Southwold Rugby Match reports

Southwold 1st XV take another bonus point victory.

Southwold welcomed West Norfolk to the Common for the first home game of the new league campaign. Preparations had gone well during the week and The ‘Wold were looking to make the most of a home fixture against a side that will be very competitive in the league this year.

‘Wold started brightly, making use of ball and earned useful territory. Following an infringement in the red zone, a quick tap fed to Tom Sutton resulted in the first try of the game. Elliot McDaniel followed with the additional 2 points. The next 15 mins took place mostly between the 22s due to strong defences and competitive breakdowns. A lapse in concentration from ‘wold seemed to last a period of about 10 minutes. In this time West Norfolk took advantage and scored twice in quick succession (only converting one) and kicking a penalty.

The team regrouped under the sticks, identified the areas for focus that were needed to close the half out. A moment of class from James Hall (MoM) where he plucked the ball from the back of a lineout ran through the West Norfolk lineout, trotted past the 9, around the 10 and beat the cover tackle from the 15 to score near the posts! Conversion from Elliot McDaniel took the score to 14-10. West scored a fortunate try from a charge-down, the centre finished the try well, gathering a lucky bounce and sprinting 30 yards to dot down under the posts. The score was 14-15 as the teams entered the break.

The HT chat was calm and purposeful the team needed to dig deep, and play the rugby we have shown we are capable of. Alex Rookyard came off the bench to make an immediate impact, running hard lines and testing the West defence. This initial burst of energy seemed to spark ‘wold to shift up a gear and the next 15mins put the home team back in the ascendancy. Rookyard crossed for a try, just rewards for the sustained possession and patient attack demonstrated by the home team.

Within this 15 minute purple patch Southwold were held up over the line, the resulting 5m attacking scrum was deemed to have turned 90 by the ref and the put-in reversed. Frustrated by the loss of a very good attacking opportunity the ’Wold pack dug deep, and drove West Norfolk back, on their own 5m line, winning the ball against the head and leaving Duncan ‘Scooby’ Hume to paw the ball down over the line.

The final part of the game was largely dominated by the visitors desperate to get something from the long trip. The ‘Wold defence showed real character, all the visitors could muster in the second half were 2 penalties (one of which was the last kick of the game) to take the losing bonus point back to Kings Lynn.

A second and successive bonus point victory for Southwold, leaves them top of EC1 league as they head to Hadleigh next Saturday.

Southwold U15s 27 – 5 Lowestoft & Yarmouth
Tries: ChristianTrash, Tom Collis, Luke Brodie Etheridge and Brannan Petrie-Cooper
A bit of a scrappy and feisty game brings Southwold U15s their second win from the first two matches the season after beating Hadleigh last week. Roll on the Suffolk Sevens next Sunday!