Aldeburgh v Clacton 2

2nd March – Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 12 Clacton 14

A frustrating experience – Mark II

Having been found compliant with ECRU regulations in respect of the team it selected the previous week, Clacton brought another strong team to Aldeburgh this week.  While Aldeburgh had a full squad in numbers, it was still patching together some key combinations.

The Clacton pack was big.  It was obvious from the start that they would run hard at the Aldeburgh defence which they did all afternoon.  The key feature of the match was Aldeburgh’s ferocious tackling.  Many of the players had taken this season’s new ruling to heart by tackling low and hard, scything down Clacton attackers time and again. 

The other dominant factor in the game was the number of penalties awarded by the referee.  The spectators felt that they were predominantly awarded in favour of Clacton but the concern was that there was inconsistency which affected the flow of the game.

The Clacton line out worked well, while Aldeburgh’s was mostly ineffective.  Clacton clearly had the ascendancy in the scrum which prevented Aldeburgh from getting much clean ball but, to their credit, the Aldeburgh pack held reasonably firm and were never taken apart, even when short of numbers.

The first quarter was a stalemate, eventually broken by a penalty by fly half Ed Robson from 40 metres out.  We don’t see many penalties taken at this level.  It was a good tactical decision in an evenly matched game.  A few minutes later, he repeated his success from within the 10 metre line. 

After half an hour, the referee issued a warning to both teams about the number of penalties.  The next offence was by Aldeburgh which meant our No 8 received a yellow card.  At the next scrum, Aldeburgh lock Damian Robertson was loudly vocal about the iniquities of Clacton’s approach (with an implication that the referee was condoning them) which immediately resulted in a totally unnecessary yellow card.  Aldeburgh down to 13.  They held on.  Ed missed another long range penalty but slotted one from the 22 before half time.

Early in the second half, he put over another huge kick from the 10 metre line to give Aldeburgh a 12-0 lead.  We had not conceded even when down to 13.  However, Clacton’s size advantage began to pay off.  From a scrum near the Aldeburgh line, a quick move resulted in the first try of the game which was converted.

Aldeburgh looked as though they had extended their lead when scrum half Jed Gallant, who had been under the cosh all afternoon behind a retreating pack, made a scintillating break, leading to our crossing the line only to be brought back for a forward pass.

There had been an edge throughout the game which boiled over into a fight after 15 minutes of the second half.  A player from each side was given a yellow card.  Unfortunately, Aldeburgh’s was Damian so his was turned into a red. 

Clacton then managed a second converted try, despite what those on the touchline saw as a blatant knock on.  For the final quarter, the score remained the same.  The drama came from penalties.  Aldeburgh chose to run a penalty from in front of the posts and so nearly scored a try but it was deemed to have been held up over the line. A late penalty from a difficult position on the touchline was unsurprisingly missed.  Clacton hung on for a win by the narrowest of margins.

From the players’ and coach’s point of view, this must have been an incredibly frustrating game.  For the spectators it was a gripping spectacle, full of the physical confrontation that good rugby provides.  Aldeburgh continues to bring in new players who are blending into the team’s style.  We also had a new volunteer behind the bar.  Every contribution is vital to the success of our small club.

The result leaves Aldeburgh third in the league.  If we win our remaining five matches we will be promoted.  However, we have to play Braintree who are top of the league and beat us at their ground.  The key fixture will be against Halstead away on 16th March.  Depending on other results, it could be the promotion decider.

Next match: Saturday 9th March v Harwich away.

Next home match: Saturday 23rd March v Braintree

Woodbridge 2s v Aldeburgh - 10th December

Woodbridge 10 Aldeburgh 7

Rugby for the sake of it

A fixture hastily arranged when both teams’ league opponents cried off. As it was an away friendly rather than a home league fixture, some players chose to nurse injuries (or relationships) rather than play so it was something of a scratch team with visitors from Colchester and Ipswich YM plus various mates who were roped in.

What emerged was a game of rugby played by a bunch of people who simply wanted a game. It proved that there is no such thing as a friendly when two sides want to win. There was guts and commitment galore.

Sadly, the game began with an injury to a Woodbridge player from the kick off which appeared to be a broken ankle. A high price to pay for your Saturday afternoon’s entertainment. Both sides wish the injured player well.

Overall the game was rather scrappy. Woodbridge looked much bigger than the Aldeburgh players but were unable to string any passes together. Aldeburgh had Freddie Burgess at fly half. Having played hooker, prop, second row and No 8 in recent times, this was a new departure. It has to be said that Freddie is not a fly half but his readiness to put his hand up to take on roles that the team needs is outstanding.

Although Woodbridge managed to get an unconverted try, Aldeburgh, despite the mix of players in their team, maintained the pressure for most of the first half resulting in a try by Lewis Wardell Bird which he nonchalantly followed up by drop kicking the conversion.

Just before half time, James Ledger led the way by turning over a ball at a ruck then driving straight ahead gaining twenty metres. Unfortunately, he took a bang on the head in doing so, causing him to have to retire injured.

As a result, Aldeburgh played the whole of the second half a player short. Their commitment and tackling was magnificent. Woodbridge did throw away many positions by indiscipline and back chat to the referee which resulted in penalties and in ten metre advances. In a league fixture we would have seen a yellow card.

There was only one occasion when Woodbridge managed to get their act together, giving their big No 10 the opportunity to barge his way over.

Coach Paddy Allen was proud of the team which had given its all.

Having taken the points from Mistley’s cancellation, Aldeburgh consolidated its well-deserved third place in the league and has a strong points difference.

Aldeburgh v Mersea II - 17th September

Aldeburgh v Mersea II

Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 19 Mersea 50

O to be in Aldeburgh (or more specifically at the Queen’s Field)… …now that September’s there. A good crowd, a full squad, a well-matched opposition, sunshine and camaraderie and a surprisingly moving minute’s silence for Her late Majesty all contributed to a splendid start to the season. The only thing missing was a win.

From the start, there was strong running from both sides. Well-matched, contested scrums saw pick ups by the Aldeburgh No. 8 and new captain, Freddie Burgess, switches of play by ever-reliable scrum half Jed Gallant and probing kicks by fly half Ed Robson. Ed followed up one of his kicks with a brilliant tackle on the Mersea line, leading to a 5 metre scrum but eventually Mersea cleared their lines.

After ten minutes cut and thrust, we saw the first strike from the Mersea rapier, when Aldeburgh ran out of tacklers and their left wing raced down the touch line to score. An immediate response saw Aldeburgh making a move at the front of a line out ten metres from Mersea’s line. A high tackle gave another penalty from which James Ledger powered over for the first try of the season. The conversion was missed to bring the scores to 5-7.

The rest of the first half was filled with competitive rugby – strong running from the forwards, lively movement from the backs but no real penetration from either side. Perhaps there were signs of early season rustiness in some of the failures to link up to keep continuity.

After 30 minutes, Aldeburgh suffered a couple of injuries. Robert Poll, full back, twisted his knee as he was about to set off on one of his mazy runs. A minute later, James Ledger took a bang on the head which ended his involvement in the match. Aldeburgh continued to be competitive until a minute before half time when Mersea broke from the half way line with a searing run to the line which was converted. Half time score 5 – 14.

A close, competitive first half gave no indication of what was about to come. Within four minutes of the start of the second half, Mersea had scored two blistering tries. The first started in their own 22 with their centre who ran through the entire Aldeburgh team to score in the corner. In no time, the left winger raced down the touchline for another try. Suddenly, Aldeburgh were down by 5 -26.

They surged back by playing to the strengths of their forwards. The bludgeon came out to counter the rapier. A series of forward charges by Aldeburgh led to an outbreak of ‘handbags’ showing just how competitive the game was. Another penalty to Aldeburgh was tapped and run. From a ruck on the line, back row Aonghus Anderson twisted over to touch down. In the blustery wind, Ed Robson had the presence of mind to drop the conversion.

More pressure from Aldeburgh. A fine run down the touchline by winger Ollie Pick nearly resulted in a try but the ball was ripped from him on the line. Aldeburgh were awarded a series of penalties until Freddie Burgess powered over for his first try of the season. The conversion brought the score to 19 – 26. Could this be an omen? The year of the Queen’s birth. Were we about to see a long and glorious reign?

Unfortunately not, as the game went on, the speed of the Mersea backs tore holes in the tiring Aldeburgh defence as they ran in a further four tries to record a final score of 19 – 50.

The whole Aldeburgh team, including subs, put in a tremendous effort. Ed Robson had a splendid game at fly half. However, they would be the first to admit that on the day they were beaten by a better team and, more harshly, they were not fit enough. Despite that, hopefully they all enjoyed a cracking game, a good match tea (courtesy of Tristan Revell, former captain, currently injured) and a social time in the clubhouse.

(Thanks to Paul Walkden and Charlie Burgess for their contributions to this report.)