Mistley 2nd v Aldeburgh Match Report

Mistley 2nd v Aldeburgh

16th October Mistley

Result: Mistley 12 Aldeburgh 24

Back to Winning Ways

A mild, rainless, Autumn day. A good pitch soft from recent rain providing a perfect surface. An abundance of players, a competitive match and the first win for two years. What could be better?

It didn’t start well. Aldeburgh missed touch from an early penalty. Mistley came straight back, being awarded a penalty themselves. From the subsequent line out, they drove forward with a rolling maul, were awarded another penalty for a high tackle, took a quick tap and plunged over for a try within four minutes. The conversion made it 7-0.

From the restart, Aldeburgh began to assert themselves. Second row, Jarvis Levett, caught the restart kick, driving forward powerfully. He showed that he could have had a big impact on the game but unfortunately had to leave the field with an injury after 15 minutes.

Nevertheless, a few minutes later, a strong period of play by Aldeburgh ended with a good tactical kick by fly half, Ed Robson, being followed up and turned over, giving James Ledger the opportunity to burst through for his third try of the season. Ed converted to bring the scores level.

The rest of the first half was competitive with both teams having opportunities. Aldeburgh’s forwards continued to make inroads, typified by a strong break from back row forward, Jon Hunt. James Ledger came off for a while after a bang on the knee which showed the vital importance of having subs available. Coach, Paddy Allen, made shrewd use of the players available to him throughout the afternoon.

Level scores at half time was a fair reflection but the second half saw Aldeburgh beginning to dominate. Prop, John Taylor, made a break within the 22 and was only hauled down a couple of metres short. Soon afterwards, more forward pressure created an opportunity for Freddie Burgess (playing out of position at centre this week after hooking last) to burst through for an unconverted try. 7-12.

Mistley even tried a kick at goal from the halfway line, which fell well short, but they could not get into it. Scrum half, Jed Gallant, made a good break before Freddie Burgess was involved again, making an outrageous pass out of the back of his hand to free up Ed Robson’s run to the line. Ed converted to take the score to 7-19.

Ed’s tactical kicking continued to help Aldeburgh play at the right end of the pitch, leading to yet another intervention from Freddie whose powerful running took him over for a second try.

Both teams were understandably beginning to tire by the end. Mistley took advantage with a penalty giving them a line out on the Aldeburgh line from where they rumbled over for a try. The missed conversion was the last kick of an enjoyable match.

Aldeburgh were dominant in the scrum throughout but not quite enough to disrupt Mistley’s possession and won most of their line outs, not always tidily. Their tackling was strong, with good defence across the pitch. The half back pairing of Jed Gallant and Ed Robson, gelled well, providing a fulcrum for the team to work around.

Credit is due to Paddy Allen and team captain, Tristan Revell, for their hard work in finding players right up to the day before the match. Although at this stage it continues to be a struggle each week to have a full squad, today’s result shows how important it is and how much difference it makes.

Aldeburgh v Ipswich YM Hawks Match Report

Aldeburgh v Ipswich YM Hawks

23rd October - Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 24 Ipswich YM Hawks 17

Another Strong Win

A lovely day, two full teams playing positive rugby, plenty of supporters and the first home win for two years. A great afternoon on the Queen’s Field continued with good cheer in the clubhouse.

Aldeburgh got off to a fantastic start. Attacking from the kick off, a series of drives and quickly taken penalties led to quick ball at a ruck. Fly half, Ed Robson, floated out a superb miss pass to winger, Keiron Roberts, who, with his first touch in his first match for Aldeburgh, powered over for a try, which Ed then converted.

Aldeburgh continued to dominate with lively passing interchanges among the forwards. Another quick ball to Ed Robson saw him dummy then accelerate to break the tackle, dotting down under the posts. He then converted his own try. 14-0 up after ten minutes.

Credit to Ipswich YMs who then gradually clawed their way back into the match. In their first period of pressure, they gained a penalty in the Aldeburgh 22 then had several forward drives and mauls before getting the ball out to the backs who went over wide out. The conversion was missed.

An Aldeburgh try was ruled out for a foot in touch after a fine run by young winger, Adam Hateley. But Aldeburgh stole the line out, got the ball out to the backs where flanker, Jon Hunt, popped up to execute a lovely side step which took him over for another try. Surprisingly, Ed missed the conversion.

Ipswich YMs suffered some injuries which led to Aldeburgh’s Lee Buckle joining the fray for the first time on their side to avoid a mismatch in numbers. He joined in several times for both teams. A sign of the co-operative way rugby is played at this level to ensure that everyone gets a good game.

Despite their injuries, Ipswich YMs bounced back again to put Aldeburgh under pressure. The defensive tackling had been strong all afternoon but another move by YMs backs suddenly saw them run through. The missed conversion left the score at 19-12, closer than Aldeburgh would have liked after all their pressure. The final act of the first half was a penalty attempt at goal missed by YMs.

The second half was more attritional with both sides having periods of pressure without dominating. Aldeburgh’s set scrum was on top throughout but Ipswich YMs did well in the loose. The first period of pressure from Aldeburgh led to a series of forward drives and penalties until James Ledger burst through for his fourth try of the season in just three games. A starting line up in the centre of James and Freddie Burgess provided strength and power, perhaps without speed and elegance, but it worked.

Ipswich YMs’ forwards got them back into the game with a series of powerful drives ending with them bundling over the line. The conversion hit the post leaving the sides within a score at 24-17. Aldeburgh had definitely been the better side but all could have been lost when YMs’ full back, easily their most talented player, made a superb break from under his posts which finally gave them a four on one situation at half way. A try under the posts looked certain but the support runners overran, the single Aldeburgh defender put in a fine tackle and by the time the ball was recycled, Aldeburgh had scrambled back. They ended the match 5 metres from their own line.

It was promising to see new players joining and making an impact, as well as some old hands putting in a surprise, cameo appearance. Scrum half, Jed Gallant, was man of the match for another fine performance.

Aldeburgh v Ipswich YM Hawks (Friendly) Match Report

Aldeburgh v Ipswich YM Hawks (Friendly)

6th November - Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 12 Ipswich YM Hawks 17

A Competitive Friendly

Both Aldeburgh and Ipswich YM Hawks have had a positive start to their seasons so were frustrated by not having fixtures as a result of other teams within the Division not being able to find enough players. Ipswich YM enjoyed their league visit to Aldeburgh two weeks ago so much that they were happy to return for a friendly. They were also determined to avenge a narrow defeat.

The match was similar to the league game in that the teams were evenly matched and intensely competitive. Ipswich YM did get off to a much better start than last time (when they were 14-0 down within ten minutes.) In fact, they were the stronger side throughout the match, having the edge in the scrums and winning most of the ball in the loose.

Despite their strength, Aldeburgh held out, thanks to strong tackling and, above all, to a well-organised defence. The benefit of the increase in attendance at training could be seen from the disciplined way the team worked together in defence.

There was no shortage of action, with both sides having moments of pressure in the opposing half but we almost reached half time before the first score, an indication of the quality of the defence rather than of any shortage of attacking intent. Even then, the first try relied on a moment of quick thinking and action by the YM scrum half taking a penalty awarded at a ruck and sprinting over before Aldeburgh had chance to regroup.

Going behind after soaking up so much pressure could have been a turning point but within five minutes Aldeburgh had taken the lead. From a scrum the ball was moved out to Freddie Burgess who continued his impressive season by committing his tackler then slipping the ball out to young winger, Adam Hateley, who finished brilliantly. Ed Robson converted from the touchline despite the strong, blustery wind.

As the wind strengthened it became more of a factor in the second half, blowing mostly in Aldeburgh’s favour. It carried full back, Robert Poll’s, clearance kick well into the YM 22 where Hateley followed up to collect the ball, keeping it alive for a move which ended with Matthew Deane galloping through the YM defence to score under the posts. This time the conversion was missed. 12-5 up early in the second half with the wind in Aldeburgh’s favour. Looking good.

Whether it was the constant YM pressure or just one of those days, Aldeburgh managed to lose the game. After Aldeburgh won a line out, the passing in the backs broke down just inside the Aldeburgh half, gifting the ball to YM who linked well to run through and score. With the conversion missed the scores were level.

What turned out to be the final try was another moment of individual excellence by a YM player. Aldeburgh lost a line out on half way messily, the ball was scooped up by a YM player who then ran from half way, breaking through several tackles to score an unconverted try. It was galling to lose in this way after putting in so many telling tackles throughout the afternoon.

Right to the end, Aldeburgh continued to press but could not find a way through. Both teams did themselves proud, providing tremendous entertainment for a vocal crowd of Aldeburgh supporters who had come straight from the VP Lunch. Full marks to Ipswich YM Hawks for turning up and putting in such a whole-hearted performance.

A word of thanks to referee James Cook, former Aldeburgh player, who again officiated with calm authority, gaining the respect of both teams.