Southwold Rugby:
Winning Try from Des Brett

Norwich  14 – 17 Southwold

Southwold Rugby: Wold Stun Norwich In Thriller Snatching Victory With Last Gasp Try 

If there was any doubt that newly promoted Wold were not ready for the competition of London 2 NE,  after this performance that doubt has certainly been nullified as Wold made it two wins from two starts for the season.

Heady times indeed for Wold just to be in the same league as Norwich, let alone beat them on their home turf, but luck played no part in the victory as in the end Wold were deserved winners even though with five minutes left to play Wold had trailed by two points.

The game started with both teams playing good controlled rugby and for the first half an hour they both tried but failed to break each others defence. In the set piece Wold edged the scrums but Norwich were controlling the lineouts and in open play there was no separating them until the Wold backs charged down an attempted clearing Norwich kick on the home sides twenty two. Wold’s backs were quickest to react to the loose ball and gathered it up to spin the ball out to Jacob English on the left wing who stepped and muscled his way over for the opening try in the corner.

With Luke Wades conversion attempt hitting the woodwork from wide Wold had a slim five point advantage which they held on to until half time.

Jacob English

Norwich started more strongly in the second half and for the first ten minutes seemed to be camped in Wold’s twenty two but without reward as Wold’s defence held tight.

Wold then scored their second try from a breakaway down the left flank making some 50 metres with some slick passing and interchanges. When Norwich did stop them it was only momentarily, as Wold kept possession and spun the ball across the pitch at pace for Richard Thickett on the opposite  wing to force his way over just wide of the posts and Luke Wade make no mistake with the extra two points making it 0 – 12 to Wold.

At that point Wold seemed to be in control and had the better of possession for the next ten minutes or so but then came the game changing moment when the evergreen Des Brett at tight head prop was sin binned and Wold lost their advantage in the scrum and were also a man down.

Cemil Duruk

Norwich took full advantage and from their first scrum won good ball in Wold’s twenty two and after two or three fast and effective phases scored their first try just wide of the left hand post and with the conversion good they had reduced Wold’s lead to just five points with fifteen minutes to go with the score board now reading  7 – 12 in favour of the visitors.

Norwich continued to pile on the pressure with their man advantage and with just six minutes to go they scored their second try this time on the right flank when their young  winger jinked inside and stretched out his arm to touch the ball down.




The scores were level and the crowd respectfully silent all knowing how much the conversion may mean. The kick was good and the home crowd were in great voice as the home side took the lead for the first time in the game with only five minutes left on the clock.

Jobe Brooks

Des Bretts ten minute ban had now ended and Wold were now back to full strength at the restart and from that restart they stayed camped in the Norwich half for the next three minutes until they were awarded a penalty. Luke Wade thought about the long kick into the strong wind but went for territory in the corner instead.

Wold won the ball from the lineout and eventually were awarded a penalty five metres out now, with only thirty seconds of the game left and they elected to scrum rather than to kick for touch or goal. Norwich offended under pressure again and another scrum was elected by Wold from the resulting penalty.

The ball was put in and Wold ‘s scrum moved forward to within two metres and then the ball was picked up and the pack made a series of charges as Norwich desperately held them out but it was that man Des Brett who forced his way over for the winning try with time now up.

Ollie Carlstroem

The Luke Wade conversion attempt from the touchline went wide but it didn’t matter as the whole Wold team celebrated a great victory along with all their travelling supporters as the Norwich team and crowd stood in silent disbelief at what had just happened.

It was a great and memorable win for Wold in their first ever competitive fixture against Norwich especially away from home.

MOM  Richard Thickett with a try and two great try saving tackles but a truly great team performance all round. Special mention also for  Will Binder making his 1st XV debut.

Arn the Wold  !!!

All pictures courtesy Linda Cayley

www.southwoldrugby.club


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