An expected win

The visitors kicked-off towards the river then were penalised at the first breakdown after their opponents had received the ball. That enabled Barnes to start the first attack with a kick for a line-out then a good advance to get another penalty 15 metres from Westcliff's line. From the second line-out they tried a drive that was held and the visitors got a 5 metres scrum. Soon after that Barnes forced a turnover. The visitors' defence was good while Barnes put together 12 phases before kicking ahead. Westcliff got the ball and ran wide and they got a line-out 6 metres out from which they cleared to touch towards halfway. Barnes took a quick line-out and after two recycles outside centre Cornish broke through and was tackled at the line. Inside centre Ruddock pushed the ball onto the line at 7 minutes. Fly-half Wicks added with a 45o angle conversion.

The visitors regained their restart and put together 5 phases to get a penalty 30 metres out in centre field. The chose to kick for the points but their fly-half missed. They attacked well after the long 22 drop-out and after a sequence of 7 phases got a penalty 35 metres out. Their touch kick resulted in their scrum 5 metres out, after which then 2 recycles they were turned over. Barnes used an up-and-under; Westcliff secured the ball and attacked again. After 5 recycles they got a penalty for a tackler not releasing the ball carrier 17 metres out. Their kick was put into touch 9 metres out and the line-out was stolen. Barnes no. 8 Hind ran away to the other half; the ball was recycled twice then kicked diagonally for a wing to get but two players were ahead of the kicker. From 18 metres inside their half the visitors kicked to touch just past the opposition 22. After the line-out and 2 recycles they got another penalty 26 metres out. They ran this to get a third 16 metres out and kicked for a line-out 6 metres out. Their pack set for a drive which was held; they recycled once blind then there were two turnovers. They recycled three more time to get a scrum put-in 8 metres out. From that they kept the ball close for 4 phases before going wider and they got a man advantage for 10 minutes. They chose to have a scrum and after it and 5 close recycles they went wider and got another scrum 16 metres out. From that they soon went wide and put together 6 phases to get a penalty 10 metres out. This was kicked for a line-out 5 metres out from which they soon went blind and passed into touch. Now, from their line-out, 5 metres out, Barnes set up a better situation with 3 close recycles then used an up-and-under. Westcliff ran wide before dropping the ball; a Barnes' player kicked it ahead and into the opposition 22. The visitors got back and cleared to touch 18 metres inside their half. From their line-out Barnes recovered from tapped ball and recycled twice tight before recycling again, this time to Wicks who sent a perfectly judged lateral kick to left wing Murray who caught it and ran to the corner after the half hour. Wicks 60o angle conversion was good.

Barnes soon replied to the restart with an up-and-under; Westcliff got the ball then after one recycle an error gave the home team a scrum 32 metres from their line and they were restored to 15 players. From the scrum they kicked for territory; the visitors ran wide but soon dropped the ball and it was hacked into touch 13 minutes past halfway. The line-out was thrown long and Hind ran off with the ball; it was then recycled wide to the backs then recycled 5 more times before Barnes were penalised for not releasing 15 metres out. Westcliff's kick didn't find touch and the home team ran the ball and recycled 4 times before losing possession. Westcliff kicked and Barnes kicked back into opposition hands; the visitors ran the ball and soon chipped over. Barnes got the ball then were forced into touch less than 6 metres from their line. From the line-out Westcliff kept the ball mostly close for 9 phases before the defence forced an error at the halftime whistle.

The visitors soon kicked back the second half kick-off; Barnes ran the ball, recycled once then chipped through the line then hacked the ball on into the 22. Westcliff got the ball but were soon turned over and advanced to 3 metres out; they recycled 9 times close before the defence forced an error to get a scrum 5 metres out. After it and one recycle they were awarded a penalty 2 metres out. They kicked for a line-out 25 metres out then had that stolen. Again the home team advanced to 3 metres out, this time with just one phase, and got the next scrum put-in 5 metres out. The pack kept the ball in and advanced to the line then the Ref. awarded a penalty try at 5 minutes.

Barnes kicked back the restart to touch 6 metres from halfway. From their line-out the visitors soon went wide and got a penalty 3 metres ahead which they ran then recycled blind to get another just outside the 22 and kicked for a line-out less than 6 metres out. Their drive was held and the ball was recycled close 4 times and this resulted in a 3rd penalty 14 metres out and a man advantage for 10 minutes. They chose to have a scrum after which they recycled close 5 times before going wide to send fullback Brown to the corner at 13 minutes. Fly-half Jones' 60o conversion hit the far post and bounced over.

Following the restart there were 3 kicks with little retention in between then Barnes ran the ball wide and got a penalty at halfway. The kick gave them a line-out 28 metres out from which their pack drove to the line and over at 17 minutes with the no. 8 on the ball. The fly-half added.

The restart was soon followed by a Barnes' scrum 18 metres inside their half. After it and three more kicks, the last to touch, resulted in a visitors' line-out 4 metres nearer halfway. That was thrown not-straight and from the scrum it was they who surprisingly came away with the ball. They had the ball for 6 phases before another Barnes' put-in 7 metres from halfway. They advanced going wide then recycling blind to an opposition scrum at halfway. Two kicks followed that, the second out on the full giving Westcliff a line-out just inside their opponents' 22. From that they went wide but were intercepted; after two kicks were exchanged Barnes ran with 4 phases before being penalised for not releasing 10 metres past halfway. The visitors ran this then used an up-and-under after recycling three times. Barnes got the ball then were immediately turned over. Westcliff soon went wide and advanced before being forced into touch 7 metres out.

From the line-out Barnes advanced loosely to the 22 then kicked ahead. Westcliff got the ball then a penalty 6 metres into the opposition half. Their kick didn't find touch and Barnes kept the ball and got a penalty at the 3rd breakdown just outside their 22. They kicked for a line-out 3 metres from halfway. After that and a couple of recycles they kicked to touch 18 metres from the visitors' line. From their line-out Westcliff soon cleared to touch 27 metres out. Barnes recovered from an error at the line-out and put together 11 phases before being penalised for not releasing 4 metres inside the visitors' 22. Westcliff decided to run the ball; they were quickly turned over and Barnes chipped through the line. The visitors got the ball then were forced into touch 9 metres out. The drive was held then after one recycle the defence were awarded a penalty 3 metres out. The kick didn't find touch and Barnes ran wide and after 3 recycles close to the line (finisher) prop McArthur got over. Wicks added before the whistle.

Lots of light rain in the hours before the game; the pitch soft; 100% overcast. No wind, light drizzle through most of the match.