WOKING BOUNCE BACK WITH VITAL AWAY WIN
Guildfordians RFC 12 vs Woking RFC 36
Woking RFC returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory away to Guildfordians at Stoke Park. On a sloping pitch and with difficult conditions underfoot Woking looked to make use of having the slope in their favour in the first half. However, it was Guildfordians who took the game to the visitors and applied steady early pressure.
With Woking struggling to clear their lines and conceding far too many penalties, Guildfordians pressure finally told as they crossed for the first converted try of the match. Going behind seemed to finally spark Woking into life. From the restart Woking were able to regain possession and recycle the ball through several phases of play. Strong running from the Woking forwards eventually saw second row James Turner-Wells power over. Adam Quinn converted to level things up.
Confidence was now flowing through the side and with Woking on the front foot and winning quick ball. From this platform Mike Aitchison was able to release the back line to devistating effect. First Keihlan Watson crossed and not long after Carl Jacobz dived over. Quinn converted both to make it 21 – 7. Then just before the break Watson crossed again to make it 26 – 7 at half time.
Half-time: Guildfordians RFC 7 - 26 Woking RFC
Playing uphill in the second half Woking soon found themselves back on their try line as Guildfordians looked for an early score and get back into the match. Woking held firm and worked their way up the pitch and into the hosts 22m. More good play between forward and backs created the opportunity for winger Charlie Goddard to score and increase Woking’s lead.
To their credit and using their knowledge of the home pitch, Guildfordians came back strongly forcing Woking onto the back foot. Yet again through a combination of determined defence, questionable decisions by the referee and opponent errors Woking were able to soak up pressure and stop numerous Guildfordians attacks. Eventually, though their persistence paid off as they breached the Woking defence to score their second try and reduce the arrears to 31-12.
As the end of the match approached the Woking forwards finished strongly resulting in a sixth and final try for John Neil-Dickie who powered over in typical style from close range.
The win now leaves Woking clear in second place in Counties Surrey 5 with the very real prospect of securing promotion behind league leaders Staines RFC.
Full-time: Guildfordians RFC 12 - 36 Woking RFC
After the match, Captain Jacob Woods said, ‘We knew today would be tough and we certainly didn’t help ourselves with such a slow start. However, the lads put in a shift in difficult conditions, and we showed our quality in attack, especially in the first half. What was really pleasing was they dug in and got the job done in the second half whilst under a lot of pressure.