25/10/08

woodford 13 civil service 36

Civil Service are in good form after the EDF National Cup round 1 win and from the start put Woodford under considerable pressure for the opening salvo finishing with Darryl Gore being powered over the line for the first score within 5 minutes 0-5. Woodford came back with some strong play applying good pressure into the Civil Service half eventually forcing an error from Civil Service and giving Woodford a chance which was converted keeping them in touch 3-5 after 12 minutes. The game settled down with Woodford playing well but unable to unpick the Civil Service defence indeed Woodford were victims of poor handling under the pressure of the Civil Service defensive line. Civil Service were turning up the pressure towards the end of the first half and with the referee being very sharp around the tackle area Duncan Rutherford received a yellow card for a technical offence. Civil Service put Woodford under fantastic pressure within 5 metres of their try line forcing scrum after scrum and crossing the line but Woodford held it up in a last ditch save. During this 10 minute period with 14 men Civil Service showed their strength by camping within 5 metres and just as the half drew to a close Woodford cracked with Kent Hinton driving over with a conversion by Liam Geraghty to finish the half 3-12. Second half Started with Civil Service on the rampage again, pressure forcing Woodford to infringe and collecting a yellow card. Woodford gave a rash of penalties away under enormous pressure and with some quick handling Chris Kemp ploughed his way through the Woodford defence to score 3-17. Woodford to their Credit came straight back playing some fluid rugby to put Civil Service on the back foot briefly the reward being a penalty 6-17. Prop Kent Hinton left the field with a calf strain to be replaced by Dan Sommerville following a scrum from the restart Civil Service using some good backs play were once again inside the Woodford 22 and following the forceful play, Dan Sommerville crashed through for a try by the posts converted by Liam Geraghty 6-24 after 60 minutes. Woodford were stung into action and had their best period of play and it was as they moved the play up field Civil Service received their second Yellow card, Civil Service absorbed the pressure well but were eventually caught by some quick handling by Woodford’s backs with their 15 scoring in the corner and followed by a very good conversion 13-24. Civil Service now realising the game was not over stepped up a gear and with Woodford starting to tire the backs started to cut lose scoring out wide on one side Dan Sullivan plus conversion 13-31 76 minutes. Finally in the 80th minute with a great move out of defence the backs timed the passes well Brendon Robinson drawing the defenders for superb final pass for Wihan Grobler to fly in at the opposite corner for the final try 13- 36. Good win for Civil Service dominating large passages of play Woodford being victims of their own errors under pressure. Civil Service move forward to prepare for the clash with Bury St Edmunds one place below in the league.

 Paul Tiller