Saturday was a landmark moment in our 60-year history, as Southwold RFC proudly hosted its first-ever Men’s and Women’s Double Header — a fantastic showcase of senior rugby and the strength of our club community.

The Women of the Wold kicked off the day with their first league match of the season against a newly-formed and determined North Walsham Valkyries side. After a strong pre-season, the team were keen to show their progress, and they did just that.

Southwold started brightly, with captain Abi (sponsored by Jo Gibbs Beauty Therapy) crashing over for the opening try. While uncontested scrums changed the dynamic, our backs quickly found their rhythm, and Sarah (available to sponsor), on debut, scored a brilliant first try after some heavy forward play. Charlotte (available to sponsor) added another, and Sarah crossed again before the break to put Wold up 20-0 at half time.

The second half opened with Charlotte’s second, and despite some pressure from a fast-finishing North Walsham side, Annabel (sponsored by RCR Services) powered through for Southwold’s fifth. A spirited try from the visitors was quickly answered by Gussie (sponsored by South Quay Enterprises), who chased down a clever kick to score. North Walsham added a second late on, but Southwold showed great resilience to finish strong.

Final score: Southwold Women 35 – North Walsham Valkyries 10

It was a result to be proud of — but more importantly, a game full of lessons and positives. North Walsham were competitive throughout, and the scoreline doesn’t fully reflect how hard they pushed us. We look forward to meeting them again in the return fixture.
The day was made even sweeter as the Men’s 1st XV also claimed a commanding 69-12 victory, rounding off a hugely successful and memorable day for the Club.

Thank you to all our supporters who turned out in numbers, to the volunteers who made the day run so smoothly, and of course to North Walsham RFC for joining us in what we hope is the first of many double-header fixtures. The celebrations carried long into the night, and rightly so — a day that captured everything Southwold RFC stands for: community, respect, resilience, and a shared love of the game.

Forward of the Match: Alex (available to sponsor) – relentless work rate and physical presence across the park.

Back of the Match: Gemma (available to sponsor) – sharp footwork and strong playmaking in the back line.