ON a day when others chose not to travel, South Woodham Ferrers headed to Stowmarket and were beaten 29-15.

The setback kept Woodham eighth in the London Two North East standings.

But the club’s David Baker felt it could have been a different story.

“On a better day the game might have been more even,” said Baker.

“The lads had their chances but managed to spill the ball too often and allow a more clinical Stowmarket the chance to clear or break away.

“In the end it was the home side that played the conditions better and they earned the win by playing the right game for the conditions.”

The game started in a moderate breeze with just a few spots of rain in the air but was to end in a full gale with heavy rain as Storm Dennis let loose.

As with so many games Woodham started slowly allowing the home side to gain a seven-point lead early on, following a soft try given away by some poor defending.

As the visitors got into their stride the game started to even out and Woodham were soon back within four after Alex Baker landed a penalty.

Stowmarket, with the wind behind them kept the Woodham attack at bay clearing the ball deep into the visitors’ territory when they turned defence into attack.

The wind was to play a part in the home side’s second try when they were awarded a penalty in their own half.

The resulting kick sailed deep into touch in the Woodham 22 from which the line out was won well by the home team who worked the ball over the line to go into half time 14-3 ahead.

With the wind behind them Woodham might have felt that the advantage would now work in their favour.

Indeed, for the first 20 minutes this was to be the case and the Woodham attack got into their stride scoring two tries.

One from James Wilson and the second from Alex Baker.

With the score at 15-14 in the visitors’ favour the away supporters sensed a possible victory.

But it was not to be the case, as conditions deteriorated, and tempers frayed the visitors lost their shape and Stowmarket played the worsening conditions to their advantage.

Three more tries gave the home side their victory as they capitalised on defensive errors and more of the niggling penalties that Woodham are prone to giving away.

In London One South, Thurrock shocked league leaders Havant with a 13-10 win.

In London Three Essex, bottom of the table Basildon lost 65-0 at Chelmsford while in Essex One, Billericay lost 57-15 to Dagenham and Canvey Island won 29-0 at Clacton.