Southwold Rugby News: SUFFOLK PLATE FINAL

Southwold U14s v Colchester U14s (h) 13/12/2015

SUFFOLK PLATE FINAL

Southwold welcomed Colchester for the final of the Suffolk Plate on Sunday, which promised to be  a step up from recent matches, but the squad were confident and prepared for a tough game.

Southwold immediately took the game to Colchester and pressed hard for the first period. After seeing them complete fifteen phases of play, their coach enthused  “That’s more than the 1st XV!”  This had taken them right up to the opposition line before Colchester’s defence managed to bundle the attack into touch. Securing possession from the throw, Southwold drove forward through their fly-half and a supporting flanker, before no.8 Toby Garrington took it on and powered over for the first score.

Although conditions were damp, at least the wind had relented for today, which made kicking easier than of late, so the conversion came as no surprise given fly- half Jack’s consistently good kicking this season, 7-0

Southwold were guilty of indiscipline at the restart, conceding a penalty for not releasing the ball just inside their own half. The spectators were surprised to see the Colchester fly-half point to the posts and indicate that he would take a shot at goal from about 48 metres! If that distance was in range this was a warning not to transgress later in the game. On this occasion though, the kick fell short, the ball was fielded, cleared into touch and the gap remained at seven points.

The game settled into a mid-field phase, neither side gaining much advantage and possession switching from one side to the other. That said, it was good rugby from both teams, forwards securing the ball for their backs to take forward. Whilst the loose play was fairly evenly matched amongst the packs, Southwold clearly had the more powerful backs and started to make inroads. Colchester were pushed back into their 22 metre area and only stout defence held Southwold at bay. Both sides were working hard at this point, one to breach the defence of the other, and the pressure reaped rewards just before the break. Good work at the breakdown from the Southwold loose forwards led to a move down the right flank. The right winger held his line on the wide outside, fixing his opposite number and enabling Dylan Harvey, joining the line from full-back, to step off his right foot and cut back inside the cover for a classy try. 12-0

Play restarted and fell back into the tight, to and fro pattern that had characterised much of the game for the rest of the half.  Southwold had exerted a fair degree of control thus far and looked the more likely to score, but it was apparent that any relaxation or complacency on their part would be punished by a strong and well-organised Colchester side. The difference seemed to lie in the two back divisions, Southwold having more pace and power in midfield and on the wing, more control at half-back and more attacking threat from full-back.

The forwards were more evenly matched in the loose, ‘Wold having to work extremely hard to counteract the obvious height and size differential. That said, they were the dominant force in the scrums and won more than their fair share of line-out ball too. The running power of both units was demonstrated early in the second half as the ‘Wold right wing gathered a bouncing ball from a kick in their 22 and set off infield, beating several defenders for pace before setting up a second row forward who was at his shoulder throughout. Between them they advanced play around fifty metres before they were halted and an observer would be hard-pressed to say which is the forward and which is the back. Great rugby!

A team of Colchester’s ability is always going to exert periods of pressure and one such foray led to the Southwold defence holding up the attacker over the line. From the five-yard scrum, the no.8 went over for a try, duly converted, to bring the lead back to five points at 12-7. ‘Wold maintained their composure, to their credit, working hard to push their opponents back into their own half and playing the game in the same manner that had brought them success thus far. After a flowing, driving move up the left wing, which had the crowd scampering out onto the pitch to see the outcome, they were extremely unlucky not to score in the corner as the referee deemed the player he had been held up. They were not to waste this field position, though, Toby Garrington picking up from the base of the scrum and driving through the defence to score his second try. Jack did the honours with the kick to give them a little breathing space at 19-7 and that is how the match ended shortly thereafter!

As their skipper collected the Plate the squad could reflect on a great game, but also a great   collective performance to get to the final and then to win it. Colchester played their part in a hard-fought, tight final, but their coach was magnanimous in his post-match speech and agreed that the better team had prevailed.

www.SouthwoldRugby.Club

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