Westcliff was the only team that Welwyn beat last season, doing so both home and away. They have started the present season very strongly and went into this game with a 100% winning record so Welwyn were under no illusions about the task they faced.

The Welwyn team was;
1)Stokes; 2) Banks; 3) Curry (replaced by Whittam); 4) Rapley; 5) Webb; 6) James; 7) Picken; 8) Hopley (replaced by Page); 9) Harcourt; 10) Alexander; 11) Elliott; 12) Taylor (replaced by Humphries): 13)Creak; 14) Smith; 15) Turnbull.

Westcliff kicked off with a very strong wind blowing down an iron-hard pitch into the face of the Welwyn players. Welwyn replied by driving the ball forward almost up to the 22 but then lost possession with the home side eventually knocking on. From the first scrum it was obvious that the visitors's lighter pack was being pushed backwards and it is a tribute to the front row of Stokes, Banks and Curry, who was replaced in the second half by Whittam, that they never lost possession from their own put in and were unfortunate not to win at least one ball against the head.

After a few minutes play the Westcliff backs made a decisive break to their right but the try was avoided by some excellent defence in front of the posts causing Westcliff to knock on. From the resulting scrum Welwyn tried a clearance kick that came back in the wind and was taken by centre Nick Taylor who was able to take the ball up to half way. The visitors subsequently gained a penalty taking the ball into touch on the 10 m line. The strength of the wind became even more obvious because the ball was not thrown in straight and from the resulting scrum Westcliff cleared up to the Welwyn 22 on their left. Westcliff were penalised from the lineout but the ball could only be cleared into touch gaining only a couple of yards. The visitors were penalised from the restart but the attempted goal kick missed. Westcliff gained possession from the resulting drop out but their cross-field kick was carried directly into touch. The home side regained possession from the lineout and put in a long kick into their right corner where the ball was fielded. by Elliott who sidestepped one opponent before putting in a good clearing kick. From the lineout Westcliff worked the ball along their line to their right with the winger with the winger scoring in the corner. The outside half put over an excellent conversion giving the home team a 7 - 0 advantage after 18 minutes play.

From the ensuing drop out Westcliff gained possession but a promising move to their right was interrupted by an interception by Elliott. After some scrappy play Westcliff took the ball into touch on their left. Again the wind prevented a straight throw in but Westcliff gained possession but their attack to the left was stopped by a knock on. After a Welwyn knock on the home side moved the ball to their right scoring another try in the corner that was again converted giving them a 14 - 0 lead after 24 minutes.

The home team again attacked down their right from the restart but one of the Welwyn defenders was penalised for a high tackle and the resulting kick was successful increasing the lead to 17 - 0. Welwyn then launched a strong attack gaining a penalty that took the ball up to the Westcliff 22. The home team regained the ball and a long clearance took the ball up to the Welwyn 22. It was unfortunate that Welwyn were gaining the majority of throw-ins but the strong wind made it almost impossible to throw the ball in straight although Rapley was working wonders at the front of the line out. The home team often either gained possession from the loose all or was awarded a scrum for the throw in fault. Welwyn regained the ball from one such home team drive but the clearance failed to find touch and the speedy Westcliff backs quickly moved the ball to their left scoring in the corner after 35 minutes play. On this occasion the kick was missed but the lead was increased to 22 -0. From the restart Westcliff collected the ball and one of their second row burst through the Welwyn defence and a try was only averted because he did not pass the ball to a colleague and was tackled knocking the ball on in the process. A little later Westcliff drove towards the try line but were penalised for handling and then taken back 10m for talking. Welwyn took a tap penalty and moved the ball to the right taking it up to the Westcliff 10m line. The promising move was snuffed out when the same second row player again intercepted a pass and ran unchallenged to score at the posts. The easy conversion took the score up to 29 - 0 at half time.

It was hoped that, with the wind behind them, Welwyn would be able to put the home team under the same pressure that they had been under in the first half but this was soon shown not to be the case. After just 3 minutes play a Welwyn throw was not straight but Westcliff gained possession and drove through the defence to score on the left. The kick was not converted but the home side lead increased to 34 - 0.

The restart was a long kick down field that the wind took over the dead ball line. There was some scrappy play from the resulting scrum on the half way but after 47 minutes of the match Westcliff took a quick tap penalty and moved the ball to the left before straightening and scoring under the posts, the conversion taking the score to 41 - 0. The Westcliff backs became more and more aggressive in their running and possession despite good defensive work by the Welwyn side with Danny Creak and James Turnbull outstanding. The Welwyn forwards started to tire and after 60 minutes play a drive resulted in a try under the posts that was duly converted increasing the lead to 48 - 0. Soon after the restart centre Nick Taylor who had made some excellent breaks from defensive positions had to leave the field with a damaged right ankle and was replaces by Jamie Humphries. At the same time Ed Whittam replaced Joel Curry in the front row. . Soon afterwards a Westcliff break on the left resulted in a try near the corner that was not converted but gave the home side a 53 - 0 lead. Immediately after the restart Westcliff moved the ball to their right to score in the corner. The try was again unconverted but the lead was increased to 58 - 0. Rory Page then replaced Owen Hopley who had a damaged ankle. There was no more scoring in the game but Westcliff continued to dominate possession and position. Right at the end Welwyn launched an attack from their 22 but this was halted by a tackle on Rory Page that left him with a broken right fibula.

Although well beaten in both the backs and forwards the entire team played their hearts out and their determination and effort cannot be faulted.

Next Saturday Welwyn are at home to Woodford