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Chelmsford Bluebirds 3 v Woodbridge Amazons 19

14th January 2019 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Match Report by Ian Girling

Chelmsford Bluebirds 3 v Woodbridge Amazons 19

Sun 13 January 2019

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.

Woodbridge Warriors 9 v W Norfolk 36

13th January 2019 Simon Ballard — No Comments

 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.

Woodbridge Amazons 27 v Stanford Le Hope Sirens 24

7th January 2019 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Report by Ian Girling, Pictures by Woody rainywoodphotography.com

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!

Woodbridge Colts 39 v Southwold Colts 5

7th January 2019 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Southwold RFC Colts arrived several players short to play Woodbridge Colts but eventually 15 faced 15 for an exciting match that didn’t reflect the scoreline. Woodbridge Colts’ Marcus McMyn scored four trys joined by James Owens, Reef Edwards and Charlie Mayhew who got one a piece. Rene Ball scored early in the second half for Southwold. Some first class performances on both sides kept Colts Rugby the fast-paced spectacle it is – as exhausting to watch as it must be to play!

Woodbridge Warriors 18 v Ipswich YM 10

15th December 2018 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Gusty wind played a large part in this chilly local derby with Ipswich YM, causing kicks to go out on the full, lineouts to be lost and conversion attempts to stall in the air. Woodbridge started with the wind behind them and fly-half JP Hart and scrum half Angus Clogg used their boots to pressurise full back Barny Horsfield. This gave them a penalty for Clogg to take three points and then, after more penalties in YM’s 22, a forwards charge was fed wide and determined Tom Stokes shrugged off several tackles to score.

YM forwards successfully exploited a couple of Warrior penalties to maul and No 8 Kaselle Lee drove over to score. Five minutes later and the Warriors forwards charged from repeated YM infringements and it was flying wing Reece Monk who slammed down a diving try to get them into half time 15-5 ahead.

Woodbridge pressed hard but solid YM defence and wind-assisted kicks downfield kept them at bay, Clogg having to settle for another three points. YM weren’t done and it was the forwards again that countered strongly, Lee having a powerful carry which flanker Elliot Chilvers finished emphatically. Woodbridge continued to have the balance of play but Ipswich contained them with a durable and intelligent defence.

Woodbridge Warriors 17 v Fakenham RFC 27

9th December 2018 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Woodbridge Warriors 17 v Fakenham RFC 27

Entertaining and frustrating in equal measure, both sides had moments of domination but squandered them with penalties, great defence or poor handling. Fakenham took an early lead with a penalty from Lloyd Marshall and then a try from Ashley Stewart after a Joseph Bane-Young charge which demonstrated why they beat Holt last week. Woodbridge fought back through flanker Aldis Salavejs back from injury and another from Ed Banthorp who stormed over like a battering ram. Just before the break boisterous flanker, Lyam Thorpe put Fakenham back ahead 10-15.

With the tension building and Woodbridge looking promising for an equaliser their defence became stretched and two runaway tries from wingers Tom Bane-Young and then Tom Howick got the bonus point and widened the odds against a Warriors comeback. Warrior centre Tom Stokes battled over and gave home supporters something to shout about but with insufficient time to challenge Fakenham’s hard-fought win.

Ely 53 v Warriors 3 1/12/18

2nd December 2018 Simon Ballard — No Comments

An injury depleted Woodbridge held energetic Ely Tigers at bay by trading kicks for the first fifteen minutes, Tiger Jake Alsop putting in some great carries and Warrior Owen Scott worked hard at the breakdown. Predatory Ely full back; Matt McCarthy finished a 5m siege to score. Woodbridge failed to take advantage of Ely penalties and it was No8 Jacob Muncey that pounced next. Woodbridge Angus Clogg took their only 3 points before Muncey scored on half time to make it 15-3.

The second half saw a tiring Woodbridge defending against an ever livelier Ely who looked a co-ordinated and well coached unit running in six further tries through hooker Nathan Brookes and backs Paul Dewey (two), Luke Turner, James Buckland and McCarthy scoring again. Woodbridge defended hard but with many regular players missing and others playing out of position it was an achievement to restrict the tries to six.

Amazons 20 Swallows 29 25/11/18

29th November 2018 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Amazons 20 Swallows 29 – it’s been a wild three weeks for the Amazons. If having a huge 5 week break between games has been a challenge, then 3 on the bounce has proved even more challenging.
Two weeks ago a last minute try, and conversion by Christina Murgatroyd earned the Amazons a thrilling victory at Stanford le Hope by the score of 24-22. Then last week at Lakenham, after a superb hat trick of tries from Carmel Roisin Leak, another last gasp Murgatroyd try wasn’t enough to come out on top of a 24-27 reverse – and this week, hosting their local rivals from just up the A12 at Southwold, another nail biter ended up in a close 29-20 defeat.
In clear, but chilly conditions at Hatchley Barn, the Amazons kept up this seasons tradition of starting slowly, allowing their opponents an easy entry into the match. Jaye Ash, the most dangerous centre for the visitors opened the scoring after just 7 minutes after some good interplay with fullback Chantelle Gallagher.
The Amazons responded well however, and Beth Clapson returned a box kick with interest, setting up Kat Mead who ran through defenders for the equalising score.
The visitors were soon back in front when Jasmin Fisher took advantage of some poor tackling to ghost in under the posts but her score, and the 5-10 scoreline seemed to spur the hosts on. For the final ten minutes of the half, it was all Woodbridge. Pressure on the Swallows line was maintained, then cleared, reapplied, and cleared repeatedly until the halftime whistle.
In the second half the visitors engaged another gear, scoring three tries in quick succession. A short yardage trundle from Angela Wadham, before two tries by Gallagher, the first a long range burst straight after the restart, the second being handily placed inside winger Alex McKay, led to an unassailable 5-29 lead.
But just like the previous week at Lakenham, the Amazons refused to quit and they attempted another comeback. Roisin Leak, the Amazons leading scorer this season, maintained her scoring prowess to reduce the arrears, and her centre partner Anna Dewberry went over soon after with a direct line from the visitors 22. The Amazons kept their foot down and were unlucky when prop forward Toni Bell was held up over the try line. Time was running out, but when Charlotte Granger charged a clearance kick down, there was time for Roisin Leak to score in the corner bringing the scoreline back to 20-29. There was only time for the failed conversion attempt however, and another narrow defeat was underlined at the final whistle.
Another enthralling match then, which can only help the less experienced of this new look Woodbridge squad get better, means the future is bright for womens rugby in this part of Suffolk.

WRUFC sees the light

19th November 2018 Simon Ballard — 2 Comments

We used our new floodlights for the first time on Saturday in the League clash against Wymondham RFC.

The new lamps, from the Abacus Lighting Ltd Challenger Range, provide excellent forward throw of light with low light pollution. The lights were financed with the help of generous contributions from East Suffolk Council (Suffolk Coastal District Council) Play Space Fund, the Rugby Football Foundation’s Goundmatch Grant and three of our local SCDC Councillors’ Community Budgets.

The lights were installed and commissioned by local firm, Bayfield Electrical Contracting, just in time as the evenings draw in and weather-affected fixtures have to be accommodated. They will also enable evening fixtures that are a valuable source of Club income.

The lights were illuminated by our own Jan Ballard and Bob Double who braved the men’s changing room to, wait for it,,,,, turn them on ????

Chairman Rob Simpson commented “I am constantly and pleasantly surprised by the willingness of local donors to support our efforts to provide rugby to the Woodbridge area. These floodlights will not only extend the time that we can play rugby but also provide much improved facilities for use by our local community.”