Woodbridge started well, pressing Ipswich YM through their runners, centre Jeff Buchanan, fly-half JP Hart and No8 Aldis Salavejs – Ipswich No8 Lee Kassel also had some strong carries before Warrior wing Simon Ward struck first on 10 mins. Fairly scrappy rugby continued with lots of penalties. Ipswich dominated in the pack but Woodbridge had the edge in the kicking game and it was Hart that broke free and ran 40m to score again.
Going in 10-0 ahead Woodbridge must have fancied their chances but YM rallied, full-back Harry Bureau slotted a penalty before the boisterous Kassel finished a prolonged forwards assault on the home try line to score and then went on to do it again which put YM on top. Woodbridge tried to recover their earlier running threat but YM defended well, taking another penalty to seal a place in the Suffolk Cup final.
Having narrowly beaten the Chelmsford ladies by a flattering 19-3 margin in Essex last month, the Amazons hosted the Bluebirds in the reverse fixture in similarly cold, wet and blustery conditions on Sunday. Despite the weather, both sides produced some enterprising rugby and looked vastly improved from that post Christmas runaround.
Chelmsford started the brighter and controlled the early going, forcing penalties that only stout defending by the hosts kept attacks at bay. The Amazons settled into the match, their discipline improved and with the scoreboard unchanged, a confidence emerged.
As play moved from the Woodbridge 22 into the larger expanse of Hatchley Barn, the hosts also expanded their play. A healthy balance of attacking forays from both forwards and backs kept the Essex side on their toes, and gradually their defences were broken down. An arcing run from skipper Claire Brickley was the first indication of the superior pace the hosts possessed, but it was centre Helen Self that broke the deadlock with an amazing score. Having flattened her opposite number with a devastating tackle, Self jumped back to her feet and literally ripped the ball from the next players grasp, turned and sprinted under the posts! Cristina Murgatroyd added the conversion and the hosts were on their way.
Known for their excellent scrummaging, the Chelmsford ladies looked shocked by the power on show from the Woodbridge pack. The tight five, bolstered by two new players, Ellie Norman and Ava Prentice, in their first season of rugby, outgunned the visitors. The writing was on the wall then, and tries followed.
A super kick return from fullback Kat Mead led to quick hands from the breakdown and another new player, Farrah Clay linked well for Brickley to extend the score. Murgatroyd again converted the extras, 14-0.
Influential number eight Carmel Roisin was forced to leave the game at this point as a migraine headache ended her day.
Prop forward Toni Bell charged at the line moments later, Norman had a crack, then Frances Saunders touched down for try number three. The half ended with Woodbridge well on top, nineteen points to the good, as the visitors at least had the chance to regroup.
And regroup they did, taking advantage of two sloppy kick-offs and marauding into the Woodbridge half. Captain Claire was having none of that however, and burst through a gap following a forwards steal at a scrum. She was taken out off the ball having dabbed a kick forward, but advantage was played and Prentice smashed over from close range for a thoroughly deserved try.
With the score now a commanding 24-0, the visitors tried to clear their lines, but the Amazons piled on the pressure. The three smallest players on the pitch, Mead, Clay and Kylie Smith all made good ground amongst their larger opponents, and Clay came close to scoring a debut try wide on the left. Excellent recycling saw the ball moved all the way across to centre Anna Dewberry, who provided the scoring pass for Murgatroyd in the corner.
Determined to leave Suffolk with at least one score, the visitors hit back. A great run from Maddy Hughes ended just yards from the try line, having outstripped two tacklers, Beth Clapson saved a certain try by knocking Hughes off the pitch. Moments later, prop forward Annie Cawson actually crossed the whitewash, but an infringement ruled out the score.
The Amazons had repelled Chelmsfords last hurrah, and it was Victoria Felstein that applied the coup de gras, another of that dominant tight five to force her way over from close range for try number six. Helen Self converted for a resounding 36-0 victory in possibly the most complete Amazons display this season. In difficult conditions, against a strong rival, the Amazons dominated by using a balanced, structured approach that was a joy to watch.
Thetford wanted revenge for October’s one point away loss and to exert their superior league position – but they didn’t have it all their own way. The visitors had to fight hard in the first session for a push over try by hooker Richard Sharp and to score out wide through winger Kristopher Minter. Woodbridge defended well and showed some dangerous touches from forwards Jono Cooke, Aldis Salavejs and Tony Moseley to be rewarded by a late try from hooker Billy King.
Thetford were sharper from the restart, with two breakaway tries from scrum-half Chris Thomas and then fly-half Matt Trede. With the score-line 5-24 the Warriors looked well beaten but within minutes some slick passing and favourable penalties saw King over again and spirits started to rise. The packs scrapped for possession and both defences were tested until Woodbridge prop Luke Norman dotted down from another attack and wing Simon Ward did the same levelling the score at 24 apiece. An exciting last eight minutes saw Thetford’s Sharp score again and prise the victory from Woodbridge’s tight grasp.
Nigel Owens, MBE, Welsh international referee and world record holder for the most test matches refereed was guest speaker at Woodbridge Rugby Club’s 50th Anniversary Dinner on 29 Jan. Nigel regaled 160 diners with stories from his many 6 Nations and World Cup experiences in a talk that gave an insight into his early progress towards a life behind the whistle as well as being hilariously entertaining.
This year Woodbridge Rugby Club is celebrating 50 years of providing community rugby and three of the players in its first ever match against Woodbridge School staff in 1969 were present. Honorary Life President Mike Lubbock, who founded the Club was joined by Timmy Johnson and Edward Fletcher who scored the Club’s first try in that match. Many former players were present from the 50 years alongside current Woodbridge Warriors 1XV players and coaching staff, past and present Woodbridge Amazons ladies rugby players, youth coaches and parents as well as volunteers.
Rob Simpson, current Chairman commented “there is so much to celebrate this year from the continuity of having so many veteran players still associated to the Club through the strong numbers of men, women, boy and girl players we currently have to recent expansions into wheelchair rugby and of our pitches, the Clubhouse and changing facilities. Having Nigel Owens – a living legend to all of us here – come and kick off celebrations for our half century year was a fitting start and unanimously popular. He’s known for his occasional dry humour on the pitch and he didn’t disappoint!”
Woodbridge Rugby Club will continue to celebrate its half century year with a summer ball and other entertainments planned.
Crusaders leap-frogged Woodbridge and advanced to eighth position in the Eastern Counties League with a strong performance at home. Despite playing with 14 players for a quarter of the match and too many penalties Crus dominated the scrum and used possession to better effect than Woodbridge. Veteran No 8 Pete Blinkhorn scored Crusaders’ first try followed quickly by another from a spritely Jamie Dack at scrum half. The Warriors Angus Clogg, standing in at fly half for an injured JP Hart, kept them in the match with two penalties but before the break Cru’s prop Lewis Smith got another forward’s try.
The second half saw prop Henry Joy over in 5 minutes for the bonus point before a period of improved performance from Woodbridge, defending hard and threatening through No8 Aldis Salavejs and his pack. It was insufficient to prevent another forward, replacement prop Henry Mower scoring though and it was left to centre Tom Stokes to finish the match with a consolation Woodbridge try.
The Amazons travelled to another Essex side on Sunday as Chelmsford hosted the Suffolk side on a cold and windy afternoon. Playing up the slope and into a stiff breeze the visitors knew they were in for a long afternoon as Chelmsford applied early pressure.
An offside penalty gave the hosts a scoring opportunity, which fly half Karly Harrington kicked successfully.
Woodbridge began to play, but it was clear Chelmsford had worked on their defensive patterns. The Amazons have learned to be patient this season though, and continued to attack from different angles. Forwards bashed the ball up, the backs ran wide, and gradually, gains were made.
Chelmsford on the other hand, employed a singular approach and repeatedly drove into the heart of Woodbridge’s stout defence. It wasn’t pretty, or particularly effective, but the referee ensured everyone had a regular breather by blowing his whistle loudly, and very often.
All the play, despite the wind, was in the hosts half and Woodbridge came closest to breaking the scrappy stalemate when flyhalf Claire Brickley dummied her centres and popped the ball wide to winger Christina Murgatroyd. She crossed the whitewash but was held up and the ball was knocked on from the resultant scrum.
Just the one penalty separated the two sides at the break then, but with the wind and slope advantage and a more adventurous approach to the game clearly evident, it was Woodbridge that turned around as favourites.
Sure enough, an early score saw the lead change hands when prop Toni Bell burst forward, ably supported by Brickley, who sidestepped the last defender to touch down from 10 metres out. Murgatroyd converted for a 3-7 scoreline.
More Amazons pressure and centre Beth Clapson gained good yards before releasing winger Kylie Smith. The try looked on as Smith, a product of the Woodbridge Valkyries youth side, sprinted down the sideline. A cracking tackle from fullback Emily Akon prevented the try however, and Alex Saunders was the second person to cross the line but was held up, no try.
The referee lost all control at the breakdown but a steal by the Amazons resulted in Brickleys second try when quick hands resulted in the captain touching down in the corner.
There was time for one more score and it was fitting that it went the way of Bell, her short burst epitomising the hard work done by the pack all day. Murgatoyd converted to end the scoring at 3-19, a scoreline that rather flattered the hosts after a second half in which the Amazons had dominated possession.
A scrappy affair, not helped by a lacklustre officiating performance, but a real team effort by this improving Woodbridge side, who moved above Southwold into fourth place in the league.
At half-time Woodbridge must have been pretty satisfied. W Norfolk, ahead of them in the league, had snaffled only one score when fly-half Samuel Moses intercepted a Warrior attack to sprint 80 metres after only five minutes. Since then they had defended well and exploited repeated Norfolk penalties which allowed centre Angus Clogg to kick nine points with the wind and break 9-7 ahead.
The second period however was markedly different. W Norfolk came out fighting, their noisy play-makers directed a concerted effort and within five minutes Moses was over the line again. As Woodbridge discipline became frayed Norfolk’s No8 Jamie Williamson had some great runs and Hayden Revell kicked a penalty. Busy prop Luke Covell then scored from a determined Connor Clarke drive. The Warriors had opportunities but didn’t look the confident unit that W Norfolk did. Matt Addison scored next for the bonus point and it was Hayden Revell that scored the fifth for Norfolk on the whistle.
On the 11th of November last year, the Amazons travelled south to Essex side Stanford Le Hope where Cristina Murgatroyds last gasp try tied the match at 22 apiece, before she converted her own score for the narrowest of winning margins.
Needless to say, the reverse rubber at Hatchley Barn on Sunday promised another mouthwatering encounter, and the large crowd witnessed exactly that! A ding dong battle between two very evenly matched outfits resulted in another close fought victory for Woodbridge, this one ending 27-24.
Right from the opening kick-off the scoring resembled a basketball game as try was matched with try, neither side leading by more than a single score at any point. Sophie Davis burst through a gap in the Amazons defence to open the scoring, but that sparked the hosts into life. A strong run from Anna Dewberry set up Captain Claire Brickley for her first of the afternoon and a 5-5 scoreline.
The Suffolk versus Essex battle was pretty fierce, and Google Granger was the first to be nursed off. As the clash continued, the visitors scrum half Kat Richardson was the next to exit, as both sides reshuffled accordingly. Strong play as ever from Carmel Roisin led to a scrum on halfway, and a flowing move resulted in Brickleys second try, which Murgatroyd converted, 12-5.
Stanford hit back when number eight Lily Stribbling barged her way over from close range, then the visitors got their noses in front for the first time when hooker Nicola Meechan capitalised on a penalty for a high tackle. She converted her own try, and the half ended with the Essex side 12-17 in front.
The second half began well for the hosts as they turned around with the ascendancy. Roisin scored after another of her trademark bursts, levelling the scores once more, before an arcing run from Julie Tyler led to a poachers try from the effervescent scrum half Morven McAlpine, and another Amazons lead.
Stanford hit back again, and deservedly regained the lead when Richardson summed up the energy to re-enter the fray, and touch down in the corner. That tied the game at 22 apiece, before Meechan converted – amazingly as regular kicker Laura Smith had left the game injured earlier!
As time ran out, things began to look bleak for the hosts as infringements went the way of the leaders. Defending as though their lives depended on it, wave after wave of attacks were repelled by the Amazons, and when the ball was worked clear, it was Roisin that burst upfield again. Hauled down inside the Stanford 22, quick ball was worked out wide where Brickley sewed things up with her hat trick score – and the sweetest of victories, 27-24.
This game really could have gone either way, and the difference was aided by the performance of several new Amazon players, particularly by Ava Prentice and Ellie Norman, both showing huge improvement since signing on.
Next week the ladies travel to Chelmsford for another cross border scrap, if it’s half as entertaining as this match it’ll be well worth the effort to go and support them!
