WOLD’S MAKESHIFT HEROES JUST EDGE IT IN THRILLING CLOSE ENCOUNTER

SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS 8 – 9 SOUTHWOLD

After the free scoring points fest of the previous week, Wold travelled down the A12 to Essex with a makeshift team due to unavailability of several of their key players, as they made changes in nearly all positions apart from their reliable as ever front row.

Great tries make for great games but this game had none, however it was a rip-roaring battle between two good sides from start to finish.

Both defences came out on top on the day, but the first half was edged by the home side with a try and a penalty against a penalty for Wold and the score at the break was 8 – 3 in favour South Woodham Ferrers.

The two penalties had been regulation affairs, Wold’s for an offside offence by Ferrers which gave Wold the lead when Ben Felton slotted the kick, but then Jonny Walker was pinged for being off his feet as he tried to overturn the ball, and the resulting penalty from in front of the posts evened up the score at 3 – 3.

Ferrer’s try on the half hour started with a lineout on the left in Wold’s 22 and ended with a well worked try out wide on the right, and the conversion glanced the upright as it went just the wrong side of the left hand post

That near miss was to prove pivotal in terms of the final score and hence the points.

After the teams turned round, Wold had the advantage of the slope, and right through the second half Wold had the territorial advantage and pushed hard to get a try on the board but Ferrers, despite constant Wold pressure, kept them out. That pressure lead to two penalties being given away by the home side and the resulting six points from Ben Felton’s trusty boot was enough for Wold to snatch a deserved win for a truly brave and heroic second half performance.

There was still 13 minutes left on the referees watch when Wold took the lead for that vital second time at  8 – 9, but it was a lead they never looked like relinquishing as their defence held strong and their younger legs were quicker to everything around the pitch the longer the game went on.

Phil Pymer, Matt Warren and Zak Loader were outstanding in the new look back row and Cameron Bonner battled and smashed his way forward for every inch of territory he could at scrum half. It was that No 6 to No 9 combined team work along with Felton’s kicking at 10, both territorial as well as the vital penalty points, ignoring his very dodgy drop goal attempt, which carried the day. Walker and Hunt were also tireless in their efforts in the second row.

It was as they say a proper game of rugby played in a great spirit by both teams, and the four point win carried Wold up to second place in the table just behind Norwich. Ferrers had also more than deserved their losing bonus point.

Mention must be made of Phil ( One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest ) Pymer’s blood stained head bandage which was not an attractive look following a gash to his head but he played on regardless in true Terry Butcher style much to his credit and the credit of the first aid team who’s constant running repairs managed vitally to keep it on his head for the duration.

With league games coming up next against Stowmarket and then Diss, both also in the top six, it is going to be a hard run up to Christmas for Wold but if they continue to play with the spirit they showed in this game two wins may not be out of the question.

MOM for Wold: Nathan Hunt with a great debut performance in the second row.

www.southwoldrugby.club

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