Woe for Wymondham RFC

Canvey Island 34, Wymondham 13

FOLLOWING a six-week break Wymondham finally got back into action with a difficult trip to second-placed Canvey Island hoping to pull off the impossible and record their first away win of the season.

Unfortunately, ill discipline and a failure to stick to the game plan left Wymondham still without that elusive away victory.

The day began badly when one of the squad cried off in the morning however, stalwart and club captain John Morfoot answered the call and came out of retirement and despite receiving one of Wymondham's three yellow cards and a blood injury the veteran lock had an inspirational 30 minutes.

Wymondham certainly looked like a team who hadn't played much rugby recently and suffered a torrid 20 minutes where the visitors conceded several penalties nevertheless they managed to hold their line secure.

In the end, Wymondham's line was eventually breached when scrum-half Brett Smith darted over from close range and minutes later Tom Dulieu went over in the corner as he outpaced the defence.

The Red and Blacks went onto the offensive and in a change of fortunes it was the Islanders who were on the back foot, conceding several penalties which culminated in Dave Dennis being the first of five players to be shown yellow and Tom Wilson coolly slotted the resulting penalty for a 12-3 half-time score.

At the start of the second half Wymondham looked a different side, putting Canvey under severe pressure.

Taking a scrum against the head by driving the home side off the ball, youngster David Blake was halted inches from the line but quick recycled possession gave Jonathan Coltman a slim chance of scoring and he squeezed over to cut the deficit and then Wilson added a conversion.

But from the restart Wymondham gifted the ball back to the Islanders and at the same time became encamped on their own line.

Yellow cards to Alan Turner and a minute later Morfoot was off, reducing the Red and Blacks to 13 and a score was inevitable but it still took the Islanders five minutes to breach Wymondham's brave defence.

As Wymondham got back to 15 players it was Canvey captain Jamie Breading who became the fourth player to see yellow and Wilson got Wymondham back in touch with his second penalty.

An error from the restart once again brought Canvey to Wymondham's line and then Matt Lay charged down a clearance kick to score, this single act seemed to deflate Wymondham's resolve. A fifth yellow card of the match came as Barry O'Sullivan got ten minutes' rest, a third try for Dulieu and one for Jay Bedford sealed Wymondham's fate.

But the match was brought to a slightly premature end when Turner suffered a neck injury as Bedford scored, resulting in a visit to Southend Hospital for the hooker and an anxious wait for the squad but the player was released to travel back with the team.

North Walsham U15 5, Wymondham U15 19

BOTH sides producing an entertaining and committed contest after such a long break from rugby, with Wymondham progresing to the cup semi-final on February 14. Wymondham looked dangerous with the ball in hand but strong defence from the home side halted Steward and then Goodwin. Wymondham were looking a trifle rusty and a number of moves were snuffed out through loose passes or hesitancy.

The first score arrived from a five-metre scrum when Walsham picked up and drove over the line.

In response, Wigney caught the Walsham receiver in possession, the ball was quickly recycled and Rix's neat chip to the left wing bounced kindly for Kouto to collect and score halfway out, with Rix converting.

In the second half Wymondham's back row, with Wigney outstanding, started to dominate the breakdown area. Ewing fielded a loose Walsham kick 30 yards out and scored a fine solo try in the corner.

Wymondham were awarded a penalty but Rix's kick drifted just wide. Undeterred, Wymondham kept pressing and finally another deft chip from Rix caused panic in the defence with Nicholson on hand to collect and squeeze over in the corner, Rix converting well.