U15's win against Ipswich Development side

SOUTHWOLD U15’s 35 vs IPSWICH U15’s DEVELOPMENT TEAM 22

Both teams had players missing for county call ups, and both sides agreed to play 3 periods of 20 minutes. This allowed Ipswich to try out some new players and for Southwold to bring in players returning from injury and those that have not played for some weeks.

Wold welcomed back Sam C into the front row, with Cairns at hooker and Hugo on the other prop. Pablo and Innes made up the second row, with Zak, Alex and Jacob B as the back row. Chris at number 9, with Woody at fly half made up the half backs. With Jacob E sick prior to kick off, Darius went to outside centre linking with Connor. Wings were Kieran and Blondie, and Jake at full back. Due to the inexperience of front row players for Ipswich, it was agreed for uncontested scrums.

Ipswich started well and soon used their large forwards to run at the Southwold defence, with Jake putting in a fine tackle to halt their momentum. The centres of Connor and Darius were putting in tackles and ripping ball for turnover possession. Quick hands then saw Jake find room down the right, and as he was tackled he off loaded to Kieran who beat his tackler to score. Chris continued his good form with the boot as he slotted over the conversion. From the kick off there was good possession and ground made by both teams. Woody used quick ball from Chris to find Pablo running on the inside shoulder. Supported well by Jacob B and Zak, the forwards gained more metres. Darius made a break down the left only to be well tackled by the Ipswich defence. But Wold kept the move going as phase upon phase saw them push towards the Ipswich 22. Some lovely off loads in close quarters by Sam, Alex and Innes then allowed the ball to find Blondie who out paced the Ipswich wing to score a well worked try. Chris again converted to see the lead increase to 14-0. Kieran then had to leave the field injured, with Jacob E entering the game (but not looking too well!). The first period of play ebbed and flowed with both teams, but some lovely tackles from Zak, Connor and Pablo ensured Wold finished this period with their noses in front.

As agreed both teams made changes at the first interval. Tim, Michiel, and Jens came on but with Jacob E looking no better it was Alex who slotted in to centre with Darius onto the more accustomed wing role. Connor went to fly half with Woody as the other centre. The second period saw Ipswich take the momentum of the game by the scruff of the neck. They scored a fine try when their flying full back was allowed to penetrate the Wold defence with hardly a finger, let alone a tackle laid upon him. The conversion attempt was unlucky as it just sailed wide. The Sharks came back at Ipswich, but some sloppy passing and loose handling meant moves broke down too often. Ipswich were then rewarded for their good work as the full back collected a poor kick and again used superb pace to out run all of the covering defenders, and score his second unconverted try. Wold nearly nicked a third try towards the end of the period as Woody found Jake charging through. His off load as he was heavily tackled found Blondie, but a knock on followed and the whistle was blown to end the second period.

More changes ensured as Alex reverted back to number 8 (I’m sure he enjoyed the centre role!), but Zak taking his place in the centres. Southwold upped their efforts in this last period with some fine runs from the forwards. Innes looked to off load well, with Jacob B in support. Michiel was always at the fringes of the breakdown and Alex was quick to take penalties and run the ball. A lovely move down the right flank saw Wold into the Ipswich 22, and as Chris moved the ball to the left it was good clean hands from Connor, Woody and Zak that allowed Jake to throw the biggest dummy ever as 5 Ipswich players bought it (along with Richie on the side lines) and allowed him to score another converted try. Still Ipswich came back at Southwold, and they scored their third try quickly after the re-start. Jake then had to leave the field after taking a heavy knock, meaning normal second rower Pablo having to play at full back. Pablo was not to show wanting, as he put in tackle after tackle on the large Ipswich forward. Ipswich however then took the lead as they scored a well worked try and was converted finely by the Ipswich player. But Southwold were not to be outdone, as they started to use their pace out wide. Good stolen ball from Alex meant the backs could attack through some fine passing. Pablo entered the line at pace to take the ball from Zak and he found Darius out wide. Darius then outpaced 3 covering players before side stepping the full back allowing him a clean run under the posts, duly converted by Chris. The final score came again down the left as Darius beat 2 players and as he was tackled he found Connor on his shoulder. A lovely off load saw Connor take the ball and step through the tackles to score a fine backs try, with Chris’s conversion attempt sailing over for a perfect 5 out of 5 for him today as the final whistle was blown.

All in all, the lads showed some fine spirit today. Players were asked and encouraged to play out of position and all of them stepped up to the mark. A few injuries picked up along the way and some getting some game time following injury lay offs. Seemed to go to sleep in the middle period, but rallied well at the end to use the pace of the backs to ensure a win was secured against a very well drilled determined Ipswich squad.