London League Two North Tabard 12 Woodford 44 TABARD, having already lost their battle to avoid relegation, found themselves forced to field an extremely weak side against Woodford at Cobden Hill on Saturday.

London League Two North

Tabard 12 Woodford 44

TABARD, having already lost their battle to avoid relegation, found themselves forced to field an extremely weak side against Woodford at Cobden Hill on Saturday.

Both teams were hesitant from the start, with Woodford benefitting with more possession and a drop goal from stand off Levis opened the scoring.

Straight from the kick off Tabard responded well and were awarded a penalty close in. Stand off Jack Reilly opted to run the ball and he caught the Woodford defence flat, scoring under the posts for an easy conversion.

With both sides competing well, Woodford stepped up the pressure with their three quarters and broke through to gain the upper hand. Wing Sigakalele, went over in the corner, following a pick up at the base of the scrum, to give the visitors a single point lead.

Tabard lost scrum half Francois Karstel to injury and this gave Woodford the edge which they capitalised on with two scores before half time. Flanker Lawlor and wing Sigakalele scored following a favourable bounce to make it 20-7 to the visitors at the break.

In the second half, Woodford had the conditions in their favour and despite some excellent tackling from Tabard players, in particular centre Mike Thomas, Woodford added two more tries, with Levis and number eight Connell over.

Tabard showed some nice touches with number eight, Gareth Davies and wing Neil Hopcroft having some good runs without the end product.

As the game reached the final stages the Woodford full back Luggeri, went over after a three-quarter move but Tabard still had hope and replied almost straightaway. Davies made a half break down the centre and as the Woodford defence closed in he cross-kicked for wing, Chris Beadle to score in the corner.

Woodford responded and added the gloss to their victory from a line-out drive in injury time when their flanker, Lawlor, was over again to make the final score 44-12.

Tabard's next game is away to Staines on Saturday, April 12 which will be an extremely tough test indeed.

Tabard: Fleuren, Dennison, Thomas, Ashcroft, Hopcroft, Reilly, Karstel (Beadle 35), Baker, Gates, Wilkinson, O'Connor, Troyer, Perkins (Webster 75), Matheson (Wyatt 40), Davies.