A day of missed tackles and a run of injuries but plenty of heart on show and a losing Bonus Point. Well done Saxons.
Ipswich 29 v Saxons 26 4/11/17
L&Y RFC 5 v Warriors 32
Woodbridge was first to use the boot in blustery conditions, keen to take territory by running through a larger opposition. Lowestoft’s big Fijian No8 John Wedlock picked and drove from a maul to threaten in the Warriors 22 but a strong rip from Matt Bowman let full-back Angus Clogg clear. Aldis Salavejs took a penalty line out cleanly but the attack was thwarted by some aggressive defence from Lowestoft skipper Marcus Sale and fellow flanker Brett Thomas. Another penalty and Dan’s Bond and Knights bounded through centre-field for Jamie Smith to pass to Jono Cooke who set up Salavejs to score. From the kick-off Sale galloped down the left wing until stopped by Clogg. Play moved to the other wing where Wedlock belligerently barrelling through the Warriors line-out to score wide. Lowestoft kept up the pressure, Tom Dare kicking well but the Warriors had the territory, JP Hart nearly scoring from a cheeky kick chase. The intensity increased as both sides turned up the passion. A penalty gave Woodbridge three points and they kept attacking with some good hands. Patient build up was rewarded when scrum ball was moved through Cooke, Stokes and Clogg to Smith who scored. L&Y came back centre Stephen Gaines assaulting the Warriors’ 22 supported by Wedlock only for hooker Lewis Fox to fumble the last pass.
The second half started with a penalty against Lowestoft from which Smith made another carry supported by Bowman from which Sam Hallows scored under the posts. Kicks pinned the hosts back, locks Gavin Pashlec and Richard Hyde defended hard. Yet another penalty and Woodbridge were back in the corner quick ball through Hart, Tom Stokes, Smith and it was wing Simon Ward who scored. A couple of men down Lowestoft’s Dare kept the battle aerial exchanging kicks with Smith and Clogg. Stokes and Hallows ran from deep and Salavejs scored his second. Shortly afterwards Hart scampered 40metres passed to sub Jeff Buchanan who attracted a try-saving tackle from Lowestoft full back Benjamin Thompson. Outnumbered the home team kept up the pace but it was Woodbridges bonus point win.
WRUFC Coach Duncan Andrews is rewarded
GOOD NEWS FOR ENGLAND – DUNCAN’S COMING TO TRAINING
Duncan Andrews from the Woodbridge Club, the ECRU Coach of the Year in 2017, has been rewarded with an invitation to attend an England Training Camp at Pennyhill Park and an opportunity to meet the players. Which will include watching an England training session, an opportunity to meet the players as well as a tour of the Training Centre.
If we know Duncan – he’ll be getting England into winning shape – like the Woodbridge Colts
Warriors 20 v Wisbech 20 28/10/17
Early skirmishes went in Wisbech’s favour, Woodbridge gave away too many penalties and were losing at the set piece. Forays into the home 22 were repelled by the boot of Flyhalf JP Hart and the Warriors countered with a cross-field run but the last pass failed. Wisbech worked their way methodically back up the pitch Iwan Jones and fellow back row team-mates Nathen Goodale and Jason Luffman driving at the home defence assisted by offside penalties. On the quarter mark after a period in the Warriors red zone Centre James Napier offloaded to Full back Harry Newman running a great line to score. Woodbridge responded; Full back Luke Wattam put in a darting response nearly exploiting a rare mistake from Newman, Aldis Salavejs had a romp down route one and Angus Clogg missed a penalty chance before another breakaway run from Salavejs generated fast, wide ball to Captain Tom Stokes who scored to level the first half.
Wisbech got the better of a series of scrums, forcing the Warriors back to their line where Newman took three points under the posts. Richard Cavill had a great run for Wisbech as the onslaught continued. A 25m maul eventually released flyhalf Jack Malkin who scored after a classic scissors back pass from Scrumhalf Dave Brodie. Two minutes later it was Woodbridge’s Jono Cooke that was punching a hole in the Wisbech 22 for Billy King and Sam Hallows to assist Hart to score. As tensions got tighter both sides dropped to 14 and Woodbridge’s Clogg took another penalty to draw level. Wisbech returned to the home 22, repeatedly battling down the blind side with their large pack before Newman kicked another penalty to pull ahead. The lead was short-lived as the home side attacked, replacement Scrumhalf Taff Lloyd nearly pulled off a cross field kick in the Wisbech 22 before Clogg got another penalty. Wisbech took the best of possession and came close through Napier and Connor Lucas. Hart’s clearances saved the day and even gave Clogg a chance at a further three points but the game ended even – a fair result.
MistleY 2s 14 v Saxons 95 21/10/17
Thanks to Darren ‘Reg’ Perry for report & pictures
Woodbridge Saxons travelled to Mistley with unfinished business from last season. Saxons bench ensured Mistley had a full team, as only able to field 13 players. Mistley showed their hand too early with their forwards scoring in the first few minutes, this was also converted. This was their main mistake of the game, as this score woke the sleeping beast with in the Saxons, who set about dismantlng a spirited Mistley side. At half time the score was 7-40. A stern chat from Jez saw the Saxon run in two tries straight from the restarts. Mistleys second try was well worked and well deserved for their effort through out the match. The final whistle saw the score 14-99. Backs and forwards combined well today, seeming to take it in turns to score. A big shout out to Mistley, who continued to battle throughout until the final whistle was blown.
Newmarket 0 v Warriors 44 21/10/17
Eighth placed Woodbridge had not beaten Newmarket, ranked eleventh, in Newmarket for four years. Blustery conditions made kicking a gamble so forwards had to fight for possession, Woodbridge’s front row, Simon Codd, Dan Bond and Luke Norman – a mix of experience and youth, prevailed in early skirmishes. After several frustrated attacks the Warriors were rewarded with Angus Clogg kicking a penalty.
Woodbridge sustained pressure Jono Cooke charging and flankers Matt Bowman and Aldis Salavejs relentless in support. Newmarket held its lineouts and put in a couple of mauls – hooker Peter Boyle rallying his pack but Hart and Cooke brought play back to the home 22 Cooke offloading to Tim Johnson for Tom Stokes to score. From the restart second row Michael Reeves put in a strong carry bowling Cooke over in the tackle. Clogg took another three points and then like a supercharged bumper car Salavejs took the kick off 60m to resume pressure, Dan Knights being held up before Stokes offloaded to Bowman to score.
The Warriors started aggressively in the second half keeping ball at breakdowns and backs moved the ball wide left and right – Cooke thundering on the wing. However the first breakthrough came from a period of repeated Newmarket attacks, scrum half Harvey Bell moving ball quickly to his forwards to carry repeatedly or chipping through for wing Simon Guenigault to chase. The ball was stolen by Simon Ward who ran a diagonal line before passing to Sam Hallows to score. Ten minutes later prop Billy King sprinted 40 metres and regathered a fumbled pass to kick on and score. Play returned to the Woodbridge 22 and a battering succession of tackles to keep fly half Joe Stafford and his eager pack from scoring. Prone to the breakaway Newmarket was vulnerable and Simon Codd nearly scored before Cooke, King and Bond combined to assist Salavejs to stampede over to score. From another scrum in Woodbridge territory the Warriors energetic replacement scrum half Taff Lloyd moved the ball wide for Luke Wattam to sprint down the wing and Bond finished off a convincing victory.
Colts 62 v Bury 0 15/10/17
Strong showing from the sunny Colts today. Well organised and fit they withstood some energetic attacks from Bury with calm defence. The visitors made some testing moves but Woodbridge proved dangerous on the all too frequent breaks.
Youth Rugby Festival monster success
The ninth Woodbridge Rugby Club U7-U12 Rugby Festival was held at the Club’s grounds on Sunday 8 October with 1,250 players and supporters from across East Anglia. Now a regular fixture for local junior teams Woodbridge Rugby Club, home of the Woodbridge Warriors and Amazons senior men’s and women’s teams, made maximum use of its Bromeswell pitches as games continued from 10:30 until 3.30pm
Ideal rugby weather, cool and dry, helped those attending enjoy a full programme of matches, BBQ and fresh pizza. Generously sponsored by Woodbridge School – youth squads from as young as 6 years of age came from Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds, North Walsham, Sudbury, Southwold, Ipswich, Colchester, Harwich & Dovercourt, Mersea, Felixstowe and Woodbridge to play under the RFU’s Age Grade Regulations.
I would like to thank our sponsors Woodbridge School and volunteers Alex Brigginshaw, Oliver Johnson, Roger Aston, Garry Sykes and all involved especially previous organisers Helen and Jon Wakeling who’s advice helped us get the Festival running so smoothly. I was approached by half a dozen Coaches from the other clubs to thank us for a fantastic Festival.
Watch out for details of next season’s event….
Steve Wilding
Festival Organiser 2017/18
WRUFC Colts strengthen EC U18s
Three Woodbridge Colts; Felix Kibble, Tom & Hugo who all played for the EC U18 team at Newark on Sunday 8th Oct. Well done Lads! Many thanks to Chris Sparrow for this pic
Southwold 0 v Amazons 40 8/10/17
Match Report by Ian Girling
The bragging rights in Suffolk returned south to Woodbridge on Sunday as the Amazons blew away the Swallows of Southwold.
Two seasons ago the Swallows inflicted a painful defeat over the Amazons, made worse by the fact two long serving Woodbridge starlets had defected to their northern neighbours. They were promoted that year but found the going a little too tough against the London sides, and this year the local derby is back on. Nobody predicted a 40 point win for the travelling Woodbridge side this time around, but the scoreline accurately reflects the nature of their dominance, and also underlines their growing stature in Eastern Counties ladies rugby. The scoring came steadily as the visitors kept a good structure, playing patient rugby and allowing their hosts to make the mistakes.
As early as the opening kick off, the signs looked good for Woodbridge. Skipper Claire Brickleys kick was knocked on, an excellent drive in the scrum led to number eight Carmel Leak gaining ground, quick ball from the ruck saw scrum half Morvern McAlpine feed Brickley and she raced in from 15 metres. Robyn Gordon added the extras for a 7-0 lead. For the next fifteen minutes the visitors asserted themselves as sustained pressure by both forwards and backs led to constant possession inside the Swallows half. Big tackles from Leak and Julie Tyler shut down Southwold bursts on the odd occasion they acquired the ball, but it wasn’t long until Beth Clapson extended the lead by finishing off a sweeping move through numerous pairs of hands.. 12-0.
Southwold were shaken, but showed brief moments of quality, Fullback Francesca Laurie just being pushed into touch after showing a clean pair of heels to several would be tacklers. Open side flanker Robin Williams also looked the part. Several penalties for high tackling by the hosts didn’t help their cause and the intensity rose as halftime loomed. Winger Katherine Mead came close to scoring a third try, but it was Brickley who took advantage of a quickly tapped penalty to grab her second from right in front of the posts. Gordon converted for a 19 point lead and the half ended as frustrations boiled over between a couple of forwards, referee Godfrey Bancroft quickly halting proceedings and calming the situation admirably.
In the second half the visitors made good use of their replacements, while the hosts were forced into making changes when fly half Jaye Ash was helped off after lengthy treatment. This actually improved things dramatically as the long serving, and hugely talented Chantelle Gallagher moved into the role and immediately got things moving. Huge performances from the likes of Frances Saunders, Kat Sidoli and Karen Black, all doing the dirty legwork all over the park kept Southwold from scoring, and further converted scores from Leak, prop Toni Bell and the hattrick score by Brickley, completed a tremendous away performance. A great balance between forwards and backs, playing with structure throughout, bodes extremely well for the future of the Amazons, but for now the ladies can simply enjoy being Suffolks finest.
