Bury St Edmunds 4 v Aldeburgh

4th November – Bury St Edmunds

Result: Bury St Edmunds 0 - Aldeburgh 72

A Magnificent Result

The result puts Aldeburgh at the top of the table on the same number of points as Ipswich 3 but having played one fewer game. Who should be our opponents this coming Saturday after the inaugural VP Lunch in the clubhouse but Ipswich 3. Let's have a good crowd to roar Aldeburgh on to be undisputed league leaders.

There's a long way to go, of course, we shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves, must take one game at a time and focus on the process. It's still good to be top of the league.

See you at the Queen's Field on Saturday.

Aldeburgh v Woodbridge 2

21st October – Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 67 Woodbridge 12

Another dominant win

Three bonus point wins from three matches place Aldeburgh at second place in the league, the only unbeaten team. We have a good squad of players. If we can regularly field a team we will do well. If they come to training as well, we will be awesome.\

There was only 1 minute and 35 seconds on the clock when Charlie Blakeley, No 8, powered over. It was converted by Danny Collett, back in his old fly half position to replace Ed Robson who was sick. The match was played with uncontested scrums from the start because Woodbridge lacked the requisite front row players. It takes some intensity out of the game but played to the running strengths of the Aldeburgh back row.

The match was being played entirely in the Woodbridge half. A 22 drop out by them was taken by full back Stephen Anker who set off on another of his mazy runs, linking with Callum Goodwin in the centre who got close to the line. The initiative was taken up by the forwards with another strong run from Charlie who passed to second row Peter Mann to drive over. Danny again converted.

Woodbridge showed some penetration when a long kick by Danny Collett was run back for half the length of the pitch before the runner was finally tackled. More Aldeburgh pressure led to a penalty near the line which was tapped, driven by the forwards, then moved to Fred Precious, playing his second game at scrum half, who wriggled over. Another conversion took the score to 21-0 with 20 minutes played. The backs got involved when the ball was moved out to Adam Hateley on the wing who linked well with Ollie Pick at outside centre but the final ball was knocked on. After an interception by Danny, Adam nearly scored the try of the day by running half the pitch to score only to be brought all the way back for a prior knock on.

As the half wore on, Woodbridge began to get back in the game, eventually moving the ball from a line out to enable their backs to barge over for a converted try. It didn’t last long. A relieving kick by Woodbridge was again run back by Stephen Anker leading to a ruck penalty which in turn led to the ‘reunion’ try. Damian Robertson, lock, tapped and passed to James Cook, flanker, who scored. Danny kicked the conversion. All three had returned to playing this season after a break.

Another converted try by Peter Mann gave a half time score of 35-7.

Woodbridge started the second half well with several driving runs. Eventually their No 12, perhaps their best player, made a break down the wing to score in the corner. It was not converted. It turned out to be Woodbridge’s final score.

The kick off was knocked on. Charlie Blakeley picked up from the back of the ensuing scrum, ran from the 10 metre line and scored. The rest of the half continued in this vein. Strong runs by the Aldeburgh forwards were mixed up with increasingly slick interchanges by the backs with Callum Goodwin and Stephen Anker making incisive runs. Tries were scored at regular intervals by Fred Precious, Jon Hunt, Elliott Clarke-Gifford, Stephen Anker and Callum Goodwin. The final try was converted by James Cook, taking on the kicking responsibilities for the first time in a while.

A special word of thanks to Paddy Allen who refereed the match in the absence of a society ref. It is not an easy role to take on but Paddy handled it calmly and competently. The game cannot be played without a referee.

Next match: Saturday 28th October Away to Colchester 4. (Aldeburgh’s chance to go to the top of the table as it is the only match being played this weekend.)

Next home match: Saturday 11th November v Ipswich 3. Preceded by VP Lunch.

Aldeburgh v Mistley 2

14th October – Mistley

Result: Harwich 21 - Aldeburgh 33

A convincing bonus point win

From the start, Aldeburgh took the initiative with early attacks which so nearly led to scores. Their speed of movement gave them an advantage but the size and power of Mistley’s pack made this a close encounter until the final stages.

The first try came when Ed Robson switched from open to blind to receive quick ball from a ruck from new scrum half, Fred Precious, then cut back inside to go over for a superb individual try which he then converted. Mistley then had a period of pressure with a series of powerful runs by their big forwards, eventually being held up over the line. As well as their big forwards, they also had a big No 13 who finally broke through to score under the posts. Another conversion.

After about half an hour, loose head prop, Charlie Ginn, playing his first game for the club, had to leave the field injured. Mistley insisted on providing a front row replacement so that scrums could continue to be contested. Although the replacement made a good contribution throughout the rest of the match, the change seemed to disrupt Aldeburgh’s play. A Mistley player ran half the length of the pitch breaking several tackles. Despite being hauled down close to the line, the big No 13 was able to go over for his second try which was again converted.

Having dominated through most of the first half, Aldeburgh found themselves trailing by 14-7. The momentum was changed again by Ed Robson making a break then putting in a huge kick which Mistley scrambled to defend resulting in a 5 metre scrum. From the ruck which followed the scrum, Jon Hunt, in the second row for his first game of the season, burst over down the blind side.

Ed soon made another intervention with a great kick to take advantage of the new 50-22 rule. Aldeburgh won the resulting line out. From the ruck the ball came again to Jon Hunt who this time threw an outrageous dummy to beat the defence. Ed converted again to give Aldeburgh a 21-14 half time lead.

A positive start to the second half saw a powerful run by outside centre Callum Goodwin, having another strong game, followed by excellent interplay between forwards and backs down the blind side which gave Fred Precious the space to run round under the posts to score.

Aldeburgh were dominant for a period. No 8 Chris Outten led the charge but his final pass to the winger went astray. From a quickly recycled ball, Ed Robson cut back in to make a break but was stopped just short of the line. Pressure was not being turned into points. Throughout the match, Aldeburgh’s play was stifled by losing turnover ball. It happened too many times for them to impose themselves as they would have liked.

As a result, there was a long period without a score during which Mistley gradually began to get on top. The big No 13 completed his hat trick with yet another burst through the centre. It could have led to a nervy final quarter but Aldeburgh soon took control. A fine run by centre Ben Watts was stopped two metres short. The Aldeburgh scored the try of the match to open up their lead. A long kick from defence by Mistley was well caught by Adam Hateley (on the pitch in between his injuries) who ran well then spun out a long pass to full back, Stephen Anker. Always dangerous in open play, Stephen beat one man, sprinted through then fired out another long pass to new winger, Sam Mann, who beat the cover defence to score in the corner. (Yes, another Mann. Keep ‘em coming.)

Mistley could not bounce back again. Indeed, Aldeburgh nearly rounded the match off with a further try after Elliot Clarke-Gifford, hooker, ran the ball back straight then linked with Ed who put in a huge kick. The bounce nearly provided Sam Mann with his second try but he was tackled just short in the final play of the game.

Next home match:

Saturday 21st October v Woodbridge 2