Aldeburgh v Maldon II Match Report

Aldeburgh v Maldon II

11th January   King’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh: 5 Maldon: 49

A Game of Yellows

Depending on your point of view, this match was decided either by the ill-discipline of the Aldeburgh players or by a referee who was keen to demonstrate that he was in control.

After a well-contested first 20 minutes, the game was balanced with a single try to Maldon.  The pattern of the game was set to continue throughout.  Maldon won every line out bar one; Aldeburgh dominated the set scrums; the rucks and mauls were even; but Maldon kept the ball moving more effectively.  The game could have gone either way.  Aldeburgh’s attacking potential was demonstrated early on when James Cook scythed through.

After warning Aldeburgh about giving away too many penalties, the next offender got a yellow card.  Hard to see from the touchline what the problem was.  A minute before he was due to return, a second Aldeburgh player received a yellow for a somewhat clumsy offside challenge, hardly even a tackle.  Harsh decision at this level.

By the time Aldeburgh returned to full strength early in the second half the score was 32-0 and the contest was over.  Maldon’s ability to keep the ball moving through the hands would have been a challenge with a full team but with a man down they always had an extra man to pass to.

To be fair, they scored a further three tries in the second half.  It just wasn’t Aldeburgh’s day.  Ben Atherton broke from the half way line to score under the posts only for play to be brought back for a penalty to Maldon.  (It wasn’t clear why he was not brought back sooner.)  Then Aldeburgh destroyed the Maldon scrum only for the ball to pop out of one of our player’s hands, straight to a Maldon player who whipped his pass away.  Five passes later, they scored under the posts.

A game that was threatening to peter out flared back into life with a few minutes left after an altercation led to a yellow card for each team.  This seemed to fire up Aldeburgh who surged forward from the penalty they were awarded from the incident.  Jon Hall charged through, the forwards supported him with a passion, went down the pitch and scored.  For the last stage of the game, Aldeburgh used their big forwards, principally James Ledger and Tristan Revell, to drive hard into the Maldon pack, gaining metres every time.  It showed again what a close contest this could have been without the cards.

Aldeburgh vs Brightlingsea Match Report

Aldeburgh v Brightlingsea

23rd November   King’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh: 12 Brightlingsea: rather more than 12

This season’s match reports have quickly gained a reputation for taking a positive approach.  Saturday’s match against league leaders Brightlingsea tested that approach. 

But let’s stick with it.  The Aldeburgh scrum was solid.  We won some line out ball (and lost some).  We made many tackles (and missed more).  We scored two tries, the first, at the end of the first half, was touched down by Dan Collett after a kick over the top and the second, early in the second half, by second row Michael Dearing after bursting through.  In his excitement at being over the line without a hand on him, he nearly dropped the ball.  Now that would really have tested the positive approach.

In consolation, Brightlingsea’s performance demonstrated clearly why they deserve to top the league.  Their forwards rucked aggressively, winning many turnovers.  Their backs ran hard, straight and strong with moves that they executed with speed and precision.  Aldeburgh had no answer to their speed and power.

The game had been preceded by an excellent VP lunch.  No consolation for the players but it did mean that Aldeburgh’s tries got the loudest shouts of the day.

The most heartening moment of a difficult afternoon came as the last of the Brightlingsea supporters were about to leave the club house (after a splendid match tea).  One of their older members addressed a tired group of Aldeburgh players saying: “We were where you are two years ago.  Keep at it.  It will come good.”  He went on to say: “We know it can be difficult to get a full side at times like this so when you come to us for the return fixture later in the season, bring as many players as you can.  We will make sure that you get a game.”  We may have lost a match, but we are still part of a great rugby community.

Aldeburgh v Colchester 4s Match Report

Aldeburgh v Colchester 4s

9th November   King’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 15 Colchester 29

We may never know what coach, Paddy Allen, said to the team at half time but by the end we were reaching for the cliché that this had been a “game of two halves”.  What he said at the end was that this was a game that Aldeburgh could have (and should have?) won.

On a beautiful Autumn day, Aldeburgh started well, taking an early lead through a James Cook penalty.  From then on it was hard work.  Colchester totally dominated the set scrums, caused all sorts of problems in the line out and maintained unrelenting pressure.  The tackling was resolute on both sides as was the recycling of the ball in the loose. 

Eventually Aldeburgh ran out of tacklers to let in the first Colchester try which was followed by one from a rolling maul following a line out in the 22.  The fierce defence lead to a warning from the referee about the number of penalties being conceded which in turn lead to a yellow card for Aldeburgh just before half time.  A half time score of 3-10 was a credit to Aldeburgh’s defence but it was hard to see how this could be maintained.

Early in the second half, Aldeburgh gave away a soft try through a missed line out throw giving Colchester’s second row an easy trot to the line.  At 3-17, it was not looking good.  Once restored to a full side, Aldeburgh showed great enterprise, passing the ball along the line under our own posts, kicking long, chasing and gaining a five metre scrum at the other end.  From then on, Colchester could not get out of their 22.  After sustained pressure, James Ledger went on a storming run from 20 metres, breaking through three tackles to score under the posts. 

Aldeburgh’s dominance continued.  After several rucks, a penalty was conceded which Aldeburgh ran, recycled and finally released Freddie Burgess (in an unaccustomed position on the wing) to dive over.  At 15-17 with five minutes to go, it was game on.

But for Aldeburgh, it was not to be.  The Colchester outside centre, who had been a threat all afternoon, finished off a series of moves with a try which was quickly followed by a final try from Colchester’s backs. 

Although a disappointing result, it was a competitive match, great to watch and well fought to the end by both sides.