Upminster A 10 - 7 BERFC A

Our second match of the day (see B team report) was once again keenly contested. Upminster As were probably one of the biggest sides that we’ve come up against – in the forwards and backs – so this was always going to be a physical battle.

Barnet started the match well, rumbling their way down the slope – but were penalised 5 metres short, allowing Upminster to clear their lines. From the lineout, a long clearance and Upminster chased and pressured the Barnet full back. The ball was worked across the pitch, and from another penalty 5 metres out, quick hands from Upminster and they opened the scoring 5 – 0.

The next 15 minutes was a battle of attrition, with two strong sets of forwards slugging it out. The Barnet scrum was rock solid, and won a couple against the head, but the forwards were also guilty at times of looking for the next phase without securing the ball and Upminster counter-rucked well.

The strong Upminster back division were a constant menace, but our smaller backs managed to keep them at bay until we were able to launch an attack of our own, and the man on Saracens xmas card list bounced off several attempted tackles to touch down under the post – for a half time lead of 5 -7 .

Upminster started the second half strongly, and with the slope in their favour, it looked ominous when one of their back division crashed through early doors and put them ahead with only 4 minutes on the clock 10-7.

The full time whistle looked a long way away at that point – but credit to the Barnet boys, they mounted a brave rear guard action and dug in, tackling everything in front of them, with only the occasional brief foray up the slope into the Upminster half. With only 15 players, there were no fresh legs to call upon – but the defence held firm, and the XV put in a real good shift to deny Upminster any further score – and the game finished 10 – 7.

Two keenly contested games, both played in the right spirit – and plans to renew acquaintance at a later date. With the clock nearing 2 p.m. it was a quick dash back around the M25 for a late Sunday Lunch.

Many plus points – a full 60 minutes for 30 boys will go a long way to achieving that match fitness that seemed to have waned over xmas – and a different type and size of opposition for the As to think about.