The Warriors camped in the Mersea 22 from the start forcing a penalty and emergency clear out but only as far as centre field from where they rallied, driving back to the Mersea 5 metre line for Captain Tom Stokes to run in on the blind side relatively unopposed. Mersea counter attacked from the restart Jordan busy at scrum half distributing well and winger Matt Wilkin making a long diagonal run before Ben Baker and the front row took up the drive. Kicks from Warriors Taff Lloyd and JP Hart ended the attack and got them back near the Mersea 22 where two high tackles yielded penalties which Mersea defended well before charges by Dan Bond, Bobby Armour and Jono Cooke set up centre Sam Hallows to score. As half time approached Mersea put in repeated attacks to the hosts try line which forced a well-disciplined defence, every player tackling hard and re-setting fast. Tom Stokes especially put in some crunching hits to keep a clean sheet by half time.
Mersea restarted on the attack but poor hands in the windy conditions gave Warrior wing Christian Hoolihan an early score from a rapid cross-field move. A great run from second row Ed Berridge from a scrum on his 22 was rebuffed as Mersea second row lead a counter into the home danger zone but a defensive scrum allowed the Warriors to move the ball up-field where No 7 Olly Gray sprinted 45 metres to score. From the kick off Ed Berridge did the same, gathering the ball and running nearly half the pitch for a well-deserved try. Woodbridge tails were up now, despite most of the possession and territory being held by Mersea who won four penalties in short order only for Woodbridge to ruck away possession and get the ball safely through several hands to Tom Stokes who scored his second. Like the first half the session ended with Woodbridge defending against an all-in attempt by Mersea to get on the score board. The subsequent vulnerability was exploited cruelly as full back Jacob Bodkin used his speed to score and convert a run-away try. Mersea resumed the attack but were denied by an unbreakable Warrior defence; Jono Cooke notable among many putting in some try-saving hits – the final whistle come after a second held-up try attempt by Mersea.
Man of the match Sam Hallows
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