Woodbridge Warriors 103 v Halstead Templars RFC 0

9th February 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Halstead RFC started strongly, centre Brett Ballard hoofing the ball downfield for wing Tom Ranson and fellow centre Oli Cuthbert to carry only to be bundled into touch. The Warriors snapped back through lock Steve Sugrue barging down route one and offloading to full back Jake Hateley who scored under the posts. After a foray by Grimwood King and Cuthbert, wing Ewan Maclean gathered a clearance, offloaded to No8 Aldis Salavejs who battered through defenders to press the visitors on their 5m line. Successive clearance kicks from Templar fly half Josh Grimwood King were run back by Hateley and lock Dan Knights until centre Mathew Thomas scored. Undeterred Halstead attacked again despite charges by Salavejs and boisterous centre Blake Stratford but possession was too easily lost and scrum Half Adam Plummer shifted the ball wide to wing Ewan Maclean who scored. A pattern had developed – however hard the Templars ran at Woodbridge they were dispossessed and, with lines stretched, the Warriors used fast hands to run through scant defence. Ben Johnson was next. He picked up the ball from Hateley and ran round full back Emile Du Toit to score. Stratford and the backs were relentless with props Luke Norman and Billy King joining in, it was Thomas that scored his second next. Halstead survived a disallowed try for a 22 dropout only for the lanky Knights to intercept and score. Next up, a scrum and it was flanker Ben Few that lead the charge from which Stratford scored. Moments later Johnson scored again and it was Salavejs that scored to end the nine-try half.

From the restart Halstead grafted against some sound defence and never gave up. The Warriors were not allowed to relax as hooker Adrian Illingworth and his pack; props Ryan Rainer and Dan Bennett wriggled and squirmed to shake off defenders. The effervescent Ballard and Cuthbert were a constant threat but, after each defended attack, Woodbridge scored. Hateley and Johnson scoring twice apiece before hooker Jack Jermyn joined in as did sub Lavin Pilitati, twice. Fittingly the game ended with a sprightly individual try from the hard-working Plummer. A try-fest for Woodbridge although the score obscures a great effort from Halstead.

Woodbridge Amazons 17 v Stanford Sirens 10

3rd February 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

A typical rugby clash where the forwards did all the work and the backs scored all the points. Props Tor Felstein and Kara Murphy supported hooker Toni Bell in some handy pods, charging centre-pitch. Stanford’s Rachael Theobold had other ideas however, snatched possession and counter attacked. After some stoic defence lead by fly half Helen Self Stanford unwrapped their secret weapon; scrum half Ellis Powell, who used her boot to establish an attacking lineout from which centre Rachael Crowhurst scored. The Amazons repelled a maul on their 22 and challenges from the spritely centre Cassandra Aina and flanker Sophie Davies before the pack renewed its attack, full back Kat Mead cleaning up Powell’s clearance kicks. A breakaway by the majestic Claire Brickley resulted in an attacking scrum from which quick ball saw Brickley batter over the line.

Second half started poorly for the Amazons. A fluffed kick-off catch let Stanford pounce, a swift attack was exploited by Sirens’ Powell who scored under the post. The Amazons fought back but play stayed largely central, both packs exploiting penalties and sloppy handling to test the others defence. Stanford had a sustained assault on the Woodbridge 5m line, being denied several opportunities by a terrific Amazon’s guard; locks Ellie Norman and Sam Payne putting in a strong shift. Eventually Brickley found a clearance that stuck from which she and wing Kylie Smith dashed up-field. A period of pressure was rewarded when Mead kicked through in the left hand corner from which a ruck fed Brickley who pounced again to score. The Sirens turned the screws, using Powell’s boot for position but the Amazons resisted and capitalized on a missed touch-finder with another special individual carry by Mead to score and seal the double-point win.

Thetford 33 v Warriors 3 1/2/20

1st February 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

After two home wins Woodbridge travelled to higher-ranked Thetford full of optimism. Opening skirmishes were promising; the scrum held the heavier home pack and they missed chance of 3 points when Isaac Feaveryear missed a penalty. However the Thetford backs threatened, centre Josh Clark and full back Will Martin chased hard and kicked well for territory capitalising on some tremendous line speed. Woodbridge won a couple of attacking line outs but hard defence from Thetford meant that when the next penalty was won under the posts by prop Ed Banthorp and lock Dan Knights it was decided again that Feaveryear should take the 3 points. Thetford were quickly back to the Warrior 5m line, prop Jack Powell Thorne running back the clearance kick for centre Ryan Gardiner to bash through full back Jake Hateley and score. Thetford continued to chase the game, they kicked well for space and tacked aggressively across the team. Woodbridge handling was better, wing Ben Johnson and No8 Aldis Salavejs came close, but they had insufficient possession to benefit from it. Martin missed a penalty kick and wing Hugo Fraser was held up before the Warriors challenged again fruitlessly through flanker Tom Stokes, flyhalf JP Hart and Hateley.

Thetford restarted on fire, lock Mitchell Steven battered through and set up for centre Clark to run effortlessly through forwards and score. The pressure was relentless as the home team found some space and kept ball in hand. Flanker John Trede also found himself pretty unopposed as he ran through the stretched Warrior defence to score. Warrior Salavejs lead the pack to rally a Woodbridge challenge but the Thetford defence was too strong and resisted repeated attacks from wing John Saigatu and centre Ruveni Vatuloka. An invigorated Thetford pack made more ground and when the ball moved quickly to the left wing there was a clear overlap for sub Ciaran Docherty to score. It was Thetford prop Powell Thorne that made ground next followed by a cheeky chip over for Clark to gather, score and seal a deserved Thetford 5-try win.

ECC Plate 1st Round: Crusaders 19:47 Woodbridge Colts B

27th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

An excellent result away in Norfolk against a strong Crusaders team. Sam Wainer (captain) opened after sustained 10 mins opening pressure before 2 fine efforts from Haydn Sykes before Half time giving a 19:12 at the break. Scores in 2^nd half from Ben, Tom, and 2 more from Haydn ensured the victory. A great team performance with controlled possession and accuracy, a solid defence was required throughout as Crusaders constantly threatened to get back into it. Some great kicking from Charlie Eaton who slotted in 6 from 7 conversions.

Forward and Back of the day went to Haydn and Adam Hateley (Adam playing his 1^st game at full-back this season). A special mention to the U16’s who were given the opportunity to experience Colts rugby, to both assist with their development and involved with the larger squad. well.

A big thank you to the coaching team – splitting the team over 2 venues is not ideal, but new to us all. And finally a massive thanks to our 1^st aid team as always ~ Kerri and Vicki at home, and a big respect to Tracey Hateley for travelling up to Crusaders. Thanks to Jonathan Brooks for this Match Report

ECC Cup 1st Round: Woodbridge Colts 17:17 Wymondham Colts A

27th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

A scrappy 1^st half from us saw us trailing 10 nil at the break, and our opponents definitely buzzing having weathered a strong push from Woodbridge in the early stages. The 2^nd half was however much improved with both the forwards and backs having much more possession pulling back the deficit with 2 try’s from Gabe Hawley, both successfully converted from captain Austin James, and a late penalty to see us lead 17:10 with 10 minutes to spare. Credit to Wymondham who put us on the back foot before finally scoring a converted try under the posts and bringing us all square at 17:17

Although lots of disappointment and frustration at the end; we would of taken a 17:17 draw against the reigning ECC Cup holders having been down by 10 at the break. Forward and Back of the day went to Gabe Hawley and Leo Brooks, but it was a great team effort and pleasing start to the cup campaign. Thanks to Jonathan Brooks for this Match Report: –

Aldeburgh 7 v Warriors 2XV 88 25/1/20

25th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Another fine performance by the Warriors 2XV – this time against Aldeburgh RFC, pushing them to 2nd in the League. Many thanks to Sam Few for the pictures.

Woodbridge Warriors 31 v Fakenham RFC 15 25/1/20

25th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Early exchanges saw Fakenham kick in defence and favour their forwards however a loose pass let wing Ben Johnson run 60 metres and score within a minute. Woodbridge were penalised too frequently for offside which gave the visitors territory. Fakenham held its scrum and battered up the left wing pressurising defence and winning another penalty for a high tackle. No10 Thomas Bane-Young took 3 points. Play moved from end to end as Fakenham’s pack – busy hooker Anthony Morris and flankers Christopher Whitby-Dack and James Howell – rucked one way and Woodbridge backs No10 JP Hart and centres Blake Stratford and Ruveni Vatuloka darted the other. Hart missed a penalty opportunity but after a bull-dozing carry from flanker Tom Stokes the Woodbridge backs stitched together some sharp passes and Vatuloka scored. Fakenham came back with another charge in front of the Clubhouse, Morris causing problems for the home defence. Woodbridge No8 Aldis Salavejs stole the ball from a Fakenham scrum passed to lock Dan Knights then Stratford to Johnson for his second try. A missed Fakenham penalty kick and the Warriors were at it again; pushing hard in the visitors 22 Vatuloka offloading from the floor for prop Ed Banthorp to dot down.

Fakenham came straight back after the break, rucking, picking and driving towards the line – a penalty resulted in Woodbridge dropping to 14 men and moments later a Fakenham prop; Rob Ward burst over the line to score. Fakenham had their tails up – despite a threatening run from Warrior sub Jack Johnson – they ran from deep and scrum half Rory Singleton finished off a forwards try. The game stayed in the balance – Woodbridge holding firm in the scrum and Fakenham tackling hard to contain the Warriors backs. The rucking was ferocious. It was hooker Luke Norman that scored next from another of several forays from Woodbridge but the teams were locked in entertaining battle right up to the whistle.

Woodbridge Warriors 31 v Fakenham RFC 15

Woodbridge Warriors 2XV 50 v Mistley RFC 5 18/1/20

18th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Fourth-placed Woodbridge 2XV welcomed fifth ranked Mistley under bright sunshine where early phases saw Mistley fly-half Richard Johnson kicking for territory and full-back Jordan Smith ran some threatening lines. Woodbridge’s energetic full-back Barney Harper and his three-quarter line returned clearance kicks with interest and even the rucks went the Warrior’s way. It was possession from a ruck that released fly-half James Austin to open the score. Mistley dominated at the scrum so it was no surprise when they mauled over shortly after and flanker David Wood scored. Woodbridge countered again through their sprightly runners probing the Mistley line only to win a scrum from which fast hands and flanker Felix Kibble set centre Matt Thomas up for a try out wide. Hard rucking denied the powerful Mistley forwards Again and Thomas scampered to score his second and end the half 17-5.

The second session started with Warriors substitute Jake Moore offloading to flanker Jamie Smith out to wing Adam Lockwood who darted up-field to score within a minute. Woodbridge kept the pressure on as Mistley changed tactics, Johnson favoured possession to keep ball in hand through the forwards and avoid the Warrior backs, especially the eel-like full-back Isaac ‘fifty metres’ Feaveryear. However hard rucking earned Woodbridge the ball forcing Mistley to defend. Woodbridge’s flanker Stephen Sugrue and No 8 Benjamin Few barged their way through midfield but it was the bouncy James Austin on the back of a penetrating Feaveryear sprint who scored next. The floodgates were open and the Warrior runners were enjoying space. Kibble crossed the line first after some rapid passing from a 22 scrum, then hooker Jack Jermyn scored. Hard working scrum half Leo Brooks rounded off the eight try match, scoring after a blistering run from Smith. An entertaining match which saw some great running from Woodbridge whose overall fitness prevailed.

Woodbridge Warriors 2XV 50 v Mistley RFC 5

Saffron Walden Colts 5 v Woodbridge Colts 0 12/1/20

13th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

A great shift from the boys yesterday in the Saffron Walden mud fest. Although losing narrowly 5 : 0, our Colts generally had the better of the possession throughout but were unable to break through the resolute SW defence. With just 17 available, many playing out of position, we were not quite able to force the ball over the line on what was a very soft and chewy pitch. With one held up, and a late push from the forwards spilling forward at the 10^th attempt, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Carl Wainer was man of the match, who stepped in to help the forwards, and was resolute throughout the game. DOTD went to captain Dan Driver, for turning up with just 1 boot! Special shout out to Sam Gardiner, making his debut on the wing, our newest recruit to the Colts.

Some scruffy rugby but a great match to watch, and a big thank you to our hosts for making us so welcome.

Match Report by Jonathan Brooks

Woodbridge Warriors 81 v Crusaders RFC 0

11th January 2020 Simon Ballard — No Comments

A large Woodbridge turnout welcomed a significant Crusaders posse for an opportunity to redress the 2 point away loss earlier in the season.

Home fans were wowed as Warrior fly-half JP Hart scored after 3 minutes and then shortly after newbie Blake Stratford carried strongly and dotted down. A tight Warriors squad put on an entertaining display despite dogged resistance by an injury-depleted Crusaders. Although the heavy Crus pack dominated early on, Woodbridge rucked aggressively and good line-speed allowed their backs to make the most of possession. Winger John Sagaitu scored twice before hooker Toby Wright got the only forwards try, full-back Jake Hateley and substitute centre Felix Kibble rounded off the seven-try first half at 45-0.

The second session saw six tries. The first from Kibble again battering through, Sagaitu got his hat-trick with another powerful run as Woodbridge settled on a pattern of possession by ruck, disruption and penalty followed by break-away backs offloading to support runners. ‘Rupes’ Vatuloka jinked and stepped to score twice, winger Ben Johnson, who was trickily sinuous all match finally crossed the whitewash and the whole supporter spectacle was rounded off by the boisterous substitute scrum-half Isaac Feveryear. Thirteen tries in all. Crusaders showed character, they persevered with tenacity and vigour despite an increasingly impossible come-back. A satisfying afternoon for Woodbridge

Woodbridge Warriors 81 v Crusaders RFC 0