S Woodham Ferrers 24
Wanstead 21
(Essex One) DESPITE a much improved performance by Wanstead they just came up short of snatching victory at table toppers South Woodham Ferrers.

The visitors looked a lot sharper from the outset and only good defensive play stopped winger Steve Brockman from opening the scoring.

But the home side weathered the early storm and from a scrum, space was found to score under the posts, although the extras were still missed.

Immediately the Herons' forwards took the game to Woodham and a good catch at the lineout by Tom Leather resulted in a rolling maul which Dave Moran was able to score from, before Andy Donovan added the extras.

Donovan and the home fly-half traded penalties for a score of 8-10 to the visitors, which they maintained until half time thanks to a try-saving tackle from Andy Himsley.

At the start of the second half Woodham carried on their high tempo rugby, although they were somewhat fortunate to be awarded a penalty try that was converted to make it 15-10.

Wanstead kept plugging away, although at first the score only moved thanks to the two kickers again traded penalties, the score moving to 24-16 to the hosts.

The visitors were running out of time, but kept plugging away and when Paul Cristofoli broke on the right he fed Moran who gave Donovan the chance to go over in the corner.

The Herons kicker was off-target with the extras to leave the game poised at 24-21.

With the clock ticking away the visitors secured a penalty just outside the Woodham 22, from which Wanstead went full out, but to their disbelief the referee awarded a penalty against the Herons for holding at a ruck.