2nd XV
Matches
Sat 12 Jan 2013
S W Ferrers II
0
43
Eton Manor RFC
2nd XV
Manor twos cruise to victory

Manor twos cruise to victory

Mark Cuschieri14 Jan 2013 - 13:29
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With the most completed performance of the season so far Manor second team swept aside a spirited South Woodham Ferrers team.

The nerves were jangling for this one. For the second week running the 1st team had quite a few players missing due to illness and injury therefore the second team were robbed of a lot of its influential players, added to this was the fact that South Woodham Ferrers had been on a winning streak of late beating some decent teams along the way and I was certain that a close game was on the cards.
Manor’s pitch had just about recovered for the deluge of rain over the Christmas period, apart from the centre area that has so much sand on it that is resembled a beach.
After looking at SWF during their warm up they looked sharp with both their large forwards and backs going through their moves with grace and skill. I was now positive that if we did not play well then a second defeat of the season was likely. The players were told this and I waited to see their response during in the game.
From the kick off the ball was gathered cleanly by Manor and hit up, from the resulting ruck 42 year old Sean Bradley came on the crash busting through 2 tacklers and he was away. He managed to run from 22 to 22 where once caught he attempted an outrageous offload that Fiji would have been proud of and the chance had gone, but the seed had been planted. SWF may have looked tidy in the warm up but that was before they had to make a tackle. Manors tails were now up.
After 5 minutes the ball found its way to aging outside centre Cushy who dummied the winger and just about had enough momentum to carry the fallback over the try line. Brad missed the difficult conversion (5 - 0)
Even though the Manor pack were much smaller and lighter than their counterparts they dominated large parts of the game and gave SWF a torrid time at the breakdown. This meant that there was a steady supply of clean ball for improving young fly half Brad to pick and choose his attacks.
Soon afterwards the ball was passed along the backline to Jumbo on the wing, he sped off breaking two flimsy tackles to score under the posts. Brad got the conversion (12 – 0)
About 20 mins in the forwards turned over yet another SWF attack, this left a big overlap on the wing. With quick hands from the backline winger Sam Green showed that he was more than quick enough to scamper in for Manor’s third try. Brad missed the conversion (17 – 0)
The last 20 mins of the first half was still dominated by Eton Manor but the unexpected ease of the game was having an adverse effect on the team. Now cocky little offloads were creeping into our game which were usually dropped thus allowing SWF breathing space.
SWF made their only telling break during this period when their talented inside centre made a good offload to their looping fly half which caused an overlap out wide. The ball was spun to the SWF winger who with the try line in front of him was bundled into touch by Brad Cotton. For the second week running Brad had made an outstanding try saving tackle.

Half time Eton Manor 17 SWF Nil.

With Cushy’s words still ringing in the ears of the team gone was the cockyness and back was the ruthless tackling and attack.
After about 10mins of the second half gone Cushy spotted a mis-match on the opposite side of the pitch, the rewind was called and scrum half Joe White gave a perfect pass. After a swift dummy Cushy was off, it was a bit of a long run in and the SWF fullback was in full chase. For the second time in the game he was carried over the line by a breathless Cushy for his second try of the game. Brad miss the conversion (22 – 0)
Manor were now forced into making a few changes due to injuries, but this did not slow down their progress and it wasn’t long before Manor got their 5th try. With nothing much on Cushy got the ball from a standing start, he drifted sideways eluding a couple of tacklers until the SWF team parted like the red sea, Cushy was through the hole and after a short sprint and a sexy mud slide he was over for his 3rd try of the game. Brad got the conversion (29 – 0)
It was a one sided game now with Brad punishing SWF every mistake with missile like kicking to the corners. The 6th try was a nice team effort with half breaks and offloads coming from everyone. Manor worked a 4 on 1 inside the SWF 22, here Brad showed his youthfulness by trying to score himself rather than pass to the waiting players. He was tackled by the fullback but was able to pop it to Hooker George Cast who went in behind the posts. Brad got the conversion (36 – 0)
With time running out the backs made yet another break where Cushy was put through for a clear run to the line and his forth try in the corner, but instead of touching down he popped to ball back inside to Ben Ward who jogged it under the sticks. to our amusement the SWF fly half let his feelings be known with “You effing flash so and so”. With Sam Green drop kicking the final conversion the game was over.

Manor had won at a canter in the end and the close fought battle didn’t materialise. I think SWF could have no argument in the score line as Manor had put in a very good performance against a decent opposition.

It is very hard to pick a man of the match this week as so many players played well. In the pack Tomcat's carrying and tackling really stood out and in the backs Brad put in his best performance of the season so far. Also Ben Ward had SWF talented inside centre in his pocket all game.

We now have a week off and then we are at home to Chingford.

Please note that we are looking at getting a coach to Southend for our last game of the season on March 9th. If anyone wants to come please let me know as this will change the size of the coach we get. Ladies are welcome also.

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Jan 2013

Kickoff

15:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

First XV Sponsor - White Skips Hire Ltd
1st Team Sponsor - Essex Security
Club Sponsor - Edwards Duthie Solcitors
1st team sponsor - Austin-Chapel LLP
Mens Shorts Sponsor - Macai
1st Team Sponsor - 1st Event Luxury Travel
1st Team Sponsor - Petty Son & Prestwich
Stand Sponsor - Brownes
Board - Thameside Roofing Ltd
RFU Member Club - Accredited RFU Club