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Amazons 17 v Wymondham 22 – Report Ian Girling, pics Paul Leech

15th February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Wasps sting Amazons to take victory EADT 16_2_16 (1)The Woodbridge Amazons miserable run in 2016 continued as the emerging form side of the division, the Wymondham Wasps carried off another major scalp. Having beaten league leaders Southwold a fortnight ago, the Norfolk side arrived in Woodbridge full of confidence. The hosts, on the other hand, were still reeling from defeats at Hammersmith and Fulham in the cup last week, and bragging rights after capitulation in the local derby two weeks before.

Things got off to a dreadful start for Woodbridge when the influential number eight Vicky Watts was helped off the field with a suspected broken ankle in the opening stages, and after a quick break, Wymondham fullback Kelsey Harpman scored the games opening try! Nicola Kaciubskyj converted and the travellers were 0-7 ahead. Gradually the hosts recovered and gained a foothold. Solid scrums ensured good quality ball for the backs and skipper Claire Brickley looked sharp.

Despite being camped in the Norfolk sides half for a good twenty minute period, the Amazons were unable to breach a well disciplined Wymondham defence and finally, after losing the feed at a scrum, the Wasps superstar number eight Libby Lockwood ran a hard line through tacklers for try number two. The half ended with the hosts down by 12 and a cause for concern.

In the second half Jody Lewin extended the lead to 17 and it was only then that the Woodbridge side began to react. Back to back tries from 40 metres out at the 55th and 60 minute mark from Centre Anna Dewberry lifted the Amazons gloom, and reduced the arrears to seven. Julie Tyler was then sin binned and Wymondham exploited the number advantage well.  Harpman scored her second of the game as the visitors played with structure and great support running, now earning a 12 point advantage.

The Amazons character, that has lifted them throughout this campaign, once again shone and Chloe Stopard smashed her way over after a hectic period of good phases, converting her own try. Down by just 5, a massive effort to remain second in the league meant another thrilling finale for Woodbridge, but as in the previous weeks defeat, it was not to be on this Sunday. Another stinging defeat to cope with for the Amazons, and no respite as next week the ladies travel to Harlow, with several injuries to patch up along the way.

Match Report: Thurston 17 v Warriors 39

8th February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Thurston 17 v Woodbridge Warriors 39

Saturday 7 February 2016

Hard fought victory for battling Warriors EADT 9_2_16 resizedWoodbridge attacked from the start in blustery conditions winning a penalty for 3 points within three minutes and exploiting Thurston’s mistakes and penalties to maintain pressure. The scrum was fairly evenly contested but the visitors distributed better and worked their centres to greater effect. The Warriors line-out was working well, Alex Brigginshaw rising like salmon to steal and JP Hart kicked long and low to pin the hosts back. Clearance kicks from Thurston’s 10; Ash Allen were run back and some heavy driving from Jono Cooke allowed Sam Jackson to set Sam Hallows up for the Warriors to score. The Woodbridge backs continued to enjoy a lot of space Hart making a strong run down the wing through lacklustre defence to bring play back to Thurston’s 22 and score minutes later. Similarly Thurston were unable to stop several phases of forward play that allowed Dan Taylor to score one for the Woodbridge pack.

Thurston struggled to get clean ball from the breakdown and, when they did, Allen and his centres; George Cracknell and Nathan Offord found Warriors fast up and tackling hard, denying any wide counter attack. Winger Elliot Stubbs had a run once or twice but his opposite number Christian Hoolihan defended well. Woodbridge continued to draw defenders in and then fired the wide ball, a tactic that saw Sam Jackson score from an interception tap back from Jono Cooke.

Thurston then lifted their heads and found some space in the Woodbridge 22 but had no joy as Woodbridge defended well, pushing back to the half and moving the ball through Jackson and Hallows to No 8 Jono Cooke on the wing who scored, making it 0-34 at the break despite a strong closing effort from Thurston.

Woodbridge forwards started hard with Brigginshaw and Captain Tom Stokes rallying the pack. Substitute Simon Codd led the charge to give Hart a chance for a long touch kick from which a penalty yielded a scrum. From a concerted Warrior shove the ball was moved out fast to the wing for Jamie Smith to unselfishly pass to Dan Taylor to score his second try and the Warrior’s sixth.

John Yorke caught the restart kick and led the attack but the penalty count moved towards the visitors as Thurston fought back with renewed vigour. The back row Simon Stutley, Pete Melven and Jack Smith worked hard to win the ball and their centres ran it as the game entered a new phase. Woodbridge’s line speed slowed and the Thurston runners found a bit of passion and space. After finding a great touch Thurston’s substitute forward Rich Pearson opened the scoring to give the home crowd a boost. Allen used the boot more and this, combined with better defence, allowed the hosts to capitalise on Warrior penalties and exploit a yellow card for Pearson to score again before second row Sam Clack scored on the last play of the match having left the comeback too late to change the outcome.

Thurston 17 v Woodbridge Warriors 39

Suffolk Sport – Be Inspired Too programme

3rd February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Suffolk Sport is committed to getting more people in Suffolk playing sport and being active and providing everyone with the opportunity to achieve their sporting goals.

One of our key objectives is to support the development of a high-quality workforce matched to the needs of the County.
Be Inspired Too is a new voluntary internship programme from Suffolk Sport which aims to provide unemployed 18-24 year olds the opportunity to gain invaluable insight and experience in sports development, whilst supporting Suffolk Sports partners to develop sport/physical activity in Suffolk. The target audience for this project would be those unemployed young adults who have completed a sports related qualification either delivered through an FE or HE institution, or National Governing Body of Sport i.e. coaching qualification.
By using the skills and knowledge of Suffolk Sport the Be Inspired Too programme will provide a unique and life changing opportunity to those unemployed young adults wanting to pursue a career in sport development and the many varied roles within it.

The deadline date for applications is 15th February 2016.

Ipswich YM 7 v Woodbridge Warriors 24

1st February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Expectations were high for this local derby – always a tense and unpredictable contest, a good crowd gathered in a crisp, blustery wind as battle commenced.

Both sides used the boot to keep the ball in their opponent’s half, even Warriors hooker Tony Gibson, as the early balance of play favoured the visitors. Warrior flankers Nick Woodley and Olly Gray were much in evidence at the breakdown and helped start a move on the left that saw Jamie Smith score within 5 mins through a startled YM defence.

The hosts came back strongly using their heavy pack to charge up to the Warriors 10m line and unfortunately drawing a number of penalties which turned the attack. Woodbridge re-challenged the YM 22 Jacob Bodkin and JP Hart kicking from hand to pin Ipswich back. Curiously YM possession, and there was a lot of it, didn’t seem to flow. Penalties were conceded, balls were knocked on and rucks were lost. The Warriors capitalised on this Woodley, Gray and Jono Cooke revelling in loose ball and Tim Johnson putting in some useful carries. Eventually the YM forwards got the ball into a central position for their centres, 12 in particular, to gain some ground and winger Carlton Ford was exceptionally difficult for Woodbridge to stop. YM was penalised in an attacking position repeatedly which allowed Hart to clear and attempt a couple of breaks through Christian Hoolihan at right wing. A frustrated YM couldn’t seem to string any phases together against a well-drilled Woodbridge defence that saw all possession as a chance to score. After Ipswich knocked on again Jacob Bodkin ran a great line from a good scrum to score under the posts.

Carton Ford nearly scored from a forward pass during another period of pressure as Ipswich were back in attack but again penalties denied them time to build.

Smelling a win Woodbridge restarted strongly, sustaining an attack in the YM 22 and forcing a dead ball. A helter skelter run by Cooke, Captain Tom Stokes and Dan Taylor ended with a high tackle penalty and another 3 Warrior points. A long pass from Gray found Jamie Smith caught in possession and forced a penalty from which Carlton Ford scored to open the YM account.

The tension increased as both sides realised what might happen, the blustery wind meant that territory kicks often missed touch and triggered counter attacks. YM increased their intensity, Potter and Tui Uru working hard with their second row Ben Hockley and Kieran Rudland to keep some possession and Woodbridge was forced into some hard tackles to stop the rampaging YM backs and conceded penalties in the process. Ipswich put in a sustained challenge in Woodbridge’s 22, passing the ball wide from side to side but the defence held. Once cleared Warrior substitute back Sam Jackson won the ball from loose play and sprinted 40m to score and quieten the home crowd further.

Ipswich YM 7 v Woodbridge Warriors 24

Woodbridge Colts 18 v Ealing 0 31-1-16

1st February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments

Great victory against Ealing Academy team in the drizzle. A few pics from the first half. Tries for Will D and Adrian. Jack J kicked a conversion and 2 penalties.

That takes us into the last 16, the next round is to be played on 21 February, replacing the scheduled friendly with Holt.

Match Report: Braintree U14 0 – Woodbridge U14 12

1st February 2016 Simon Ballard — No Comments
With just a bare 15 available coupled with the heavy conditions underfoot, we would have to be at our best from start to finish if we were going to get anything from this game. Having never beaten Braintree in our many attempts previously, we knew they were a big physical side against whom if you sat back you would be punished.
 
It was all even in the early stages, with Woodbridge cancelling out everything Braintree though at us. We were first to score with a well worked ball eventually ran into the corner by Ethan Haywood following good work from our dominant forwards. With the conversion falling the wrong side of the cross-bar, Woodbridge had to settle for a 5-0 lead.
 
The squelchy conditions had both sides trading handling errors and needless penalties. Braintree tried as they must to use their power players but they couldn’t find any gaps with all 15 Warriors standing up to the challenge. Woodbridge were eventually rewarded for their excellent defensive efforts with a penalty on the half way line. A quick tap and go and the electric Isaac Feavearyear burst through the Braintree defensive line to score ,and set up a simple conversion for Ethan and put Woodbridge in a commanding 12-0 half time lead.
 
The wet conditions made it difficult for either team to really penetrate with ball in hand, and Woodbridge had the superior kicking game when needed. With both teams largely cancelling out each other’s attempts, it was always Woodbridge who were the more comfortable. Woodbridge twice went close with one effort being held up, and was followed by an unfortunate knock-on when grounding. With no further scores it was Woodbridge who claimed their 1st Braintree victory 12-0.
 
The Braintree coach said after the game “Your lads look like they have grown?” to which I replied “Thank you, they have, all of them!”
Jonathan Brooks