Depleted Walden find Westcliff test is too steep

Westcliff 27 Saffron Walden 0

A depleted Saffron Walden Rugby Club put in a battling performance but were knocked out of the EDF Senior Cup at league leaders Westcliff on Saturday.

Walden had four regular backs injured and the game was always going to be scrappy with a new back line trying to gel together for the first time.

The first 20 minutes saw the game ebb and flow with neither team gaining the ascendancy and Walden were able to compete at the set pieces.

However, after 20 minutes Westcliff worked their way into the Walden half and gained a penalty to go 3-0 ahead.

Walden competed well for the next 15 minutes, but with five minutes of the half remaining, Westcliff spun the ball down the line, which included a forward pass that only the referee did not see and the home team winger scored a try out wide to take the score at half time to 8-0.

Walden rallied at the start of the second half and put some pressure on the home side but never looked like scoring.

In the 55th minute Westcliff again pounced on a loose ball and with good interplay between forwards and backs managed to go over under the posts taking the game away from Walden at 15-0.

Walden's back line was further disrupted when stand in captain Graham Mummery came off with a wrist injury and flanker Geordie Reid dropped back to play at centre. Still Walden played with passion but were never rewarded with any points.

In last quarter of the game Westcliff stretched their lead with two further tries, the first when a chip forward bamboozled the Walden defence and the last try coming in the 70th minute when Walden were trying to run the ball out of defence, but unfortunately lost the ball and Westcliff picked it up to scamper in under the posts.

Walden, to their credit, didn't give up and looked likely to score in the final five minutes, but the Westcliff defence held out.

On Saturday Walden visit Rochford in the London Four North East.