Southwold -V- North Walsham Vikings

Southwold welcomed North Walsham U10 Vikings to the Common on Remembrance Sunday in a day that looked like wetsuits would be in order, but turned out sunny and perfect for rugby.

With Remembrance and reflection in order, Wold & Walsham coaches joined together on the pitch to brief the players on the significance of the day and how the rugby was to be played.

The teams then mixed up Ba-Ba style to give numbers as necessary, with James Rowland and Archie Camp joining the Vikings. The first game was a 10 minute each way affair and was a wonderfully balanced game of rugby, with tries, good play and rugby core values to the fore. Great running on both sides resulted in a fair and just contest with all players enjoying what was a relaxed affair of rugby.

Young Wold & their Viking opposition understood the significance of the Armistice Centenary this year following their earlier briefing. They joined together as part of a two minute silence at the clubhouse at 11.00am. Seb Anthony led the club respects and the entire mini section, their siblings & parents observed the event as we as a club would expect, in quiet, respectful & thankful contemplation.

Following this, a re-warm up took place & players re-focussed on the game.

A full game was in order and both sets of players were clearly up for it. Archie Camp and James Rowland joined the Vikings to make up the numbers.

Southwold won the toss and took the kick off. From this initial release play, Ellis Philips and Dillon Burges rucked and recycled to release Louis Davey, who jinked left and right to score a fine try in the corner. This was then repeated, but this time Will Dyson and Warren Terry joined to provided the power in the maul to release Jacob Bayford to score a fine try. This time, the Vikings restarted and ran hard at Wold, with James Rowland showing his characteristic poise in possession to release a Walsham flyer on the win to touch down a try. Jacob Bayford made every effort to fell the Viking, but he just escaped his grasp. Vikings really are a force to be admired with three or four players really strong and able to run with the ball in hand. They did struggle to recycle the ball. The Viking team scored a try after Archie Camp cleared out a maul and set up what was to be a mouth watering encounter. From the restart, the run of Muir released Dyson who simply ran hard and barged his way over for the first of four Southwold tries. Tries from Burgess, Dean, Bayford & Jake Young exerted a vice like grip on the game. Ellis Philips also added one more with strong play that was simply unstoppable Wold power. At this stage, Southwold hard men Charlie Dean and Will Dyson joined the Vikings. From the restart, a ba-ba Viking ran the length of the field to score for the Vikings. This gave the uplift Vikings needed. The support play was now established and Vikings began to recycle possession, guided by Dean & Dyson. Three Viking tries ensued and the game was wide open.

Tries, possession, smiles and good tackles continued throughout what was a hard, fair and enjoyable U10 encounter.

It came down to Grainger Muir to settle the affair, who after a mazy jinking run, supported by Jacob Bayford scored a fine try to settle the affair.

In the clubhouse afterwards, over hot dogs, it was announced by the coaches that following a real performance of running and honest open play, James Rowland was made vice captain after a great effort.