Massive thanks to the lads that stepped up today against Wymondham!!! Down 5-33 at half time our Warriors proved that they are by pushing Wymondham around and winning the second half. But, the final score of 31-50 was really a solid one with lads that had not played or trained together. We still have fight left and fifth in the league! Thanks again and cheers to our amazing travelling support.
Come and try Girls Rugby – Open to all abilities
Thursday 30 March 6pm – 7pm at Woodbridge Rugby Club, Hatchley Barn, Bromeswell IP12 2PP.
Contact andrew.wilesmith@yahoo.co.uk
The Amazons ended their 2016/17 season with a heart-warming win over Essex rivals Harlow at Hatchley Barn on Sunday.
The visitors offered little in terms of attacking threat, but by not committing bodies to the ruck, their solid wall of defenders challenged the Suffolk side to break them down.
The Amazons have grown so much as a squad in this “rebuilding” season, they could have been excused for possible signs of frustration, but by remaining composed, working through the phases and retaining the ball at breakdowns, the patient approach paid dividends.
Two unanswered tries in each half were just reward for an enterprising performance, particularly playing against a strong headwind in the opening period.
After soaking up early pressure, the Woodbridge ladies found their feet and the busy Rhian Claydon capped a fine move to open the scoring. A break from the skipper Claire Brickley, on to Claydon advanced the hosts into Harlows 22 and after support play from Libby Stopard and Carmel Roisin, Claydon went in at the corner.
The visitors attempted to pin back their hosts, kicking on with a strong tail wind. Fullback Stacy Robinson was having none of it and returned each chip with gusto.
Pressure led to another score as the fierce line of Harlow’s defence was breached again. Some quick-fire offloads caused havoc and scrum half Morven McAlpine was as surprised as the Harlow defenders when she was allowed to burst forward from 15 metres out before touching down.
Both conversions missed and halftime came with the score at 10-0.
After the break it seemed the Amazons could sense victory, and an energetic, sometimes even frantic period led to errors in judgement and handling.
Leading from the front, it was Brickley that regained her side’s composure and a sprint from her from 25 metres or so out, effectively ended the contest.
Harlow’s attempts at slowing the ball down proved inadequate in the second half, but it wasn’t until the referee announced the final play, that a fourth and final score secured a fine win.
Roisin broke free from the pack and outstripped the flagging defenders, bringing up the 20 point mark. It was a fitting end to the match, and possibly more so because it highlighted the patient manner and fighting spirit that has developed since the current coaching staff took over.
It’s been a fine season, despite so many new faces arriving, and it really bodes well for a strong 17/18 campaign!
Woodbridge Amazons 20 v Harlow 0
Woodbridge Colts won 5-12 away against Market Harborough to progress to the plate semi finals
Last year Woodbridge (EC1) won a the Suffolk Cup – the Chedacre Cup by beating Stowmarket (London 3NE) 8-24 away. This year they faced Southwold from the same, higher, league but this time with a home advantage. The large crowd didn’t have to wait long. From a long kick off Southwold fluffed the catch, knocking the ball back towards their line and into the charging dive of flanker Dan Bond who touched down in a lightning 20 seconds.
The home faithful erupted at such a bonus start removing the threat of whitewash at least. Southwold composed themselves and set about going through some well-drilled phases. No 10 Luke Wade bombed the home corners where his forwards put in some good line-out work to secure possession. The occasional penalty gave Woodbridge relief and JP Hart a chance to thump the ball away as the ‘Wold’ countered with smooth hands out wide that encountered fast defence to shove them into touch. Scrums seemed fairly evenly matched although Southwold were penalised for pushing too soon which gave the Warriors a sortie into the Southwold danger area with Jono Cooke and Nick Woodley leading the attack before being pinged for holding on. Southwold kicked their way up field for a prolonged assault on the home line, hooker James Hall and prop Adam Smith picking and driving against Simon Codd, Dan Taylor and Billy King in defence. A penalty let Hart clear but Southwold sniffed a score and, from a scrum penalty against Woodbridge, held a line out to get quick ball first in field and then out to No 8 Jon Mayall to score.
The visitors immediately resumed their offensive, Wade repeatedly hoisting the ball up for his wings to chase favouring the right channel. Woodbridge defended another 5m threat only for Southwold to return and set up a line-out maul from which prop Smith scored to silence the home fans.
With minutes to the break Woodbridge got some possession and, after Jamie Smith missed a penalty attempt, even some territory from a great Hart kick. Luke Garnham gathered a clearance and ran back winning a scrum in the Southwold 22 from which Hart and Smith fed right wing Simon Ward who fended off defenders to score and retake the lead at 12-10.
Southwold’s scrum continued to yield penalties but despite that the balance of play remained with the visitors into the second half as their forwards worked hard into the home 22 only to get penalised again in the scrum and allow Hart to clear. Woodbridge remained under the cosh as Wade continued to pepper their 22 with high kicks and their heavy pack, Samuel Webby, Kristian Taylor and Peter Holmes tested the Warriors tackle stamina. A quick penalty and some tasty passing ended with winger Barton scoring to take a 3 point lead.
Woodbridge’s Smith missed another penalty but, undeterred they continued to bash up the middle with Captain Tom Stokes and centre Josh Thomas really challenging. The tension began to show as first Hart kicked a penalty dead and then Wade screwed up a 22 drop out and the Southwold scrum was penalised again which gave Smith a chance to level the score with 20 minutes to run. Woodbridge, lifted by a noisy home support, raised their game, exploiting Southwold penalties and yellow card to stay in the Southwold half and allow Smith to miss another penalty. Southwold lost another player after repeated infringements gave Smith one last chance to steal the win which he did as chaos followed, the Woodbridge throng going crazy at beating a higher ranked opponent for the second year running and keeping the Chadacre Cup at Hatchley Barn.
W Norfolk 17 v Woodbridge U15 7
Wisbech 18 v Woodbridge U15 0
Match report from James Evans-Lombe 12/3/17
Basically, we had a long drive to King’s Lynn to meet West Norfolk and Wisbech in the Eastern Counties Shield. We also had a handfull of boys not playing for a variety of reasons. But we did manage to rustle up a team of 17, and what a bunch of boys. Given we had to pay two back-to-back matches, we chose to play the first 2 matches (so we could get home in sunlight!).
First up was West Norfolk. This time last year, when we played them in the same Eastern Counties challenge, home advantage helped and we beat them. This time around, home advantage seems to have helped WN. We played really well, but our attaching line was a bit too deep, so we never really made the gain line, and our kicking to touch just gave the ball to the opposition. Having said that, the ball went from one end of the pitch to the other several times, and the score of 17-7 doesn’t really show how much we fought all the way. Just two missed tackles were all that counted.
Next up was Wisbech. We had just played and they were fresh. Again, it was a match that went from one end of the pitch to another. Sadly for us, Wisbech were able to finish their attacks and we just didn’t have the oomph to press ours home. I think the final score was 18-0 to Wisbech, but given we were only cms away from the Wisbech try-line at ½ time, it could all have been different….
I also have to say that the ref was very fair and very explicit – from the start he said he wanted a game with minimal stoppages and he was extremely consistent. Full marks to him.
Woodbridge U16s finished a strong cup run with a satisfying 22 : 12 win against welcoming hosts Saffron Walden in the Eastern Counties Runners-Up Final.
After an hour and a half in cars, the most impressive feat was scoring two tries in the first seven minutes! A useful and spirited SW team had the best of the ball on the ground and attacked whenever they had possession. They earned their two tries with sharp running and sustained pressure, as Woodbridge struggled to clear our 22. But Woodbridge’s played 15 man rugby the length and width of the pitch, which in the end was enough to maintain the early lead.
Most memorable moment was winger Harry Mitchell finding a try-creating inside pass to Jake Hately through a blizzard of defenders. Great to see James Owens storm through his first full match in three months, giving the team that vital go-forward. And an outstanding contribution from Ciaran Lewis at scrum-half, to steer us through the tricky middle-section of the match. But in the end it took all of the 18 players who were fit and available to earn the win, as it has done all season.
Another win for the Warriors this time against Bury! Parts were very good but we will need to sort out some patchy spots ready for next week. Well done, massive congrats to colt Jack Johnson on his first half hatrick
Colchester won the Suffolk U16 Cup 8:0 in a good natured and very hard fought final writes Julian Hobday
The tone was set the first time Colchester’s outstanding captain ran the ball at us, only to be double-tackled and driven 10 meters backwards. Playing into a strong wind, Woodbridge mauled, sprinted and slogged our way up field through the mud, determined to protect possession and so deny Colchester point scoring opportunities. The next time Colchester ran at us, a series of thumping tackles eventually forced the turnover, only to see two of our players leave the field with shoulder injuries. But with replacements as committed as our starters, the score remained just 3:0 until the last play of the first half – when Colchester turned our 22 drop-out into a try in the corner. Turning around we needed 9 points for the win, which looked very achievable.
But with the wind dying and the pitch degenerating into a mud bath, even kicking for the posts became near impossible. The intensity never dropped, nor the inventive rugby. Four times we threatened their line only to leave empty handed, including one maul that was held up in the in-goal area. So all credit to Colchester, who earned their title by keeping a clean sheet under such sustained pressure. And no complaints or regrets about an outstanding game of rugby between two excellent teams who gave absolutely everything. Inspirationally led by our match captain Tom Jermy and vice-captain Alex Wakeling, many of Woodbridge’s 21 man match squad will have come away knowing that they played the game of their lives – so far.
Woodbridge traveled to Wisbech with a home win under their belt and Suffolk Cup semi-final win last week. They faced a much changed XV from the Wisbech that traveled and lost 48-12 on bonfire night. Very early on Wisbech showed their intent, their big forwards put their opposite numbers under intense pressure and forced the first of many penalties. Wisbech no 8 Sam Anderson took from the opening scrum but poor hands allowed Warrior full back Jamie Smith to clear to half way. Wisbech starved the visitors of possession which in turn gave penalties against Woodbridge as they tried to steal illegally from the ruck. Flanker Solomon Prestige and his second row Ben Chapman and Greg Brownlow battered down the right wing demanding hard tackles from Captain Tom Stokes, No 8 Jono Cooke and flanker Tim Johnson as the ‘route one’ option was chosen over and over again. Set pieces were unreliable for Woodbridge a line-out led to an aggressive maul that set up flanker Ben Wicks to score and reward a concerted assault on the Warrior line. Woodbridge were made to defend again straight away as the onslaught resumed John Yorke, Ed Banthorp worked hard as the Wisbech pack pressed energetically, moving the ball confidently until Chapman found a gap and scored. A good kick-off allowed Woodbridge into the Wisbech half only for the home team to maul 35m and force a try- saving tackle from Stokes. With the Warriors down to 14 Ben Wickes drove for James Bostock to score. It was another maul from a line-out that drew the Woodbridge defence and left an opportunity out wide which centre Connor Lucas was happy to fill as the hosts made it four unanswered tries in the first half.
The visitors got a bit more possession at the restart although a poor line-out frustrated an early attack and JP Hart’s clearance kicks, while relieving immediate pressure, gave possession away. However Woodbridge defended further up the pitch and there were moments when their backs looked threatening. Wisbech reverted to game plan and thumped their way up field where Ben Wicks exploited a missed tackle to re-opened the scoring with his second try. A short lived foray by the Warriors into the Wisbech half was again repelled as the weary but resolute home team pack set up another maul and scrum from which centre James Napier scored. As the last quarter started Woodbridge successfully breached the home 22 and won a penalty from which Jono Cooke bludgeoned his way across the line to avoid the whitewash. With evidence that it was possible the Warriors started to grub kick into Wisbech territory winning a scrum just outside the 22 from which a surprised Stokes found himself running free towards the try line and, after a hand-off, he scored. Wisbech came back in the last minutes of the match reasserting their free-passing, full-width forward play from which James Patrick scored to make it a gutsy 39 – 12 home forwards victory.
Video clip is here https://youtu.be/trl41eYDTbE
