Harwich 12 v Amazons 5

15th January 2017 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Harwich & Dovercourt 12 v Woodbridge Amazons 5

Match Report by Ian Girling

Having enjoyed a terrific reversal over Tabard the previous Sunday in Hertfordshire, the chance to avenge a 5-26 defeat to Essex side Harwich & Dovercourt this week looked a tantalising, and achievable goal for the in-form Woodbridge Amazons.

However, after once again starting slowly and giving up an early lead, it was three missed opportunities that gifted the hosts a fortuitous double.

H&D’s number 8 stole a ball after 3 minutes and as all the back line worked leftwards, fullback Yaz Amber burst against the drift to touch down under the posts. Annalise Allen kicked the conversion for a 7 point advantage.

The Amazons reacted well to that early wakeup call and the first of those missed opportunities occurred when Carmel Roisin was held up over the hosts try line.

The hosts picked themselves up after that scare, and in front of a large and vociferous Vice Presidents crowd, went further ahead. Sian Fahei drove over from close range, the conversion was missed, 0-12.

The Amazons stepped up a gear and began to dominate possession. Harwich kicked their way out of trouble, but some good lines of running by both backs and forwards maintained a territorial edge in the visitors favour.

Jenni Ray was held up over the try line, and moments later another golden opportunity went begging as Roisin picked up from the back of a 5 metre scrum – but didn’t ground the ball until she was through the in goal area!

The half ended with the hosts, somewhat amazingly, enjoying a 12-0 advantage.

The second half was a scrum fest as conditions worsened. This played into the Amazons hands somewhat as props Paula Ireland and Toni Bell turned their opposite numbers inside out, while loose forwards Maggie Kelly and Karen Black swarmed the Harwich ball carriers. Skipper Claire Brickley and centre Anna Dewberry ran lovely direct lines at the heart of Harwich’s defence, and after a series of penalties against the hosts inside their own 22, the ball was eventually worked left for Dewberry to score. Brickley missed the conversion to make it 5-12, and despite gaining ascendancy, no further scoring chances were created.

H&D looked relieved at the final whistle, and it certainly seemed a case of “what might have been” for the visitors.

Overall, these past two weeks have seen a marked improvement by Woodbridge though, and with a week off to recover before the league leaders Wymondham roll into town on January 29th, the signs are promising for a great 2017!

Warriors 73 v Swaffham 5

14th January 2017 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Swaffham started over-enthusiastically and got penalised a couple of times giving Woodbridge an early penalty three points. Woodbridge dominated possession, stole from a ruck and moved the ball wide to Herb Parsley who ran 70m and scored again within minutes. Liam Wright the Swaffham prop had a charge and second row Samuel Allot won a penalty to get them into the home 22 only to be denied by Adam Plummer the warriors scrum half and JP Hart their 10 who ran from deep. With the high ball causing some disarray in the bright sunshine it was Woodbridge that exploited this advantage with Hart chasing and gathering to score next against little defence. The set piece didn’t fare much better for the visitors as their scrum was pushed back and the kick gave them a couple of line-outs and a scrum from which Jono Cooke broke and switched to the open side where Josh Thomas stretched his legs to score. There followed a slight Swaffham resurgence starting with a missed penalty kick from Ed Jones but efforts from scrum half James Dobbins and his pack were resisted by the Warriors for Hart to clear long upfield. Woodbridge kept the initiative with Cooke, Stokes and Plummer all having a go before another scrum released ball to David Price on the wing to score. The floodgates open, Woodbridge returned to the opposition 22 and Price scored again only for Taff Lloyd to follow and Parsley to make it seven tries at half time.

The second half saw a determined effort from Swaffham with their forwards winning a penalty and defending higher up the pitch which held the home backs at bay for a while. Eventually prop Max Thompson connected with wing Karl Cason to make metres and reach the home 22. The Swaffham forwards won and held a line-out to press the line with a strong maul from which Dobbins broke to score against the flow of play and threaten a comeback. Woodbridge wasn’t having any of that however and revisited the visitors 22 where a ruck pulled the Swaffham defence to one side for Parsley to score his hat-trick from quick ball unopposed. With their scrum and line-out working well and against a tiring opponent Thomas scored again on the right wing in front of an excited home crowd. Swaffham continued to defend and occasionally Jones would get the ball to centres Jon Clarke and Adam Potter but Woodbridge’s tackling was strong and lost possession allowed the indomitable veteran John Yorke to score followed by Hart minutes later. It was a game with thirteen tries and plenty of action for the spectators if not a close-run contest.

Well done to U16s EC squad picks

9th January 2017 Simon Ballard — No Comments

After trials last Wednesday, we are pleased and proud to announce that Guy Blades, Elliott Siddle, Tom Jermy & Toby Stowe (left to right) all made it through into the Eastern Counties (EC) squad.

Tabard 27 v Amazons 39

8th January 2017 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Match Report by Ian Girling

A daunting road trip to Radlett in Herts to face third placed Tabard posed a serious question for this seasons Amazons squad. Having to integrate inexperienced players into a league campaign is a tough proposition for any outfit. Fortunately, a large and eager Woodbridge side chose to relish this opportunity and avenge the earlier 3-24 defeat at the hands of their hosts this week. If they needed a reminder of the quality Tabard possessed, centre Caroline Bolton wasted no time in displaying her skills by scorching through a number of arm tackles to touch down under the posts after just 23 seconds! She converted her own try for a 7 point advantage, stunning everyone present in the process. The visitors took stock and gained a foothold. Playing with structure and determination, skipper Claire Brickley spearheaded an attack from a scrum inside Woodbridges half. She was eventually delayed, and offloaded to centre Kirsty Brierley, who doggedly dragged a tackler with her over the try line for her first try of her young career. Brickley converted, 7-7.

A nasty head injury to Tabard scrum half Sonia Vermuilen, which required 5 stitches, saw her leave the field. The visitors took advantage of their hosts reshuffle, and good interplay between Brickley and Anna Dewberry resulted in the fly half scoring her first, and the sides first lead. Despite winning a Tabard lineout, sloppy play at a breakdown saw possession turned over and Tabard kicked ahead. The chase resulted in another hack forward and as Amazons fullback Sarah Revell looked to clean up, she was smashed to the ground. She would play no further part in this gruelling war of attrition. Tabards influential player/coach Hannah Casey had joined the fray and she finished a fine move that flowed both left and right, stretching the Amazons defense to breaking point. Bolton failed to convert and the match was back to a 12-12 deadlock.

The ding dong battle continued with both sides scoring again before halftime. Bolton grabbed her brace before hooker Beth Kinlan dived over from close range to go into the break at 17-17 with it all to play for. With such attacking weapons as Bolton and Casey, plus Tabards other dangerous centre Michaela O’Connell in top form, the Amazons needed to shore up defensively, whilst continuously rotating their substitutes in an effort to wear down the home team.

The second half began well, as forward pods drove upfield, and quickly recycled ball was passed wide. Brickley finished a fine, flowing passage of play, that Libby Stopard converted. 24-17. Tabard hit back and drove into Woodbridges 22. The defence stiffened, with Loughborough University player Jess Delaney thudding into anything not dressed in light blue, leading the tackle count. Wave after wave was dispelled, until finally, hooker Emma Pooley splashed over to score in the corner. Bolton missed the difficult conversion and the Amazons held the slenderest of leads at 24-22.

Entering the final 10 minutes it came down to who wanted it the most. One got the feeling the Suffolk side hadn’t travelled all this way to throw away a hard fought effort, and when Kinlan sprinted through the Tabard defensive line from a tapped penalty, the 60 metre lung busting dash epitomised the Amazons desire! Tabard tired, and twice kicked their way out of their 22, only for Stopard and Brickley to return the punts with interest. Carmelo Roisin capped a superb display, her disruption at every lineout particularly telling, when she scored from five metres out to extend the lead to 34-22. With just moments to go Casey refused to give up and reduced the arrears again, but it was Woodbridge who would have the final say when Dewberry smashed through a tackler at the try line to end the scoring at 39-27.

Despite the muddy conditions this was an absolute thriller and a huge win to start 2017 for the Amazons. Next up are Harwich, another of the sides to pip Woodbridge on their Hatchley Barn home turf. On this form, that could prove another cracking contest!

Tabard 27 v Woodbridge Amazons 39

Colchester 14 v Warriors 19

8th January 2017 Simon Ballard — No Comments

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.

Woodbridge U21 v Southwold U21s

31st December 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Much confusion about the score. Southwold won but was it 10-29 or 15-32? The U21s gave a hot performance in the misty, chilly night as Southwold turned up mob-handed to support their youngsters. Playing in borrowed kit in the first half the visitors sparked from the start forcing some brave defence from the Warriors. Eventually Woodbridge got on the score sheet and at half time it looked a closer contest. However with their familiar gold and black kit restored at the break Southwold went on to hammer home the advantage, scoring again before a late try by Woodbridge resurgence gave the healthy home crowd some hope. It wasn’t to be though and, from a defending position, The ‘Wold’ pounced again from a training ground set piece to send the ball wide on the left into space with pace for the killer blow.

A pleasant evening where a good turnout (must’ve been 100) enjoyed sporting banter, a drink or two and some tasty curry. Thanks again to Duncan and Southwold Roger for organising it as well as Jerry for reffing, Ken for the bar, Chef Roger and volunteers that served and cleared up. I think the RFU contributed funds so thanks to them too.

Woodbridge Warriors 35 v Beccles 0

18th December 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Beccles started impatiently, no doubt keen to avenge the September home loss, forcing Warrior No8 Jono Cooke to defend, clearing out for a line-out. Woodbridge stayed in the Beccles half of the pitch running off the set piece with forwards Dan Taylor and Ed Banthorp putting in repeated drives rallied by Simon Codd. Another penalty for offside and Jack Johnson slotted three points.

Beccles conceded another penalty to give the Warrior 10, JP Hart, an opportunity for territory which he missed, Beccles full back Stuart Armstrong running the ball back. Some hard rucking saw Woodbridge get the upper hand, Tim Johnson boisterously bashing through and Nick Woodley predatory in the loose. A grubber kick lead to the first scrum where the larger Beccles pack; Tris Holzer, Russell Arnold and Stuart Adams with the tallest man on the pitch, lock Paul Wilson, failed to stop the Warriors attacking. Woodbridge put in a dozen phases of attack but the Beccles defence held, Keith Johnstone, Robert Hall and John Walker notable amongst a team-wide effort which also benefitted from some poor Woodbridge rucking. The visitors had a brief moment of respite and put in a strong maul from a line-out but the break faltered and Woodbridge countered through Hart, Capt Tom Stokes, centre Josh Thomas and Johnson. Play remained in Beccles half as the hosts swung left and right – forwards rutted and swift backs probed the wide channels. Beleaguered Beccles held on, tackle after thumping tackle, as Stokes, Adam Plummer, Aldis Salavejs and Cooke came close. Inexorably a blind side move from a scrum and lightening quick passing saw Simon Ward score and bring the Warrior first half haul to 10 points from virtually 100% territory.

Woodbridge tails stayed up, chasing the kicks and charging down clearances but Beccles used the boot to push the hosts back. Cooke broke from a ruck and looked dangerous but Beccles were defending further up field. Hart chased his own kick, tackled the receiver and set up another attacking breakdown from which Johnson kicked another three points. Five minutes later and a break from Cooke yielded another penalty and Johnson punished with his third three pointer. Beccles challenged the Woodbridge 22 again but suffered repeated penalties that frustrated and put them on the back foot. Woodbridge attacked on the left up to the 5m line and switched quickly to the unlikely right winger, No8 Cooke, who lurched over the line.

Continued forays by a resolute Beccles through the energetic Matt Goode at 10, hard-working scrum half Sam Puxley and left wing Ollie Larkworthy put them into the Woodbridge 22. They came close to scoring when their forwards battered the Woodbridge defence for five minutes. Taff Lloyd put in a bone-shaking tackle midfield and eventually the Warriors cleared. The well-refreshed home crowd sensed the Warrior backs were finding some space when Johnson first made a 30m break before a misdirected quick throw in from Cameron Bonner saw Josh Thomas sprint 40m to score. Moments later a text book move to ship the ball wide saw Thomas score again, converted by Johnson to bring his points haul to 15.

Woodbridge Warriors 35 v Beccles 0

Amazons 34 v Lakenham Hewett 0

12th December 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Match Report by Ian Girling

A week can be a long time in sport, and quick learners can boost a squad enormously in tough times.

Last week, the Amazons fielded three brand new players against a well organised East London side, and went down swinging. This week, at home against Norfolks Lakenham Hewitt, those same raw recruits played a big part in securing a well-deserved league win. In fact, a fourth new player, again a total novice was introduced and didn’t make a bad move. Eager to reverse an opening day loss to Woodbridge, the visitors looked menacing from the outset. Moving the ball quickly, and driving forward relentlessly, the hosts were forced into giving away several penalties. The Amazons defensive lines were tested again and again as play was solely inside their 22 for a good fifteen minutes. Julie Thatcher and Karen Black led the tackle count, while Carmel Roisin had several charges to relieve Lakenham pressure.

Alex Saunders left the field with a hand injury to be replaced by Katie Murphy and gradually the hosts edged their way into the match. A nice move saw winger Sarah Revell gain ground down the right flank, but she was unceremoniously dumped head first into the ground, and was the second player forced to get treatment.

Possession began to swing and it was the hosts that scored first. Murphy charged forward and quick ball from a ruck led to a nice try through the backs that Vicky Watts ended in the corner. A second try followed, as hooker Maggie Kelly went over from close range. Moments later a break from skipper Claire Brickley, with Rhian Claydon in support ended in Murphy diving across the try line, only for the ref to judge the score a double movement. No try. The half ended at 10-0 to Woodbridge, and while a two try lead is not a massive advantage, it did seem by holding out so well in that initial period, the hosts had nullified Lakenhams threat and gained control.

That proved to be the case as the Amazons went from strength to strength, running in four second half tries with no reply. Katarina Sidders, in just her second game, charged through defenders, setting up a try for Brickley.

Victoria Felstein had a storming afternoon, and Murphy enjoyed her best display in an Amazons shirt too, looking for action constantly. Black scored her first ever try when she capped some fine forwards play, and moments later Claydon was denied a score after taking a pass from Roisin after a terrific burst, when the referee blew his whistle and apologised to the visitors for blocking their tackler!

Now enjoying a twenty point lead, new girl Meghan Bignall was introduced at hooker. Rather more tellingly however, Lakenham fullback Emma Pigeon had to leave the field with a broken rib. In the sides earlier contest, the diminutive talisman had single handedly foiled at least five certain scores. Going blind from a scrum, Brickley scored her second through traffic, Stacy Robinson converted. Thoughts moved to a bonus point win and Anna Dewberry grabbed the final try to seal a commanding second half performance at 34-0.

Woodbridge Amazons 34 v Lakenham Hewett 0