A much changed squad travelled away to Harwich & Dovercrourt on the back of storm Babet to take on unbeaten H & D. The squad was without the services of 10 players from their last game due to an unprecedented amount of injuries, which was compounded by losing another 3 players to injuries during this game. But been able to send a squad away today shows Writtle are starting to get some depth with their playing squad, this time last year they would have had too postpone the fixture.
The game started with Writtle defending well and with the lineouts and scrums providing a solid platform. H & D kept probing away at the Writtle line but it was a stalemate with about 25 minutes gone. The first Writtle injury occurred and an early changed was made. The first points went to H & D when a kick was charged down resulting in a try. H & D with the reward they were looking for seized on another Writtle mistake to fly hack towards the visitors line to win the foot race. The closing stages saw a well work try saw the home side break a normally solid defensive line to score another try which was converted.
The second half began with Writtle playing with the wind, again the game was stalemate for a good part of the second half, another injury to Jamie Doe saw a pack reshuffle, which had an effective on the Writtle dominant lineout, which limited the attacking options. H & D were where again reward when moving the ball wide saw a try in the corner. The final injury for Writtle saw Myles Warner Denny leave the field with a head injury, which meant uncontested scrums and Writtle see out the final 25 minutes with 14 players. H & D then started to use the extra space a stretch Writtle on numerous occasions, as the game when on more spaces appeared and home side exploited this to score two further tries.
Writtle must take positives from this game. The line out and scrums were very positive again, the squad spirit was outstanding aga