Some vacancies have arisen at the Club. Please put yourself forward or pass to someone you think may be interested.
AMAZONS GAME MEDIC
THE LOVELY AMAZONS NEED YOUR HELP ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. THEY HAVE 12 FIXTURES OVER THE SEASON AND URGENTLY NEED SOMEONE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL COVER. IF YOU ARE A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL OR ARE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE FREE TRAINING.
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH KERRI EHRET
club@woodbridgerugby.net or 01394 460630
Salary: lots of love, hugs and eternal thanks.
SAXONS MANAGER
OUR SUPER SAXONS DESPERATELY NEED SOMEONE TO MANAGE THEM FOR HOME AND AWAY MATCHES. HOME MATCHES ARE BUSIER THAN AWAY GAMES, BUT ONCE THE PRE-MATCH SET-UP IS DONE, YOU CAN RELAX A BIT, THE SAXONS ARE QUITE AN INDEPENDENT BUNCH! IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A MEDICAL QUALIFICATION, THAT WOULD BE A BONUS, IF NOT WE ARE HAPPY TO PUT YOU ON A COURSE.
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH KERRI EHRET
club@woodbridgerugby.net or 01394 460630
Salary: huge thanks, much appreciation and possibly a pint!
KITCHEN HELPER
OUR OVERWORKED CHEF, ROGER, NEEDS HELP IN THE KITCHEN ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. HE WILL NEED SOMEONE AGED OVER 16, A MINIMUM OF 2 SUNDAYS PER MONTH,
09:30 —12:30.
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ROGER ASTON
kitchen@woodbridgerugby.net or 07787 908496
Wage: £8.50 ph.
Youth Registration starts at 10am on Sunday 2 Sept. If your child is already registered at the Club, there is little you need to do.
Check your inbox or spam folder, for an email from the RFU inviting you to login to GMS.
Please click on the link in the email, which will take you to the login page. Your username will be pre-populated, just click on forgotten password to set yourself a password.
Please check your details are all correct. You will have received an email for each individual member of the club.
It is important that you do this, as how we register Age Grade players is changing.
From 2nd September, you will be asked to check yours and your child/children’s details are correct. You will also be asked to purchase your child/children’s membership via GMS. This can be done by Direct Debit, one off-payment by card or cash via your GMS account.
On Registration Sundays there will be lots of folks available to help if you have any questions of difficulties.
In the meantime, if you are new to the Club and wish to register your child OR express an interest in registering your child, please follow this link: youthregistration
If you are already registered and have any difficulties, please get in touch with Alex Brigginshaw, the Club’s Youth Chairman, at juniorchair@woodbridgerugby.net
GMS is the RFU’s database, Game Management System, that all Clubs in England are now using.
Each member of the RFU i.e. anyone who is involved with a Rugby Club in any way, from Junior Player to Life Vice President, will have a member record on GMS.
Any training or courses that you do with the RFU will be automatically added to your member profile. Any independent or outside study can be added manually, please get in touch.
If you hold a DBS or it is pending, this will show as well, making it easier to ensure continuity of cover.
You can access GMS at any time to check the information held is correct. If it isn’t, then you can update it yourself or please contact me.
You will have had an email from the RFU asking you to login to GMS. The email has a link, click on that and you will be taken to the login page. Your username will already be filled in. Click on the forgotten password function and away you go!
Please update your/your child/ren information, particularly your contact details.
There will be some substantial changes to Registration Sundays for Mini and Youth Players, so please watch this space.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Kerri Ehret.
01394 460360 or mail kerri.ehret@googlemail.com
As you know the General Data Protection Regulation came into force on 25th May.
This means that the way Woodbridge Rugby Club deals with the information we hold about you or your child has changed slightly.
The Rugby Football Union has a member database called Game Management System (GMS) that all Clubs use to Register players and keep member information securely in one place.
If your child is registered GMS automatically generates an RFU id number. It means that we will also have a member record for the responsible adult that registered the child. That individual will also have an RFU id number.
Every individual registered with Woodbridge Rugby Club will receive an email from the RFU, asking them to log in to GMS (please check your spam folder too). Use the “forgotten password” facility when logging in for the first time.
Check that the details are accurate and up to date, you have full control over your individual record. Some of you will receive more than one email, depending on the number of children you have registered.
If you are no longer a member of the Club, please let us know and we will delete your record.
Any paper records that we hold, will be destroyed after one-year ie forms completed in September 2017 or before.
Anyone who DOES NOT re-register by December 31st 2018 will have their records deleted.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Kerri Ehret on 01394 460630 or kerri.ehret@googlemail.com
The younger players from the WRUFC youth section – the minis -and their parents were out in force in glorious sunshine for their Mini Rugby Warrior Awards. Their older club members, the youth squads, were competing at the Ipswich Road to Rio 7s Festival where the UI6s won their group and the UI5s won the plate.
As is traditional, this last Sunday of the season was a fun-filled morning of young Warriors and parents together
running relay races with challenges along the way, tug-ofwar competitions and touch rugby games.
The outgoing Board consists of;
Chairman – Rob Simpson
Treasurer – Mike Fisher
Secretary – Simon Bennett
The remaining members of the Club Committee have indicated they are willing to continue for the coming year.If there are any nominations for new Committee members please forward the name of the person being nominated and the names of the proposer and seconder. Nominations can also be made at the meeting.
Match Report by Duncan Andrews – Woodbridge Colts 27 v W Norfolk Colts 19
EC Colts Cup
Sunday 6 May 2018
Woodbridge Colts successfully defended their Eastern Counties title on Sunday, defeating West Norfolk at a packed Hatchley Barn home-ground by 27-19 in what was a super game of rugby. Taking advantage of the ideal conditions, both teams moved the ball well and the large crowd was offered a feast of running rugby – an advert for all that is good in the local game. The Kings Lynn side had also travelled with two coach loads of supporters who offered vocal support throughout, contributing to a real sense of occasion.
West Norfolk gave their supporters room for optimism by drawing first blood, scoring and converting after ten minutes, to take a seven point lead. It was already shaping as a game of contrasting styles, with Norfolk sending their runners (hard) round the corner, whilst Woodbridge sought to move it wide whenever possible, putting their wingers into space. This paid dividends as both home wingers duly crossed the try-line, Simon Plummer and Marcus McMyn giving Woodbridge a 10-7 half time lead. Both conversions drifted wide however, and Woodbridge had also done well to survive an extended period of Norfolk pressure, living dangerously in their red zone.
Both packs were working hard in hot conditions, recycling well – with turnovers at a premium. For the home team, Toby Wright and Phil Carlstroem caught the eye with some good supporting lines whilst Max Chesterman offered some front-foot ball from the middle of the lineout. In the backs Tom Lomas and Felix Kibble mixed their game well, carrying the ball hard into contact or varying the point of attack, ably orchestrated by the streetwise Tom Ives at 10.
With the breeze now behind them, Woodbridge scored early in the second half; prop Sean Woollard showing good rugby nous to set up his second row James Eaton for the try, which again was not converted. West Norfolk hit back and a converted try took the score to 15-14. For a moment the momentum look to be shifting, with the home number 8, Tom Jermy, yellow carded for a high tackle. Woodbridge were able to ride out this period of pressure, and even gained some breathing space whilst down to 14 men, when fullback Jake Hately crossed to make it 20-14. Ewan Maclean, on in the midfield, then scored a smart try, applying a winger’s finish with a bolt down the line – and Tom Ives nailed the conversion from the touchline to make it 27-14.
West Norfolk were not finished however, and claimed the final try of the day to complete the scoring, and then kept battling to the final whistle, enjoying a glut of possession as the clock wound down. The final whistle from referee Josh Blackburn sparked mass home celebrations in what for many, was their last game of Colts rugby.
The Woodbridge 2018 vintage boasted a good blend of Junior and Senior colts, which augers well for next year, and whilst the hard-running Danny Elsom, Kieran Saxton and Dan Clarke will all undoubtedly be missed, Travis Lloyd, Tom Jermy and Harry Hobday have already demonstrated that they are ready and willing to fill the void.
From a Woodbridge perspective it was a fitting finale to another hugely successful season, with skipper Hugo Kelleway, adding to the Eastern Counties Sevens, Stowmarket XV’s and Ghent Easter titles already won.
Match Report by Jonathan Brooks – Woodbridge U16 Rugby were crowned U16 Eastern Counties Plate winners following a hard fought victory against a strong Norwich team.
The first half was a close call with Woodbridge leading 8-5 at the break, following a well worked equalising try in the corner for the fit again Archie, and a well taken penalty from captain Austin.
Woodbridge started the 2nd half with their tails up, and it wasn’t long before our game opened up the Norwich defence. A “Nutella” call at the lineout quickly saw the ball spread from right to left, allowing Isaac to turn on the after-burners and open up a 13-5 lead. Woodbridge continued to dominate the early stages of the 2nd half with another converted penalty from our captain extending the lead, before the game was stopped due to an unfortunate injury to one of the Norwich players.
With the score at 16-5, we switched play to the 2nd pitch for the remaining 20 minutes. Norwich moved up a gear and were forcing lots of errors from the Woodbridge players. Our penalty count and ill-discipline was punished by the referee and we were twice reduced to 14 players for the closing period following successive yellow cards. What ensued was a battle of attrition, with Woodbridge holding Norwich to the half-way following wave after wave of attack. Our resolute defence were both jubilant and relieved at the sound of the final whistle.
Woodbridge were without a number of their key players due to DofE and injury, but the 17 available stepped up and gave their all to earn a well-deserved victory. Johnny Max was named man of the match for his tireless running and tackling, but all 17 would have been deserved winners.
We received confirmation overnight that Bertie from Norwich was thankfully discharged with no sign of injury and he left A&E on his own two feet with very relieved parents. A big shout out to Vickie and Richard, our 1st aiders, who tendered to a number of players throughout the match, and who as parents are thrilled to hear of Bertie’s recovery.
As coaches, James Evans-Lombe, Steve James, and myself came together at U9’s level, and we were presented with both the Suffolk plate and the Eastern Counties Shield, the win was a fitting finale and a suitable end to our junior campaign at Woodbridge.
This last League match of 2017/18 re-acquainted contestants from the first; the tight 5-5 draw in torrential rain and lightning at Ely. A packed, sunny Woodbridge crowd saw its home team start positively, flankers Matt Bowman and Aldis Salavejs forcing Ely fly-half Ryan Clark to clear. Full back Angus Clogg missed a penalty attempt before Ely centre Tom Jackson had a darting run up the wing and Lory Martin centre pitch. The Warriors moved the ball wide, Clogg, Bowman and James Porter bashing defenders Martin, Nathan Brooks and Jacob Muncey. Adam Plummer offloaded to lock Dan Knights who dummied, broke a tackle and scored. Ely immediately resumed the attack forcing Clogg and Hart to clear repeatedly until they secured a line-out, the forwards mauled to draw defenders and the ball was snapped cross-field for Ryan Rampling to step in and score. Ely No8 Harry Rogerson and Muncey put in a great run to take play to the home 22 where a quick penalty saw John Dibb score. A few well worked moves from the Ely backs and Muncey was launched again into the Warrior 22 for Rogerson to get the try. Woodbridge restarted with a penalty on the Ely 5m line, a strong maul and Salavejs tumbled over to just squeeze in a wide try.
Early gains by Woodbridge were stolen by swift running from Brooks and Martin only to be penalised at the line-out from which Bowman squandered a speedy 40m dash by back-passing blind to no-one. Ely full-back Matt McCarthy took advantage, sprinted to mid field and consolidated the gain through Scott-Paul who picked up deep and ran 60m to score in the corner. From a penalty it was Brooks again as the Warriors tackled tenaciously. A scrum on halfway delivered good ball to the big figure of Muncey who straightened up, held off Clogg and thundered half the pitch to score. Woodbridge resumed pressure but were held at bay until Ely gradually edged play into the home half. Salavejs put in some useful runs, fed by busy scrum half Taff Lloyd, as did Jeff Buchanan and Porter but Ely were the sharper, always looking dangerous they camped in the Warrior’s 22 for repeated penalties denying Woodbridge space to snatch the win.
The Woodbridge Amazons consolidated their third place finish against Southwold in this seasons league campaign, testament to the consistent quality the Suffolk outfit proudly uphold.
This 22-5 win, under the Friday night lights at Hatchley Barn against local rivals the Southward Swallows, completed a double over the black and gold, and while it didn’t equal the 40 point thrashing of the previous encounter, it emphasised the superiority the Woodbridge side now have over their Suffolk rivals.
The visitors were a different proposition from that day in October, with a younger and much faster side on the field. Indeed, they applied all the early pressure with veteran Remy Dowe and youngster Jaye Ash looking threatening right from the outset.
The hosts soaked up the pressure well, and applied their own after interceptions from both Robyn Gordon and Beth Clapson. A nicely worked backs move saw Clapson speed forward, and after Southward were penalised for hands in the ruck, the ball was worked out to winger Kat Mead who showed blistering speed of her own to round the defence and score in the corner.
A huge return of the following kick off by the stand out forward Carmel Roisin set up the skipper Claire Brickley, who dashed over from 15 metres out to double her sides lead.
A mistake on the next kick-off return however, gave the visitors hope when possession in the hosts 22 ended in a pile of bodies driving over in the corner, Laura Marjoram claiming the try.
As the half wore on in this entertaining derby, Woodbridge began to take a hold and forced numerous penalties as the visitors discipline waned. Brickley grabbed her brace from a short quickly taken penalty, to extend the lead to 15-5 and the half ended with the hosts well in command.
The second period was played out almost entirely in the Swallows half as Woodbridge piled on the pressure. Pack leader Victoria Felstein and her cohorts worked their socks off up front, securing possession for scrum Morven McAlpine to distribute at will.
Clapson made another big burst, before feeding Gordon to her outside for the only try of the second half – the chemistry between the two speedsters improving with each game. After repeatedly hitting the post in the first half, Gordon converted her own try to make it 22-5 and effectively take the match out of reach.
Beth Kinlan and Roisin went close, and Christina Murgatroyd enjoyed her first foray in rugby before the final whistle sounded.
After close defeats through the season to Bury and Harwich, the two sides above them in the league, the 2017/18 season can again be judged a hugely successful one for the Woodbridge ladies, with outgoing Coach Simon Thompson emphasising afterwards that his hardest job was convincing the girls just how good they are!
Roll on next season!
