Saturday 19th November 2011

ROMFORD & GIDEA PARK - 22
LOWESTOFT & YARMOUTH - 15

L&Y gave runaway league leaders Romford the scare of their lives at home and, despite L&Y's mid-table position, such was the quality of this performance that the relieved Romford coaching staff and players were declaring this their toughest match of the year. L&Y got themselves a losing bonus point, and without doubt played some of their best rugby of the year, being far more controlled in attack and disciplined in defence, and with 20 minutes to go were leading the match, before a refereeing howler preceded two late Romford scores.

From the kickoff, Romford got possession and their young fit team were testing and probing L&Y's defence, but it was L&Y who struck first. Myles McAlone flew up to make a big hit on his opposite number, then managed to backtrack, tear the ball off another attacker, skip round the defence and sprint 80m to score in the corner in a remarkable try. Equally superbly, Russ Chapman converted from the sideline and the hosts were shocked. Matt Oakes, Jake Titterington and Callum Cashman were back from University so Richard Bristo and Graeme Newton took to the bench and Russ Wilkinson had a week of rest. Josh Fewkes went to the wing despite playing superbly for the last few weeks at flanker, and had another powerful game, while James Gee looked to be getting his touch back on the other flank before succumbing to a hamstring injury late on.

Romfords inside centre was trying to bash his way up midfield but found little change out of Dave Tiueti and Steve Adams tackling. However he caused enough distraction for the nippy flyhalf to whizz through a gap on halfway, and some great support and a lovely offload by the no.6, gave the Romford 13 an easy run in. They missed the conversion and L&Y extended the lead back to 5 points with a Chapman penalty after a run by Gee and charges from Cashman and Chris Howe forced an offence. Tiueti broke from the restart and Brad Sutherland was on his shoulder to take the ball deep into Romford territory from where Gee almost made it to the left hand corner. Fewkes followed up shortly afterwards with a kick chase from which he and Matt Oakes forced a penalty only to see Chapman's effort sail wide.

Romford came back upfield and kicked through to space. Tiueti covered well but slipped, so gave the ball under pressure to Sutherland. Consequently, his clearance missed touch and was collected by his opposite number who spun the ball right quickly and the home side took advantage of an overlap for the right wing to run into the corner. Cashman's hip seized up so he was replaced by the athletic Ryan Oakes at second row, but despite the change, L&Y kept their heads and with the help of some spiralling punts from Scott Nelson were just shading the territorial advantage. A lineout overthrow was snaffled by Adams who quickly fed Tiueti and Nelson released Fewkes into space. He was brought down inside the Romford 22, but excellent recycling sent the ball back left and Marc Thomas, Titterington, Steve Powles and Gee managed to squeeze Sutherland over in the corner for a 15-10 halftime lead.

As expected after the break Romford came out firing. They were held up on the L&Y twice by some superb defence and when Titterington forced a turnover, Nelson put in a massive 70m clearance kick to take play to the other end. Chapman missed another chance of a penalty after the defence were caught laying all over the ball, and when Romford tried to clear another accurate spiral from Nelson pinned them back in the corner. Tiueti narrowly missed with a drop goal, then came the turning point of the game.

Chapman had another shot at goal which drifted short to the left of the posts where the Romford flanker caught the ball outside the deadball area, stepped back over the line and firmly touched down the ball. He then realised his mistake and took off up the field, but instead of calling him back for the 5m scrum, the referee allowed play to continue, L&Y's defence were caught bewildered and after a few passes Romford were challenging the L&Y tryline. Thomas illegally went for the ball in the breakdown saving a certain try, but getting himself sin-binned for his efforts, and with Gee's hamstring popping in a last ditch tackle, suddenly L&Y were undeservedly at the wrong end of the park, with 14 men and a reshuffled side. Romford took full advantage of their superiority by eventually working space for the left wing to jink over in the corner and even the scores, however L&Y manfully held out until Thomas could return with 8 minutes left. The game was going end to end as both sides went for the win, but it was L&Y who cracked first, when Nelson's first scuffed kick of the day landed in the left wing's hands and he had space to cut through to the posts for Romfords bonus point try and their first conversion. Another Matt Oakes turnover got L&Y possession, and they spent the last few minutes bravely pummelling the Romford line but eventually time ran out and Romfords pleas were answered when the referee finally blew up on an thrilling match.

Team: Howe, Powles, Titterington, Cashman (Oakes R), Proctor, Oakes M, Adams, Thomas, Chapman, Tiueti, Gee (Bristo), Nelson, McAlone, Fewkes, Sutherland
Not used: Newton

Tries: McAlone, Sutherland
Cons: Chapman
Pans: Chapman