It’s one thing to stand and shout support for your Club but another to actually get a sweat on and raise money for the kids, who are the future of our Club. After their popular trainer, Dan ‘Chunk’ Bond decided to go off and serve Queen and Country, his hardy team of ‘Fat Boys’ (and girls) decided to keep their kettlebell fitness club going – and voluntarily put in £5 a session towards Club funds. Steve Henry, who still puts in the occasional shove for the Woodbridge Saxons’ scrum, rallied his buddies to raise £500 for the Club’s Junior section which has grown to over 320 boys and girls. The Club organises mini (under 7’s to under 10’s), midi (U11’s to U12‘s) and youth (U13’s to U17‘s) regular training and matches throughout the season. The ‘Fat Boys’ contribution has enabled the Club to buy equipment, pitch markers, cones and balls which will further strengthen training. Steve commented “this Club has given such a lot to me and my colleagues that we thought it was time to step up and put some money somewhere other than over the bar. Every Sunday and during the week, youngsters are learning the joys of rugby and we’re only too delighted to encourage that. The ‘Fat Boys Club’ is not restricted to fat old boys like me, it is open to all Club members of any shape or size, and either sex. We do a short, sharp anaerobic (high intensity) work out in the gym (upstairs in the Clubhouse) with kettlebells twice a week (on Mondays and Thursdays) at 6pm. Come along – shift the fat, get fit & raise money to support Woodbridge Rugby Club.”
Heavy overnight rain hadn’t dampened Wymondham’s enthusiastic start to this mid-table skirmish. Penalised in the first scrum they defended a long kick by Woodbridge fly-half JP Hart, wing Chris Collins-Reed squelching up the centre field. Woodbridge countered, No8 Jono Cooke kicked through for the ball to go dead before Wyndham’s Josh Wright put in a great dash, the ball went wide through Darren Wilson for wing and colts player Anwar Bouilouta to score. Moments later and Wymondham No 10 Josh Cousens enabled a quick lineout from the restart return which caught the Warriors (and this photographer!) napping as Bouilouta splashed over again. Wymondham were clearly playing the conditions better than the visitors who had a bash up the middle only for a penalty to relinquish possession. The locals moved out left with hooker Connor Aidrie beating prop Manuel Aroza to put Collins-Reed over. Woodbridge had another go, Reece Monk handy on the wing but a penalty again frustrated. A text book Wymondham attacking 22 line-out was followed by a maul from which flanker Ethan Holmwood broke and scored. The rest of the half saw a number of sustained attacks in the visitors 22 that were well-defended by 14 men in messy conditions.
Woodbridge restarted with gusto, penetrating the home 22 and forcing a poor touch but Wright countered, supported by Bouilouta and Alex Wigney. Woodbridge kept the long kicks coming from Hart and Monk and had more territory and ball, Aldis Salavejs, Tom Stokes and Ed Banthorpe especially, but the home defences were strong and retained control of the set pieces, Liam Browning reliable in the line-out, making it hard for the visitors to maintain their flow. Luke Wattam had a great opportunity using speed to break the line but the pass was intercepted as Wymondham’s centre Jamie Hunter grubbed to turn play again. A lot of scrums reflected the conditions as both teams struggled in the gloop. In the end Woodbridge reversed the territory stats and wallowed in the home end for 85% of the second half but to no avail – the first 20 mins had sealed a just and sticky victory for Wymondham.
Would like to thank EASTERN COUNTIES Rugby Union (ECRU) Funding & Facilities Group for a significant contribution towards the purchase of equipment to boost community use of it’s Clubhouse. The money covered a large part of the cost of table and chair trolleys to make setting up our events considerably easier, increasing the attractiveness of the Clubhouse as a venue and meaning people of all sizes can shift stuff around.
Stowmarket started perkily; keen to avenge two-time Cup winners Woodbridge on a sunny, gusty day at Chilton Fields. Lively full back Daniel Garrard grub kicked through and won a penalty. The resulting well-executed line-out fed centre Tom Crewe who scored within 5 mins. Stow kept up the pressure No8 Nicolas Kegge and prop Brad James ran from deep, fly half Stuart Hill grubbed through and wing Nicholas Falavino ran diagonally. Woodbridge battered the 5m line; wing Felix Kibble and flanker Matt Bowman challenged resulting in a missed penalty attempt. The poor Stow drop out was pounced upon by Tim Johnson and Tom Edwards who fed centre Luke Wattam and put Jamie Smith over to score. Stow came back through its forwards; wave after wave of pods battered the visitors defence until Brad James scored wide. Woodbridge’s fly-half JP Hart took territory and a lineout maul yielded a try for the indefatigable Bowman. Woodbridge kept up the pressure Wattam made good space backed up by Aldis Salavejs and Tim Johnson but the home defence held.
The game went more aerial in the second half despite swirly conditions; Woodbridge found a 5m lineout and the following maul, held up by flanker Jono Cooke let Bowman break to score his second try. Penalties by Woodbridge let full back Garrard take 6 points in short order but the visitors also pressed, worked a penalty into the Stow 22 but Angus Clogg’s chip was too long. As the game opened up Bowman and Wattam found space on the left and broke through for Wattam to score. With the score at 18-24 Woodbridge must have felt confident but Stow found the energy to fight back with a series of danger-zone set pieces, relentlessly driven by forwards No8 Nicolas Kegge and James in particular. Fifield and James were held up before Fifield just made the whitewash to make it 25-24 when converted by Garrard. The Warriors late response was plagued by poor handling and penalties, Garrard missed a three-pointer but it was wing Falavino who scored in the dying minutes and sealed a ticket for Stowmarket to the Cup Final against Mersea who beat Halstead.
A big thank you to all the players (and parents) who were able to make the long trip to Cambridge today. With just 10 available due to a combination of injuries / ski trips / and GCSEs all taking their toll, our hosts loaned us 3 for an entertaining 13 a side game.
A tight first half saw both sides go in even at 12-12, but Cambridge started the 2nd half much stronger and quickly scored 3 tries in succession before Woodbridge were able to get things together. Having eventually woken up Woodbridge started to gain control and were rewarded for their efforts with 3 well worked tries before eventually losing 43-29.
A big thank you to the coaches and officials at Cambridge, and the boys who represented us on the day. Thank you also to Vicky for keeping the injury list to a minimum ????
Well done today boys, a good run out ahead of next weekends Suffolk cup match at Bury.
Sitting third in the league prior to this weekend, a mouthwatering trip to bottom placed Lakenham Hewitt on Sunday, meant the Woodbridge Amazons could keep the pressure up on the two sides above them. Whilst the top of the table clash between Bury St Edmunds and Harwich was going on in Suffolk, the predictable happened in Norfolk.
With some notable absentees, the side from Hatchley Barn were forced into a reshuffle, particularly in the backs. Anna Dewberry stepped into the flyhalf role, vacated by skipper Claire Brickley who dropped into the fullback position. Number 8 Carmel Leak moved to outside centre, and debutant Helen Self came in outside Dewberry, with Julie Tyler and Kat Meade on the wings.
Self showed her worth immediately with a huge charge early on, setting up captain Brickley for the first of her hat trick on the day. A lineout steal and run from Beth Kinlan, supported by Leak and Vicky Watts was judged to be held up over the line as the Amazons begun in total control. Brickley scored her second when she angled into the backline at pace, revelling in her freedom in the 15 jersey. Watts converted for a 12 point cushion.
Moments later Leak made a great break before giving a scoring pass to Meade out wide and the 17 point margin was looking comfortable already.
The hosts weren’t ready to give up without a fight however, and began to gain possession. Lauren Halliwell was positive, while ex Amazon Jennifer Ray worked tirelessly against her former team mates.
Gradually working their way into the Amazons 22, two big tackles from Alex Saunders denied a score. Brickley cleared but further pressure led to a deserved try from Sonia Knowles.
Amazons prop Victoria Felstein left the field with a broken nose before halftime as it became apparent the hosts were in no mood to lay down quietly.
In the second half the power of the Amazons pack took over. Kinlan, Toni Bell and a patched up Felstein drove into the heart of Lakenhams defence. Kat Sidders, Saunders and the irrepressible Kaz Black were first to every breakdown, constantly denying the hosts possession, allowing scrum half Morvern McAlpine plenty of chance to choose her targets.
Some excellent handling worked out to the left saw Tyler angling back in from her left wing position, for try number four. Watts converted.
As the forwards began to dominate, the penalty count rose. Choosing to run at every opportunity, rather than electing to play in the hosts half, a constant battering became too much for Lakenham to handle. Some simple hands from another solid scrum saw Leak ghost through for a try, as the Amazons looked capable of scoring from anywhere now.
Tyler carved out chances as she enjoyed her best performance of the season, but it was Brickley that grabbed her third when Leak again burst through the midfield, the skipper on her shoulder, ever ready for more. 34 points to 5 now.
Lakenham tried to find a way back, living off scraps and repeatedly hitting a brick wall in Woodbridges well organised defensive line, to no avail.
Tyler, now full of confidence, outstripped everybody from 40 metres for her brace, but the try of the day ended the scoring in the late stages and epitomised the Amazons dominance.
A Lakenham scrum at halfway, the Amazons pack simply drove straight through for McAlpine to cleanly pick up at the base. Dewberry to Self, superb in their new roles all day, fed Leak who tore into a tiring Lakenham defence. As she edged closer, Leak unselfishly offloaded to Meade to put the icing on the cake – simply wonderful stuff.
This was as complete a performance as the Amazons have played all season, the 44-5 final outcome fitting reward for the huge effort put into the performance. The pack looked menacing, the changes in personnel and positions all clicked into place, and Selfs debut was fantastic.
With just two fixtures remaining, promotion looks unlikely but these Amazons are playing in a rich vein of form now and have proved themselves a perennial powerhouse once more!
Woodbridge started vigourously the Warriors pushing up-field for Jamie Smith to kick 3 penalty points. Wisbech forwards No8 Sam Anderson and flyhalf Jack Malkin fought back as the visitors earned a run of penalties. Despite a good lineout steal by Dan Knights Wisbech were fast up to pressurise Smith, JP Hart cleared but the home full-back Harry Newman and Henry Lankfer supported centre Freddy Foreman to the 22 where forwards Richard Cavell, Nat Hunt and Will Lankfer picked and drove forcing a swift penalty from Malkin to flanker Jamie Parsons who scored. Woodbridge responded; flanker Jono Cooke broke supported by lock Ed Banthorpe, with No8s – Aldis Salavejs against Anderson, flanker Matt Bowman was stopped short then Smith slipped two tackles to score out wide.
Wisbech came back through wing Alex Watson and Freddy Foreman before Salavejs broke from a scrum and quick, safe hands fed Bowman who battered over to score. Wisbech reacted with a threatening surge on the Woodbridge line. Repeated ruck penalties reduced Woodbridge to 14 before a high, try-saving tackle on Watson earned a penalty try.
Woodbridge looked sharp at the restart, scrum half Taff Lloyd launching Bowman again into the tackle of hooker Hunt as Wisbech stole, Will Lankfer carried and centre James Napier bolted down route one. Hart cleared back downfield and again after another penalty, Bowman rampaged unsupported and centre James Porter had a good run – a ruck reloaded Bowman then a long pass from Clogg put scrum Half Adam Plummer over in the corner. Boosted the visitors did it again flanker Cooke and Salavejs charging the defence only to be stymied by penalties. The counter was stolen and Clogg bombed full back Watson who was chased down. A scrum yielded possession to Bowman to Tom Edwards to Hart who scored. Woodbridge successfully defended an attack from Napier, Newman and Cavell with pressure on the line but a spill let Hart snaffle it, Smith kicked on and Clogg ran 80m to score a breakaway try. Another strong Wisbech run from Newman set up a siege on the Woodbridge 5m line and it was Napier who eventually broke through, the eighth and final try in an energetic, hard-fought, entertaining contest.
Great match played in a good spirit where the score speaks more about the Woodbridge defence than any Cambridge Rugby shortcomings. The visitors attacked frequently but were stopped in the 22 or on the line. Some lovely flowing rugby from both sides, Woodbridge just having the edge.
Match Report by Ian Girling On a glorious sunny Suffolk afternoon, the Amazons put on an amazing display against Chelmsford to reignite their league campaign. The visiting Chelmsford ladies had no riposte to the Woodbridge determination, and an unanswered nine try victory underlined the hosts dominance. The writing was on the wall almost immediately when the opening kickoff was knocked on by Chelmsford.
From the resulting scrum Centre Stacy Robinson made inroads before offloading to Number 8 Carmel Roisin. The powerful runner was hauled down a metre out but Kirsty Brierley was up in support to accept the popped pass and touch down. Robyn Gordon kicked the first of her eight conversion attempts to make it 7-0 after just minutes had been played.
Moments later another break from Robinson looked to have put Gordon clear through for a sprint to the line, but the scoring pass was judged forward. The hectic pace took its toll as injuries to players from both sides caused stoppages. Having not played in weeks, the decision to keep things simple proved a masterplan, as the floodgates began to open. From a scrum on halfway the ball was worked through the backs line out to Winger Kat Mead. She turned on the speed and simply flew past her defender, then the Fullback, to register try number two. 14-0. The forwards got in on the act then, as they patiently recycled possession, forcing their way up-field piece by piece. Alex Saunders charged at the line, then offloaded to her skipper Claire Brickley, who capped a great effort for try number three. Rolling substitutions maintained the Woodbridge pressure and two further tries were scored before the break. Saunders got her reward for a cracking first half display, the veteran Maggie Kelly ended a move that involved both forwards and backs for a particularly pleasing team score. With Gordon maintaining her 100% kicking display, it was 35-0 at the turnaround.
In the second half the visitors showed tremendous courage in a losing effort, stalling the onslaught, and even creating opportunities themselves. However, each time they pressed, they left themselves exposed and the hosts more than took advantage. A break from Paula Ireland set up Captain Brickley for her second of the afternoon. An exciting development turned more interesting as Gordon tried to keep her 100% kicking rate. Now into a low sun and blustery conditions against her, the conversion actually hit the crossbar before going through the uprights!
A nice break from Julie Tyler relieved Chelmsford pressure, then Gordon delivered a killer blow by sprinting some 70 metres for a superb solo score. Too exhausted to attempt her own conversion, Robinson missed her first attempt. As both sets of forwards tired, gaps started to appear and Gordon scored her brace to advance the lead to 54. Still keeping things simple, there was still time for a last team effort. Huge efforts from the likes of Kat Sidders and Tor Felstein, plus the tireless reliability of scrum half Morvern McAlpine led to a try from Roisin that, again, saw numerous pairs of hands involved, capping possibly the most complete performance of the season thus far.
The final question would be answered as Gordon kicked her eighth conversion, making her 100% on the day, setting an Amazons record.
This magnificent win sets the Woodbridge side up perfectly for their chance at revenge at Bury St Edmunds next time out.
