A festival to end the season
In the same way as it was the week before, also at Colchester, the vital thing for Aldeburgh to do was to play the match so as to avoid a five point penalty for cancelling. Once they were able to take the field, they knew that they would preserve their current position as their finishing position in the table. Short of players again, it helped that someone who knew the Manns, that excellent source of ‘visiting mates’, was having a party. They told them to bring their boots. They do know some very good rugby players.
Colchester 5 is a tight knit group who do not fill up their numbers from senior teams so they were also short of players. The match was played thirteen a side with uncontested scrums because Aldeburgh did not have a full front row. As previously in this encounter, the contest was between the strong, heavy, somewhat slow Colchester pack and the speedy, young Aldeburgh backs. The scoreline shows what happened.
Because little was riding on the outcome of the last match of the season, the coaching instructions were to enjoy the game. The Aldeburgh team did just that. It was probably not as much fun for Colchester.
It would be tedious to relay the litany of tries. The highlights were a hat trick for Adam Hateley to cap his fine season, a couple for Elliott Clarke-Gifford who has made an impact on his return to rugby this year and a first try for Jono Overbury who has often been a sub but has kept turning up. Good to see him get a reward.
After a tremendous season, scoring tries, kicking goals, marshalling the attack and being resolute in defence, it seemed harsh that Dick of the Day in the last match was awarded to Ed Robson for a restart which not only failed to travel ten metres forward but actually went behind him. As he was driving, he nominated Ben Watts to drink his awful pint. Ben had got over the try line for his first try for Aldeburgh before dropping the ball. Ed and Ben both went on to score tries later in the game. The visiting mates went over for six tries between them. Toby Mann got one as did the Club Chairman for his first of the season. To add to the enjoyment, the try scorers were taking their own conversions. Lee successfully slotted his.
The final tally was 16 tries and 8 conversions. Credit to Colchester that they scored a try during the second half by when they must have just wanted to final whistle to sound.