tackles from Georgia Wiggins once again standing out. Going through the phases from right to left and back again, our young ladies once again pushed Basildon back in to their 22. Turn overs saw them try to run the ball out but a text book power hit by Lily Gander saw the ball go loose rolling over the try line. The Sirenettes reacted first, touching the ball down to the right of the posts.
Again the conversion went below the bar but was unneeded as the first Sirenettes home game bought their first victory. The final game of the day was Stanford v Colchester.
The Sirenettes borrowed a player from Basildon to make this an 8-a-side game played in great spirits between girls now becoming friends. This did not, however, make either side hold back or pull out; although they were seen to help each other up after knocking each other down with some hard tackling. Under pressure in the Sirenettes 22 a big hit saw a knock on give the ball back Stanford’s way. Colchester turned over with their No.8 going over to score; also stepping up to convert but was off the mark.
Big hit followed big hit from both sides as the game tightened up until Colchester cleared a ruck, picking up ball and coming out to score. Though 2 trys down, our girls kept pushing knowing their time would come; and it did! A scrum on the left, just inside the half, Bex picked from the back and popped left to Lily charging down the blind. She dropped her shoulder breaking the gain line taking two girls to bring her down.
Popping the ball up it was worked from left to right through hand involving nearly every girl, with the winger finishing in the corner to bring the half to a close: 5-10. The second half saw the weather worsening and the light fading heightening the penalty count from both sides.
Announcing their own forward passes helping Ref Trevor to officiate. Good work on the right, a strong diagonal break ending on the left saw a secure ball to the back of the breakdown. Attacking from here saw Emily Cadogan lining up for what must surely have been a try under the posts; unselfishly offloading her pass went astray.
The next few minutes were spent in the Colchester 22 with scrums passed to one another through knock on, until Colchester took the initiative to break up field. The error count continued with the game in the balance until Colchester managed to move wide , running in for a final score of the game , winning 15- 5. Sirenettes team today: Emily Cadogen (C), Lily Gander (VC), Rebecca Boultwood, Phoebe Shaw, Georgia Wiggins, Bailey James and Amy Kettle. Players of the match (chosen by Club Chairman Kyran McDonald) – Georgia Wiggins, Rebecca Boultwood and Lily Gander …All girls should be very proud of themselves.
Stanford u14s (27) vs. Rochford (20) Home win
Stanford try scorers were Joe Moran (2), George Whalley (1), Thomas Giroud (1) & JJ Adetona (1). Mark-David Ikhifa converted (1).
Stanford u11s away at Barking
Home team Barking RFC also invited Burnham and Ilford to this fixture offering a plentiful morning of good quality rugby. Stanford met Burnham first, resulting in a 2-1 win to the latter team. Try scorer for Stanford – Alfie Rawe. Next Stanford were up against the home team Barking and triumphed with a 3-2 win . Try scorers – Charlie Baker, Joshua Early and Daniel Hook. Finally, Stanford played fellow visitors Ilford who offered a fast paced match . Final result 4-1to Ilford. Try scorer James Derby.
Parents selection for Player of the Day was Hayden Heighway for outstanding rucking over and a special mention to Jerome Sagomba and Tyronne Kapuma for their Stanford match debut.
