Match Report
Match reports 2008/9: 1st XV | Stacks | Gnus
1st Team Match Report - 1st November 2008
(Home against South Woodham Ferrers)
Score: 0 - 12
A Damp and Dismal Saturday afternoon saw the Islanders take on SWF in a must win game for Canvey. The playing conditions were atrocious and the ball pretty much resembled a bar of soap for the majority of the game.
John Breadings reintroduction at inside centre was short lived when his troublesome hamstring went again 30mins into the first half. SWF had the wind advantage in the first half and kicked well, pinning Canvey back. Canvey kept the ball in hand and try to run themselves out of trouble.
Canvey's case wasn't helped when Daffyd Gillespie received a yellow card, when his interpretation of the ELV's went unappreciated from the referee. The game was 0 vs 0 up until the 46th minute of the first half when SWF went over for a score after a debatable forward pass was missed by the man in charge.
The new ELV's are proving difficult for Canvey with the level of refereeing consistency, changing from week to week.
Again confusion from the ruck area reigned and Canvey came off second best. They rallied in the second half and went over the SWF white wash twice only to be disallowed on both occasions. Canvey's No.8 curse reared its ugly head again when stand in ‘8' Dave Dennis' hamstring went late on.
In a difficult half Jay Bedford stood out, in his second game at fly half he kicked well and made some good decisions. Ultimately SWF played the conditions better and with 5mins left to play seized an opportunity when a spilt ball went loose, and their centre ran in an easy try.
Canvey now find themselves 2nd from bottom in London 4 NE. They need to turn themselves round ASAP, knowing that in this league 3 or 4 straight wins can see your fortunes reversed and sit at the top end of the table.
