Southwold 2nd XV v Holt 3rds – 2nd October 2010
League match
Southwold 2nd XV (76 – 5) Holt 3rd XV

After a number of warm up games and having run both Diss and Lowestoft and Yarmouth close in friendlies the first League game in Merit 2 was eagerly anticipated. Yet another new line up of players meant that it was a nervous wait to see if Southwold turned up and played their game. However 11 tries nine of which were under the posts… and 9 conversions told a story.

Having had a stiff talk before kick off from skipper Rob.. Southwold 2nds got into the game with gusto.. Holt looked a strong side with a good pack… however Southwold got off to a cracking start with some very commiited hard tackling… it seemed like total commitment from the forwards.. with Rooney playing eight the game was taken to Holt with some aggressive runs.. hand offs putting Holt players firmly on their backsides. The man mountain Levi gave Southwold scrum the platform to compete against the more experienced Holt scrum… Southwold Scrum consisting of many of last years under 17’s.

Clearly the aggression and hard tackling from Southwold shocked Holt.. and spaces opened up.. and Will at scrum half at last had some clean ball.. giving Alex Manning at Fly Half some clear space to half step his way through the Holt defence to put in 3 tries under the posts… which he then converted himself. The first 20 minutes of the game the Southwold defence gave no space for the Holt backs and constantly under pressure they spilled ball and then got turned over by the energy and rapid attacking play of Southwold. The Holt full back having a miserable game as he was harried and closed down by the fast wings Alexis Wolfers and Tom Strachan.

Holt tried to dominate at the pack and Southwold scrum held their own. After the platform of three tries to none the game opened up as Southwold now turned the screw. Several runs by the Southwold backs got closed down.. however some clever interaction and off the ball running… loops and the Wednesday training sessions started to pay off. As the backs got into the game their quick thinking rapid recycling and playing the game wide started to over run Holt both forwards and backs were now playing a running game… ball spinning from forwards to backs and by half time Southwold were 42-0 up. This was total commitment rugby and the superior fitness of Southwold started to exhaust Holt. Despite this Holt did not lose spirit and stuck to the task.. and several times they camped on the Southwold line and 22.. but the Southwold defence held firm with Darren Fisher playing the game of his life putting his body on the line with several try saving tackles. By this time the replacements for Southwold came on!..

Southwold again upped the pace and the replacements fired by the first half performance upped the aggressive display and fired withering tackles and runs absorbing what energy Holt may have had to spare. The bulldozer Levi from a penalty on the 22 took the ball on and crashed through several Holt players to put the ball down for try number 8. However Holt were not finished and salvaged a try from some good open play and a pack move from a penalty on the Southwold 22.

This seemed to refire Southwold up again and now they turned the screw… the backs who had threatened to overrun Holt now played the game training style… from inside centre to outside centre to wing to outside centre the ball jinxed around the Holt defence leaving them in tatters more tries came. Darren Fisher having played the first half in the pack moved out to the wing!… however all this did was stop Holt building any form of attacking platform. It was now all Southwold and Holt were now trying to prevent a cricket score. With the game well and truly won Southwold kept the open game going and the superior backs tormented the Holt defence.

To conclude the Southwold performance was a true team performance tries coming from several players and those that didnt get tries playing the team first principle a true team defence with the line holding then turning into fast multi phase attacking rugby. Top marks to the replacement players who truly showed their worth and enabled Southwold to keep the throttle hard on. The score may show a landslide this was no insult to Holt who kept trying to play their game but Southwold had other ideas and kept attacking all over the pitch nullifying Holt. Holt may have felt they had with their larger more expereinced forwards but they were neutralised by a commited forward desplay by Wold. A true 10 out of 10 performance by forwards and backs certainly a game to relish and give confidence going into next weeks game against Thetford!

Player of the match Darren Fisher.

Southwold 12 – 8 Harwich & Dovercourt
 
The good, the bad and the ugly!
Dogged determination wins the day.



Most importantly, Southwold 1st XV came away from Harwich and Dovercourt with the win – our number 1 objective!


However, and to coin an old cliché, the game definitely had ‘two halves!’

The first half can be summarily described as ‘disjointed.’ Within minutes of Southwold kicking off to the home team, Harwich took advantage of an uncharacteristically lethargic looking Southwold and scored in the left corner after some very poor tackling and a lack of urgency from almost everyone on the pitch. The early and unfortunate loss of Currie through injury, who got turned over within the 22, did not help the visiting team settle into their rhythm.

This sudden breach of the Southwold line seemed – albeit briefly and sporadically – to jolt everyone awake from their sleepy start. Southwold appeared to have no real game plan, went into the tackle half-heatedly and showed no real ‘zest’ for the game. Only through some decent lineout ball, and some good touchline kicks did the visitors get to the opposition 22. Some good forward play and ball recycling and persistent infringement from the home team at the breakdown led to 4 penalty kicks, 3 of which were slotted by D Hume. Half time score: Southwold 9, Harwich 5.

The second half saw a different Southwold take to the pitch. Everyone from 1-18 upped-the-anti and started to play with their eyes open and heads up. Powerful scrummaging, and good hooking by J Taylor saw Southwold routinely winning ball against the head, pushing the home team forwards off the ball, and wheeling the scrum at will. Good interplay between backs and forwards, solid tackling and a cohesive style of attacking rugby saw Southwold camp in their opponents half for almost the entire second 40 minutes.

Sin bins for Harwich’s 7 and 8 for constant infringement at the breakdown trying to slow down the fast pace of the game ultimately told when D Hume slotted his 4th penalty of the game. Further injuries within the Southwold team saw them play the final quarter with just 14 men, as all substitutes had been used. Interestingly, this period of play, with reduced numbers, saw some of the best rugby of the game. Playing as if their backs were against the wall, every player upped their own individual game resulting in a far more comprehensive – and aggressive – team performance. After spending so much time within their opponents 22, and with so much possession Southwold were disappointed not to have scored more points. Ultimately though, the extra Harwich defender told, snuffing out any flicker of hope of a try and further points.

The final 10 minutes of the game demonstrated just what kind of game Southwold can play; Dogged defence, an ability to ‘squeeze’ the opposition at will, good attacking lines and some great lineouts and scrums….also some ruthless rucking, clearing out players leaving quick ball for the half backs to play with!

Once again though, Southwold made hard work of a game that could have yielded far more points. Concentration on starting the game with as much as a ‘bang’ as they usually finish, more aggression in the contact zone and a greater awareness of space at close quarters will definitely see the Southwold 1st XV earn more points and wins this season. Whilst the skill is there, intrinsically in every player, the fitness too (well, in most!), mentally however, more works needs to be done to ensure that everyone has their game head on not just at the whistle, but an hour before at the start of the pre-match warm up.

Southwold have the potential to literally blow teams away in the first 20 minutes. The start we always aim for, but unfortunately only deliver once in a while will only materialise with a steely mental attitude, an eagerness to get stuck in from the off and a sharpening of focus / aggression in the contact zone.

Man of the match: Stuart Popplewell

Southwold U9’s
Beat North Walsham 6-1 and Norwich 6-0

Walsham thankfully leant us two players for each game as I am 2 short. Boys were outstanding for their first contact outing – tries and tackles aplenty by Charlie, Rene, Jade, Dylan, Jake, Will & Freddie – great team effort we just need a couple more players to join this potentially outstanding side.
 
Day Harvey

Southwold Rugby Club
 

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