MAY & BAKER R.U.F.C

Match Report Home to Dagenham (Merit Table) 4th November Lost 7 v 26

May and Baker welcomed old rivals Dagenham last Saturday. Dagenham seemed very confident of a result as league form would show. However Dagenham underestimated the heart and fight of a passionate Bakers side.

As the game began Bakers put some hard hits in on the Dagenham team, this frequently upset Dagenham captain Brian Wren who seemed to always need to comment on either a referee’s decision or the way Bakers were playing. B’s continued to frustrate a Dagenham side who thought victory would be easy. Infact after 25 minutes Dagenham were only one converted score up. This seemed to aggravate Dagenham who showed poor discipline threw their captain again; he ended up coursing a confrontation. The result of the disagreement led to each team being left with 14 players.

As half time approached Dagenham got another score threw their prop. He caught the Bakers defence of guard from a tap penalty. This was disappointing as the B’s defence had been solid all game. As the half time whistle blew Dagenham new they had to fight to earn this victory as May and Baker had visited the D’s twenty two on a number of occasions in the first half. As has been the story of the season poor handling errors stopped May and Baker crossing the line in the first half, otherwise the score line could have looked a lot different.

As the season has shown so far, after a good half time team talk May and Baker always get stronger in the second half. Sadly Dagenham added a third converted score early in the half, but this just got Baker ready to throw everything at Dagenham.

Even the most ardent of travelling supporters would have to admit that May and Baker found holes on numerous occasions in the Dagenham defence in the second half, if the Bakers handling improved then Bakers could have scored countless times. The fitness of the Baker’s pack began to show as they started to dominate scrums and line outs. This was showing as Andy Yarrow was dominating in the air every line out weather it be May and Baker or Dagenham throwing was being won by Yarrow. Dagenham were finding this pressure hard to cope with and as a result Dagenham’s jumper gave away a penalty for pulling Andy Yarrow down in the line. A penalty and a scrum later Bakers found themselves 15 meters from the line. Yarrow took a quick tap penalty to replacement prop Lee Heron who bettered the attempt from the Dagenham prop in the first half to go over the line in style. Matt Barrett added the extra points.

From then on May and Baker were smothering Dagenham. The Bakers front 8 played with power and controlled aggression to win most breakdowns. Handling errors in the backs left May and Baker brewing what could have been a very different result.

After a Dagenham player put a boot to the head of Keith Apples on the floor, he sought retaliation at a line out. Dagenham could not compete at the front against Yarrow so they threw other the top and Apples tackled the wrong player to allow Dagenham a soft, easy score in the corner. Burak Erceri shone along with Keith Apples, these were two of eight reasons why Baker were fighting so hard to chance the score line. Shortly after, the final whistle sounded to the relief of he Dagenham players and supporters.

Although the May and Baker slump continues, Jamie Yates should be disappointed with the result but proud of the pride his team showed. I think the boys proved that their would be no local bragging by Dagenham, as they were lucky to get a result. As I have mentioned on numerous occasions the only thing letting B’s down is the handling errors and the kicking from hand. After the game D’s captain Brian Wren stated ‘Time and again the Bakers back line had good opportunities to score following the hard work of their pack but poor hands let them down. He went on to say D’s really didn’t deserve to win the game by anywhere near the 19 point margin and Bakers should take heart as although they are yet to win in the league this year that elusive first win cant be far away. Although our team was full of enforced changes no excuses can be made for this week’s performance. We were rubbish.’

This Saturday May and Baker host Braintree in an eagerly awaited rematch from the start of the season. Sadly, Baker’s have lost a number of players for this weekend. Only one is threw injury to winger Ben Seth who tore the tendons in his shoulder. It is the half way point in the season now and Baker’s are winless. There are teams in this league that the lads should be beating. Handling must improve and mainly Bakers must play the game at their pace. Dagenham and Braintree are two side May and Baker should be defeating. The result could have been very different. With players missing B’s will find it hard next Saturday, but if handling improves I can see May and Baker earning their first league victory.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Burak Erceri

SQUAD: Dick Williams, Colin Combden, Burak Erceri, Keith Apples, Rob Pattern, Danny Green, Andy Yarrow, Martin Parker, Daniel Biggs, Matt Barrett, Martin Lee, Chris Young, Ben Seth, James Lloyd, Jamie Yates, Lee Heron, Ricky Hine, and Steve Cappa.