Match Report
Match reports 2006/7: 1st XV | Stacks | Gnus
1st Team Match Report - 23rd September 2006
(Home against Upminster)
Score: 3 - 27
Injury hit Canvey faced their promotion rivals from last season, Upminster, in the opening encounter of the London 4 NE season. Yet again Canvey made more changes, with Mark Turnbull making his first team debut, youngster Joe Symon and veteran Mark Colville both came into the squad too.
In this fixture last year, Canvey ended Upministers unbeaten run. Since then Canvey have lost an amazing 8 players who were involved in that game, all through injury!
Before the games that took place at Tewkes Creek this Saturday, the 1 st and 3 rd XV's and there respective opponents, joined together in a minute silence to say goodbye to former Canvey player Craig Wright who had sadly passed away. His son Danny was on hand, to spread his ashes over the pitch after the game, that he onced graced as a player.
Canvey started well and attacked Upminister from the off. Both sides were testing each other out, and seeing how strictly the rules of the game would be implemented. Both sides gave away penalties and within 10mins the game was 3 all.
Upminister seemed to get the luck of the bounce, and the refereeing decisions. A mis cued drop goal attempt from their No.10 hit the back of one of his forwards, spun up into the hands of another pack player and Upminster got an easy soft try. With this converted Upminster went into the half time break 10, 3 up.
Upminister' game seemed to revolve solely round the boot of their fly half, and Canvey's backs looked the more threatening of the two. But yet again as is becoming something of a regular occurrence at the moment, Canvey's injury curse struck again!
Canvey first lost new prop Lloyd Miller, and was replaced by youngster Symons. Next was fullback David Dennis who was playing through injury anyway. When he came off Jay Bedford went into fullback and Colville came on to join Joe Buckfield in the centre.
The disruption to the side allowed the visitors to take advantage and hit Canvey with a couple of quick tries. Next stand in Captain Brett Smith found himself in the sin bin. It just was not meant to be Canvey's day!
Then it got worse. In a questionable refereeing decision, prop Lee Brumwell was pulled down, and the scrum was allowed to continue and run over him. Injury to him meant that replacement back rower Adam Harris joined proceedings and the scrums had to go uncontested.
Upminster went on to win 3 vs. 27. Canvey's unbeaten 2 year home record has now gone, and with it the pressure that goes along with it. Canvey just need to byed their time. With a bit of luck and the return of some key players, Canvey's time will come.
Man of the match: Jay Bedford
