U8's Match Reports

4th February 2007 – Home to Gravesend and South Woodham Ferrers

No loses for Woodford in round robin of games

Woodford were expecting their opponents to bring two teams each, which would have made for a long morning of games if every team were to play every other team.

Perhaps fortunately, they arrived with one team each and so a merry round robin of games began. Woodford’s two sides playing each of the opposition and then each other.

Woodford Reds fell behind 10 – 20 to South Woodham Ferrers in the first half. A wake up call at half time saw Woodford pull the deficit back and actually get in front. However, South Woodham were not beaten and replied with a couple of tries themselves. A thrilling match ended all square 30 –30. Woodford’s try scorers were Zac, Jonathan and Max with a try each and William with 3 tries.

Against Gravesend Woodford Reds met a their match. Every try Woodford scored Gravesend scored one back. If Woodford got turnover ball it wasn’t long before Gravesend turned it back. 10 –10 at half time and 25-25 at full time reflects an enjoyable and close game. William bagging 3 tries this game as well with one to Zac and Jonathan.

Woodford Blues also found it difficult to dominate their opponents but also matched them. Against South Woodham Ferrers they were slightly outplayed in the first half and were trailing 10-15 at half time. In a very close second half Woodford were frustrated several times before they secured the score to make things level. Defending well the opposition wouldn’t score again but Woodford could not get the winning score. 15- 15. Scores by Rhys and two for Ciaran.

Woodford Blues just had the edge on Gravesend although it was still a close game. Four tries each in the first half reflected the good support play in the team. In the second half Woodford started to show their strength and pulled ahead by a try. 35-30 the final score. Tries to Dan, two to Ciaran and 4 to Rhys.

A good set of results and again Woodford fielded two sides.

21st January 2007 – Away to Upminster RFC

Clash of the Cup Holders

Last season we met Upminster three times at festivals. In the first festival at Thurrock we lost to them in the final. In the Essex Cup we drew with them in the final and are now joint Essex Cup winners. At the Chingford festival we again met them in the final and again drew with them.

This friendly game would be a good test of how we have transferred our skills from the Under 7’s into the Under 8’s. Upminster run three sides at Under 8 so we agreed to play a round robin of games to keep everyone involved and warm.

Upminster “stream” their sides where as we mix abilities. We knew they would have one strong team and as expected we lost both games to this team, however only by a couple of tries. The other games were closer, with one of the Woodford teams winning two games and the other team coming close in all their games.

With games running one after the other and moving from pitch to pitch we couldn’t keep up with recording all the try scorers.

Apart from a couple of times when heads went down, Woodford played well and took the games to Upminster. We learnt some valuable lessons and are confident we will do well in the Essex Cup.