This clash between 4^th and 5^th ranked clubs in EC had all the hallmarks of a tough battle. Woodbridge one point ahead after a good run this year but having never won at Newmarket in recent history. The hosts started fast with forwards showing early dominance at the scrum but Woodbridge gained territory with the boot of No10 JP Hart. Despite a patchy line-out Woodbridge forced a knock on and Jono Cooke’s charge from the back of the scrum gave them a penalty for not releasing and Jamie Smith kicked 3 points. The kicking game continued, both sides probing the others defence. Penalties continued for both sides adding a lottery element to possession but attacks built, Scrum halves Max Bell for Newmarket and Adam Plummer distributing busily to try and get their backs into play. Woodbridge pounded the home 22, flankers Nick Woodley and Dan Bond leading the charge backed by Herb Parsley and Tim Johnson. Another penalty won gave Smith another 3 points a solid looking start for the Warriors.

Newmarket started to spread the ball wider bringing in wingers Ben Phipps and Simon Guigenault which stretched the defence but poor handling frustrated the attack, Hart finding the clearance. Woodbridge continued to turn defence into attack with wing Taff Lloyd with the kick-chase but the home team was relentless and won a penalty in the Warrior 22 to see No6 Sam Hillary push over for a try after which an altercation saw Cooke leave and Woodbridge facing the next 50 mins with 14 players. Five minutes later Newmarket employed the same line-out, maul combination to draw in defence and spring Guigenault wide right to score again.

Woodbridge restarted with a kick deep into their 22 only for the favour to be returned as the aerial warfare continued both sides aware of the 6 point difference which was reduced to 3 when Smith kicked another penalty. Bell and his No10 Michael Reeves coordinated repeated forays against a hard-working Warrior defence where Captain Tom Stokes lead by example putting in several hard stops especially against Newmarket second row Tom Peacock and Daniele Terenzi. A penalty allowed Reeves to claw back 3 points. The penalty count continued to rise with a yellow for Newmarket levelling the numbers for 10 minutes as Smith kicked his fourth penalty and the score hit 15-12 with the last quarter to play.

Newmarket rallied behind their forwards who mounted a prolonged assault on the visitor’s line where after serial penalties flanker Hillary scored his second as tempers frayed. Woodbridge maintained pressure; Stokes, Woodley, Johnson and some monster touch kicks from Hart exploited occasional gaps centre-field. But they were frustrated by some iffy set pieces, sharp defence and a yellow card. Against such odds it was no surprise when Reeves ran in the last try to seal the hard fought win.

Colchester 14 v Woodbridge Warriors 19

After a close home leg this match promised to be hard and so it turned out. Woodbridge started sharply despite two opening scrums going against them and a clear height and weight disadvantage. A great diagonal run from Colchester fly half Adam Cook took play to the visitors 22 where they elected to scrum when Woodbridge were penalised. The scrum saw No 8 Andrew Goodbourn score from the second attempted push over and set Woodbridge forwards a challenge.

The Warriors attempted to restart the game through their backs with a couple of kick-throughs that tested winger Sam Migan yielding a line-out from which Woodbridge had a couple of charges at the Colchester 22 before conceding a scrum. The Colchester pack with its towering locks Toby Hill and Kieran Payne retained possession and launched their runners with a long kick that unfortunately went dead. Woodbridge, normally confident in its backs, suffered from some indecision and sloppy passing when they did manage a counter but defended well to keep play in midfield. Warrior fly-half JP Hart had a promising run on the left wing only to be blocked after chipping through – Jamie Smith missed the penalty opportunity but Woodbridge attacked again forcing a dead ball and 5m scrum. The home defence held, Goodbourn and flankers Steve McManamon and Patrick Murphy putting in a tough shift of tackling. Centre Julian Chamberlain-Carter had a darting run but the Colchester pack was penalised for pushing too soon to stymie that attack and subsequent runs met similarly obdurate defence from the Warriors, Dan Bond, Capt Tom Stokes and Herb Parsley in particular.

After a period of pressure in the Woodbridge 22 they ran from deep, Hart and Lloyd taking a looping arc down the left wing to challenge the home 22. This was followed by a line-out and penalty that saw Woodbridge set up an attack that saw Plummer, Simon Codd and Cooke carry deep towards the line where Bond assisted prop Ed Banthorp to score a forwards try against the odds.

The second half started with a fairly simple looking try from Colchester’s Cook who finished a well worked move from the kick off to put the hosts ahead. Woodbridge weren’t to be put off and continued to strike wide through Plummer, Parsley, Jamie Smith and Simon Ward. Their line-out worked well and Plummer and Cook worked together well to slow down Colchester scrum ball but poor passing stopped them finishing. Long kicks made possession a bit of a lottery and favoured the visitors who held the defensive line high up field and kept Migan under pressure. Jamie Smith got close but Colchester cleared the first time, gaining in confidence and even choosing the scrum option for penalties. As the third quarter started Woodbridge won a loose ball, passed it wide through Hart to Parsley who offloaded for Lloyd to score. With just a conversion in it Woodbridge held off several moves by the Colchester centres Alex Harvey and Chamberlain-Carter and a dangerous long kick as play loosened up and Cook stole the ball and with Lloyd and Hart exploited the 3 on 1 for Hart to score.

Woodbridge wanted more and very nearly got it from Bond stealing at the ruck and Cook being held up on the line but the close, exciting match ended 14-19.