EASTERN COUNTIES 1: Woodbridge Warriors 18 Crusaders 22

WOODBRIDGE started with three points from Sherief.

However, that was answered almost immediately by an easy converted try for Crusaders’ No 11 Slaughter against a weak Woodbridge defence.

Minutes later, Crusaders repeated the move but this time finished by using their forwards to heave a disorganised Woodbridge pack backwards for King to score.

Sherief took three more penalty points, only for Smith to do the same as the penalty count mounted.

Crusaders had the more reliable hands until, just before the break, Woodbridge drove for the line from a clean throw-in and shoved Rose over for a well-deserved try.

Woodbridge started the second half and Hannon, Digweed and the pack hunted out a platform in the Crusaders’ 22. Cooke exploited a penalty to drive over for Sherief to convert.

Crusaders’ backs, built an attack that ended with No 8 Blinkhorn taking a long line-out ball to charge over and score for Smith to convert with aplomb