INDISCIPLINE COSTS WOKING IN FIRERY ENCOUNTER
Woking RFC 24 vs Feltham RFC 29
Woking missed the opportunity to consolidate second spot in Surrey Counties 5 and with it take a big step towards securing promotion as they went down to Feltham RFC at Byfleet Rec. With nearest challengers Guildfordians going down to league leaders Staines a bonus point win would have stretched the gap between second and third to 11 points with just 3 games remaining.
The home side started sluggishly with Feltham dominating the opening quarter but were kept at bay by good Woking defence. Eventually the pressure told with Feltham working the ball out wide to score in the corner to make it 5-0.
Conceding the try seemed to spark Woking into life and they worked their way deep into their opponent’s half. After a period of sustained pressure skipper Jacob Woods powered over to level up the scores before Adam Quinn kicked the extras to put the hosts in front.
Having taken the lead, the hosts were enjoying themselves. Shortly after the restart Adam Quinn added a penalty and then the Woking forwards and backs combined well to recycle the ball through several phases which resulted in Quinn darting over for a converted try.
Feltham responded well and with the half ending they scored a converted try to keep them in touch at the break.
Half time: Woking 17 - 12 Feltham
With the game in the balance both sides were looking to gain the upper hand and as the physicality from both sides increased. A defensive error allowed Feltham to level the scores and take the lead before they were reduced to 14 men for a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
With frustration building Woking were unable to take advantage of the extra man and were themselves reduced to 13 men in the space of a minute as props Joe Griggs and Alisdair Hamilton Wilkes were shown yellow cards for off the ball incidents.
As the 13 men of Woking battled to hold on Feltham did what their hosts were unable to do and take advantage of the numerical advantage to make it 17 – 26 with 20 minutes remaining.
Fired up and with the team back to full strength Woking were determined to turn the game around. Good pressure resulted in a third try by Charlie Goddard. With the conversion missed Woking then needlessly gave away a penalty in front of their posts which was converted to make it 29 – 22 to Feltham.
Woking responded with a penalty of their own, kicked by Quinn, to reduce the arrears to just 4 points. With time running out and desperate for the try that would secure the win Woking piled the pressure on. However, the Feltham defence held out and managed to turn the ball over 10m from their line to bring the game to an end.
Full-time: Woking 25 - 29 Feltham