Southwold overcome Mistley

A warm but blustery day greeted the players from both teams at the weekend. With players either away or injured, this fixture showed the need to have a full squad of players. Southwold started the game with their usual free flowing running rugby. Sam on the right wing was set away after some good forward play from Innes and Ellis, aided by Olly’s timed off load. The Mistley covering defence was effective and Sam was driven out of touch just short of the line. Some good play from Jacob in the back line, soon created space for Micheil who used good pace to arc his run around the defence and score a well deserved try.

The Wold pack were again looking tight in the scrum against a much larger set of forwards, with Jens, Cairns and Hugo working hard in the front row. Olly at flank was disrupting the Mistley ball, allowing Alex to move the game forward. Southwold were trying to run their fluent game, but some handling errors were leaving them frustrated. However it wasn’t long before their second score, when quick ball from Chip to Jake allowed Jake to break the tackles and speed under the posts. Olly converted well to increase the lead. Cairns was throwing in well to the line out, and again won ball against the head in the scrum. Chip was having a fine game at 9, freeing the ball to fly half Jake who in turn allowed the ¾’s to use their pace and skill.

Some fine interplay from the forwards allowed the game to attack the Mistley line. Quick ball again saw Jake find Woody at centre, who executed his dummy to give him the free space to break through and score a very good try. Mistley soon turned their possession into points, when a Mistley player drove through the Southwold line, and despite valiant efforts from Keiran and Sam, he scored a converted try.

Jacob E then took a knock, which led to him leaving the field with Blondie entering the fray. Constant pressure on the Mistley defence saw turn over ball and from this Darius stepped through the covering defence to score another Wold try just before the half time.

Second half saw changes to the Wold team, with Mark coming onto the wing, Tim on at prop, Olly moving to centre and Woody at flank. The first few minutes saw both teams exchanging space and territory on the field, and forward play dominating possession. Mistley were by no means out of this game, and they worked the ball well through their forwards. Good possession allowed them to progress down the pitch. From a good line-out, they secured possession and rumbled forward again and scored another converted try.

This brought the core to 24-12, and Southwold were urged from the touchline to up their pace. Some good strong running from Jens and then Tim helped the team progress into the Mistley half. Jake was quick to find Olly who in turn found Blondie on the wing. He sped down the line to go over the line but it was the wrong line! Jake then left the field injured and a welcome return for Charlie to the team after over a season out injured. He soon found the ball in his hands and made good ground up the pitch. On the right flank, Mark showed some good pace to nearly score his first try, but just at the last moment the covering tackler knocked the ball out from his hands. Unfortunately Mark then had to leave the field with an injury.

Innes the made way for Zak to make his first appearance of the season, and his direct running from flank and hard tackling soon had him back up to game speed.

Blondie then saw his second sprint down the flank, which saw him cross the correct line and touch down for another good team try. Mistley started to use the wind to their favour, with some huge kicks down field. Keiran was always ready to collect the ball from 15, or ensure the ball went into touch and out of harms way. Wold were not finished in their scoring when Darius scored his second after good work from Jens with some strong running, Alex with some good handling of the ball and Darius finishing well in the corner under pressure.

Considering players played out of position, this was a good squad performance. The versatility of some was a credit to themselves. The forwards again played some fine rugby against larger players, and the backs used their pace to ensure the running game was effective.

Iron Man: Olly
MoM: Jake and Alex