Essex County RFU 44 - 18 Notts, Lincs & Derby


Essex County RFU Senior XV 2008


Tom Alexander ( Barking) scores Essex's first try

  

EssexRugby had every reason to be proud this weekend after the County Senior XV convincingly beat an experienced Notts, Lincs and Derby XV 44 - 18 in the first round of the RFU County Championship Plate competition.  The win puts Essex in second place in Pool 1 on points difference as Leicestershire beat Staffs 43-16.

Bright Sunshine, a stiff breeze and an NLD kick off faced Essex as they took to the field in their new Shepherd Neame sponsored County shirts.  The kick off put NLD deep into the Essex half and the County team were placed under severe pressure from a well drilled and heavier pack.  A penalty in front of the posts some 40 years out for an infringement in the ruck gave NLD the first opportunity to get points on the board but the wind took the ball wide of the posts and Essex breathed a sigh of relief.
The restart gave Essex the chance to get into the NLD half and with the ball going out wide to speedy wing Scott Shaw (Barking) the County made good ground into the NLD 22.  With a series of rucks and mauls Essex nearly got over the NLD line but were held up just short of the line.  NLD were short of forwards in support and as the ball came out of the back of the ruck an alert Tom Alexander ( Barking) saw the gap in the NLD defence and dived over for the County's first try of the match.  With the wind playing havoc with the kicks Harry Bryans conversion attempt just went wide of the posts but Essex had made a start and were 5-0 ahead.

The restart gave NLD a chance to attack and Essex had to defend during the next phase of play.  Despite several attempts to break out from their own 22, Essex failed to get the ball up field.  NLD pressure in the rucks and mauls began to tell and eventually NLD were given a penalty in front of the posts some 30 yards out and this time Danny Graney had the measure of the wind and slotted the ball between the posts to get NLD on the score board with 3 points.

The restart allowed Essex to attack the NLD line.  With the forwards and backs linking well the next score came seventeen minutes into the match.  Essex  won a lineout on the NLD 22, with Joseph Cook recycling the ball quickly to fly half Ian Rudgley whose jinking runs mesmerised the NLD defence the ball passed swiftly through the hands of the backs to the left wing Scott Shaw who outpaced his opposite number to give Essex another try and take the score up to 10 - 6.  The stiff breeze again played havoc with the conversion attempt and went just wide of the posts and NLD had the restart. 

Scott Shaw scores the second try

Harry Bryan kicks for goal


NLD get their tackle in too late as Tom Alexander has already grounded the ball.

 It was errors in the ruck that gave NLD another penalty attempt which Graney gratefully slotted between the posts to make the score 10-6 some four minutes later.  This was quickly followed by an NLD try where the power of the pack prevailed and they mauled the ball over the line to give NLD the lead for the fist time in the match 10 -11.  This also served to make Essex even more determined and with some excellent rugby they stayed in the NLD half where just on the stroke of half time it was Tom Alexander who gave Essex the lead once again with a fine solo effort in mid field to touch down under the posts to present Bryan with a simple conversion enabling Essex to go into the break at half time 17 - 11 in the lead. 

A penalty to Essex in the first minute of the second half following the kick off gave Essex just the start they wanted.  The penalty was converted by Bryan which gave Essex a nine point cushion with the score at 20 -11.  However, almost immediately the NLD pack set to work on the Essex line and despite desperate defence the heavier pack earned themselves a lifeline with a try from the maul which was converted by Graney from out wide near the NLD right wing.  At 20 - 18 it looked as though Essex were going to have their work cut out as the NLD pack were looked as though they were going to try and exert their strength in the pack.

The restart though brought play back into the NLD twenty-two where Woodfords Joe Green, picked up a superb offload from his back row colleague Alexander and forced his way through  to go over under the posts and widen the gap even further.  Bryan quickly took the conversion with a drop kick and now Essex were 27-18 in front.

At fly half Rudgely began to receive more and more quick ball and Essex began to run the heavier NLD forwards around the pitch though some excellent team works amongst the backs and forwards.  It was now NLD's turn to put in some desperate defensive work and they kept the Essex young guns at bay preventing any further score for the following 12 minutes of play. 

As the match was reaching its final quarter it was Tom alexander who popped up with a powerful run on the right, storming his way through the NLD defence to the try line with several several of his colleagues in hot pursuit leaving the NLD forwards to watch in disbelief.  Achieving his hatrick Essex were now comfortably in the lead 32 - 18.

Essex were now in a position to take advantyage of their youth and with 12 minutes left to go it was the turn of the backs to take on the try scoring role once again.  A brilliant darting run from the left wing Scott Shaw who cut back inside took the score to 37 - 18 with his second try of the match this time under the posts which replacement full back Ben Montgomery duly slotted the conversion between the posts for the two extra points giving Essex a 39 -18 lead.


NLD fail to prevent Woodfords Joe Green touching down under the posts


Tom Alexander goes over for his hatrick

 Both coaches made several changes to their sides and Essex brought on more of their inspiring youngsters off the bench.  The game did not change its pace and Essex continued much the stronger.  It was pleasing to see the potential Essex had from their replacements.  Laurie Osanumi came onto the right wing and showed that he is a powerful runner, whilst in the pack young Tony Sherwood, who this season helped Essex maintain their unbeaten County championship run at U20's proved that Essex has strength in depth.

Essex were still in try scoring mood and from a scrum on the right hand side of the pitch, the backs quickly moved the ball out to the backs where quick hands passed the ball out to left wing Scott Shaw who went over in the corner despite a desperate tackle from his opposite number.  With the score at 44 -18 Essex continued to pile on the pressure with some excellent open play, but there was no further score before the referee Richard Phillips who had had a very good game blew the whistle for full time leaving Essex the winners 44 -18
Head Coach Gary Smith said after the match " I am well pleased with the way this squad played today.  They may have been up against it in the pack in the first half but they showed true strength of character to defend so well when they had to.  I thought the backs moved the ball quickly and efficiently and it was good to see some of the younger squad members blend in well with some of the more experienced players.  This was a good all-round performance and one of the best from an Essex side and this was without some of the Southend players who were not available due to their league match at Stourbridge.  Mike Drinkwater thanked the players from both sides for such and excellent match, the Match Sponsor Derek Lockett from Basildon RFC and named Barking's Tom ALEXANDER as the winner of the Shepherd Neame Man of the match bottle of Champagne.


Scott Shaw scores the last two tries and gains a hatrick


The replacements form a formidable wall Courtesy of Shepherd Neame "Spitfire" Ale