Welwyn 18 Stevenage 19

Weather conditions were perfect for this second meeting of the season of two sides vying for promotion. The game saw the lead change hands several times and was a closely fought contest throughout. Welwyn stormed into the Stevenage half from the kick off and pressurised the opposition through good recycling of the ball at the ruck. Stevenage gave away a couple of penalties which allowed Welwyn to play most of the first quarter of an hour in the Stevenage half. They were finally rewarded with a well taken try by Grant Keeler to give Welwyn a 5-0 lead. The Stevenage forwards worked well at the set pieces, competing effectively at the lineouts and dominating in the scrum, and pushed play down into the Welwyn half, where Stevenage spun the ball along the line to their winger to score and give the kicker an easy conversion and Stevenage a 7-5 lead with twenty five minutes of the game gone. Welwyn responded quickly with a backs move of their own culminating in a try by Peter Elliott to give Welwyn a 10-7 lead. Stevenage came straight back at Welwyn with another try, which was unconverted, giving them a 12-10 lead. The Welwyn forwards recycled the ball from a series of rucks and a scintillating break by Rob Picken allowed Simon Banks to crash over for a try. Unfortunately the conversion was missed but Welwyn went into half time with a 15-12 lead.

There were no half time substitutions so an unchanged Welwyn side started the second half. The Welwyn pack performed much better in the scrum in the second half, giving a more stable platform for the backs to work off. Play fluctuated between the two halves of the pitch with neither side giving any quarter. Welwyn gave away two or three penalties but Stevenage were unable to capitalise on their advantage. Dave Orton as always led from the front and made several telling breaks, one of which took the play deep into the Stevenage half where a penalty enabled Gareth Hughes to take Welwyn into a 6 point lead at 18-12. Julian Emery then came on to replace Robert Muggridge. A couple of missed opportunities cost Welwyn dear and Stevenage survived some sustained pressure on their line. With twenty minutes of the second half played, James Coughlan came on the wing with Frank Sutherland moving to flanker and Rob James leaving the field. Peter Elliott was then injured in a tackle and William Freeston came on, resulting in a rearrangement in the forwards and Frank Sutherland reverting back to the wing position. Grant Keeler sustained an injury and Robert Muggridge came back on to replace him. With only two minutes to go, Stevenage hounded the Welwyn line and were finally rewarded by a well taken try close to the posts. The resulting conversion gave Stevenage a 19-18 lead. Welwyn’s Man of the Match was Rob Picken and there were also notable performances from Owen Hopley, Rob James, Dave Orton and Justin Joubert.

Welwyn and Stevenage now share joint second place in the League but Welwyn have a superior points difference. With five league fixtures left in the season, neither side can afford to lose any more games if they want a chance at promotion into London North 2.

Welwyn Team:

Full Back – Jonathan Child
Wing – Peter Elliott
Wing – Frank Sutherland
Centre – James Turnbull
Centre – Rob Gardner
Fly Half – Gareth Hughes
Scrum Half – Mark Cullen
No 8 – Dave Orton
Flanker – Rob James
Flanker – Owen Hopley
Second Row – Justin Joubert
Second Row – Rob Picken
Prop – Grant Keeler
Hooker – Simon Banks
Prop – Robert Muggridge

Substitutes:
William Freeston
Julian Emery
James Coughlan