Woodford turned up to Crow Lane for this bottom of the table clash with much pride at stake. The pitch had recovered well from several deluges in the week and did nothing to hamper a fine game played in excellent spirit. The weather although cold was bright and dry and there was no precipitation during the match.

Park had brought back a number of senior players for this important match. Captain Stephen Barfoot returned at No. 8 and Jeff Woods at prop. Mark Jackson a first team regular last season returned at wing forward to partner the industrious Dwayne Lyn. In the backs the sure hands and cultured boot of Dave Gilmore returned after a long absence from Park’s premier team. Joe Howard, the quixotic winger, returned to the bench after a long period of injury for a vital cameo performance. Fellow member of the championship side of https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/romfordgideapark/s/match-centre-9658/1-989004/three years ago, Ross Inwood, took up position on the wing.

The match started with a forward tussle with Woodford in the ascendancy. Only the skill and strength of Woods in the front row and the guile of Barfoot and Savill prevented them getting the upper hand. However Park managed to score the first points following a breakdown in attack by the Woodford backs which saw full back Nick Reid move play to the Woodford 22 where Inwood streaked down the right wing to touch down after 11 minutes. Inwood added the conversion for score of 7 -0

Woodford then fought back with good use of the driving maul and scored after 22 minutes. A good break on the short side by their blind side wing forward made space for their second row to touch down for an unconverted try that brought the score to 7 – 5. The game looked close but surprisingly Woodford failed to continue with the driving mauls which had proved successful and looked to release their backs which clearly were no match for Park’s defence and the speed of the Park backs. Savill and Barfoot were combining well at the base of the scrum and repeatedly made space for Park’s backs to stretch their legs. But after several attempts which died through handling errors Park crossed the line again after 32 minutes with Savill rounding off a move, which capitalised on a great effort by Howard, to touch down between the posts Inwood duly added the points for the conversion. The score 12 – 7.

The battle continued to remain close until the speed of the Park backs again broke through the defensive line for Savill to go over in the left hand corner just before half time. Inwood’s conversion just slid past the posts for a half time score of 19 – 5.

With clear space in the score Park continued with an adventurous approach and battered the Woodford line through determined thrusts by Woods, Lyn, Irwin and the Catchpole brothers. Three minutes after the kick-off the ball was released by Matt Catchpole to captain Barfoot and he surged down the left wing from the Woodford 22m line to crash over for try number 4, to make the score 24 – 5, and to secure a bonus point. Inwood once again went close from out wide but failed to add to the points.

Park clearly now had the upper hand mentally and physically Woodford continued to develop moves through their backs and Park had to make several last ditch tackles to prevent them getting back into the game. After 23 minutes of the half there was a gasp of excitement as veteran prop Woods intercepted a ball on half way and set off for the posts only to be brought back by the referees whistle.

Park continued to apply pressure but Woodford manfully defended. It was only after 64 minutes of the match that they managed to add to their score when Barfoot again crossed the line, after a prolonged move of forwards and backs, to touch down try number 5 to the right of the posts. Inwood added his third conversion to make the score 31 – 5. Seven minutes later, full back Nick Reid, who had been a key part in many of the attacks, crossed the line out wide on the right to make the score 36 – 5.

The closing stages of the match saw Park threaten the visitors line through both the backs and forwards. Eventually something had to give and Dwayne Lyn crashed over for try number 7. A just desert for a most industrious day. Inwood added the conversion, his fourth of the day, to make the final score 43 – 5. A good win for Park in a match played in good spirit with much endeavour by both sides.

Romford and Gidea Park RUFC 1st XV v Woodford RFC
28th January 2015
1. Max Irwin
2. Harry Dearman
3. Jeff Woods
4. Matthew Catchpole
5. Anthony Catchpole
6. Mark Jackson
7. Dwayne Lyn
8. Stephen Barfoot (Capt)
9. Barney Savill
10. Dave Gilmore
11. George Robertson
12. Teddie Duke
13. Dan Harnett
14. Ross Inwood
15. Nick Reid

16. Joe Howard
17. Paul Webb
18. Peter O’Brien
Match Stats

Time Score Event (player)
First Half
11 mins 5 – 0 Try #1 for Park. Winger Ross Inwood;
12 mins 7 - 0 Conv. #1 for Park – Ross Inwood;
22 mins 7 - 5 Try #1 for Woodford – Second row from break down left
32 mins 12 - 5 Try #2 for Park – Scrum half Barney Savill between posts;
33 mins 14 – 5 Conv. #2 for Park – Ross Inwood;
39 mins 19 - 5 Try #3 for Park – Scrum half Barney Savill in left corner;
Second Half
43 mins 24 - 5 Try #4 for Park – Captain Stephen Barfoot in left corner;
64 mins 29 - 5 Try #5 for Park – Captain Stephen Barfoot near the right post;
65 mins 31 - 5 Conv. #3 for Park – Ross Inwood;
72 mins 36 - 5 Try #6 for Park – Full back Nick Reid to RHS after a backs
move;
76 mins 41 – 5 Try #7 for Park – Flanker Dwayne Lyn to LHS;
77 mins 43 – 5 Conv. #4 for Park – Ross Inwood;

No yellow cards

Note all times include delays for injuries.

ROMFORD & GIDEA PARK R.F.C

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