Whits hosted Weybridge Vandals knowing that a win would keep them on track for their hopes of playing in the cup final. The home team was missing a number of experienced players and was forced to shuffle positions as well as calling on some of our newer players to step up, they duly obliged!

Whits started slowly, looking still half asleep, and Vandals took advantage scoring within a minute of the whistle. Whits were startled into action and Eli quickly pulled one back with a powerful run and try in the corner. Nevertheless the home team were still slow in support, leaving their teammates isolated at the breakdown. As a a consequence they gifted Vandals possession and they took advantage with some good flowing rugby. By the 10 minute mark, Whits were trailing the visitors 3-1. The team huddled with the coaches, who reminded them that rugby is firstly a team game. The team duly responded in the 2nd quarter with some scincilating rugby.

Max took the ball from the kick off and drove through the opposition defence to bring Whits back into the game. Shortly afterwards Eli levelled the scores with a solo effort from inside his own half. Not to be outdone, Max responded with a second of his own, another powerful run that saw opposition defenders bouncing off him. As the first half drew to a close Zephan decided to get in on the action picking the ball up from deep and accelerating into contact with aggression that scattered opposition defenders like skittles. Whits had scored 4 tries without reply to go in at half time 5-3 up.

Despite frequently playing with few or no substitutes, Whits have made a habit of playing better in the 2nd half than the first, this is a testament to their fitness and focus. So it was against Weybridge as Whits dominated the second half. Although the visitors managed to pull a try back early in the 3rd quarter, the rest of the game was one way traffic with Max and Eli scoring another two tries each, Zephan adding another to his tally and Mustafa reacting quickly as Eli stopped short of the try line to dive over in the corner.

While it is important to recognise the contribution of the try scorers, it is equally important to recognise the teamwork that goes into the build-up play. Ethan was once again a one-man force of nature, as destructive in defence as he was potent in attack. Mustafa continues to confound his coaches by playing as brilliantly at fly-half as he does on the wing or fullback whilst Joseph's heart and determination in defence not to let his opposite number past him is a joy to watch, as is his support play whenever one of his teammates makes a break. Samuel has been playing with us for only a matter of weeks but looked totally at home in defence or attack and Bomi has grown in confidence to be one of our hardest working and most reliable players in whatever position he is selected. Conn was the glue that kept the Whits attack going, his stamina and work rate in getting to each and every breakdown to ensure the ball is quickly distributed and, when needed, get involved in the ruck to secure possession was not lost on his coaches. Last, but certainly not least, Henry continues to do all the hard work that no one else wants to, tackling and rucking with aggression, determination and no shortage of good technique. All of these players contributed hugely to a really strong Whits performance and the try scorers owe them all a pat on the back for their efforts.