Southwold Colts Battle Hard at Stowmarket Rugby Festival

Two wins from five games as the Colts compete against strong opposition in a competitive day of rugby.

Southwold Colts travelled to Stowmarket on Sunday for a festival featuring 18 teams from across the region, with the boys facing a challenging day of rugby against some quality opposition.

The format saw four pool games of just 15 minutes each, followed by a knockout stage. This was always going to present a challenge for the Wold boys, who are normally known for taking a good 20 minutes to wake up and play themselves into a game! With 18 teams in attendance, however, the matches had to be short and sweet to ensure everyone finished before the sun disappeared.

Southwold 12–10 Shelford

First up was a strong Shelford side, considered one of the favourites for the festival, and what a cracking contest it turned out to be!

Both teams went toe-to-toe in an excellent display of competitive rugby, with Southwold coming out on top 12–10 after a thrilling 15 minutes.

It was one of those games where nobody watching would have complained if it had continued for the full 80 minutes. A fantastic start for the Colts and an excellent victory against quality opposition.

Southwold 10–12 Diss

Next up was Diss, who were unfortunately struggling for numbers but certainly weren't lacking in determination or desire to win. To ensure the fixture went ahead, both teams agreed to play 11-a-side.

Perhaps carrying a little too much swagger after beating one of the festival favourites, the Colts came unstuck. Some uncharacteristically slack play allowed Diss to take advantage, and despite Southwold's efforts, they slipped to a disappointing 12–10 defeat.

A timely reminder that no game is won before the first whistle!

Southwold 7–0 Colchester

After a short rest and a much-needed reality check from the coaching team, the boys pressed the reset button and got back down to business.

Facing another strong side in Colchester, the Colts produced a much more disciplined and determined performance. The boys dug deep, worked hard for each other and came away with an excellent 7–0 victory.

Just the response the coaches were looking for!

Southwold 0–7 Ely/Wisbech

The final pool game saw Southwold face a combined Ely and Wisbech side in another fiercely contested encounter.

There was very little between the two teams, with both sides battling hard throughout. Unfortunately for the Colts, it was their opponents who managed to find the breakthrough and take a narrow 7–0 victory.

That left Southwold with two wins and two defeats from their four pool matches.

Knockout Stage – Southwold v Sudbury

Following some calculations and number-crunching from Ross Cowie at Eastern Counties, the Colts were drawn against Sudbury in the knockout stage.

Another strong opponent and another competitive encounter for the boys. Southwold battled hard and, as the game progressed, began to find their rhythm and take control.

Unfortunately, the clock proved to be their biggest opponent. Just as the Colts were starting to get on top, time ran out, and Sudbury took the victory.

A frustrating finish, but another valuable experience for the squad.

Plenty of Positives to Take Away

Two wins and three defeats might not tell the whole story of the day, but there were plenty of positives to take away. The Colts showed they can compete with some very strong sides, and when they switch on from the first whistle, they are more than capable of matching anyone.

The biggest lesson from the day? We can't afford to spend 20 minutes waking up when the games only last 15!

A massive thank you to Ross Cowie from Eastern Counties for organising an excellent day of rugby, and to our hosts Stowmarket for their hospitality and for putting on a fantastic festival.

Well done to all the Colts for their efforts throughout the day, and thanks to the coaches, parents and supporters who made the trip.

Next Up – Wymondham at Home

The Colts return to the Common next Sunday as they welcome Wymondham.

After a competitive day at Stowmarket, the boys will be looking to take the positives forward, build on their performances and, hopefully, hit the ground running from the very first whistle!

Come on you Wold!