Ipswich 3 v Aldeburgh

17th February – Ipswich

Result: Ipswich 0 Aldeburgh 114

A totally one-sided affair

Members of the Ipswich committee described their 3rd XV as a ‘social’ team. Before the kick off, they appeared to have more than the requisite number of props on the pitch. On the other hand, Aldeburgh are now able to field a squad of capable, highly competitive players. When the social met the competitive, there was no doubt about the result from the kick off.

Hooker Elliott Clarke-Gifford collected the kick well, charged at the opposition, linked with centres Ben Watts and Callum Goodwin who was dragged down just short of the line.

Aldeburgh gave away a couple of penalties, a continuing problem through the first half, before Clarke-Gifford picked up from a turned over ruck to start a mesmerising series of passes down the blind side, bringing the winger, Fred Precious, into play before new flanker, David Rix, touched down with his second touch in an Aldeburgh shirt. He is a useful acquisition.

After only six minutes, the pattern of the game became clear when Toby Mann, playing at No 8 this week, picked up from the base of a scrum on the 22 and simply ran straight through the Ipswich defence to score under the posts. Ed Robson kicked the first of twelve conversions.

The combination of powerful running from the forwards and devastating speed and passing in the backs tore Ipswich apart from beginning to the early end. Ipswich had a big pack but the set scrums were even – apart from the one which Ipswich won only to kick the ball back through to the Aldeburgh side where Toby picked up and scored another directly from the scrum. The line outs were a bit messy with Aldeburgh taking plenty of ball.

The third try was scored by Fred Precious having been put through by a lovely pass from full back Ramsey Bourke who himself got the seventh try when he outpaced the cover defence after a series of forward drives.

Ipswich could not deal with the speed of Aldeburgh’s defence so that when they got the ball but dropped it in the backs, Aldeburgh retrieved it, recycled it a couple of times and put Callum Goodwin over for the first of his three tries.

On 23 minutes, Toby Mann ran from the half way line straight through the middle of the Ipswich defence to score. It was 31-0. Aldeburgh appeared to be scoring at will. Ipswich heads were already dropping. Before the end of the half, Elliot Clarke-Gifford emulated Toby from even further away from the Ipswich try line but with the same result.

The backs were fully involved. A couple of long passes gave space to winger Adam Hateley to cross the line. After another smooth back move, the ball was recycled to the second row who passed to each other to create yet another try. 57-0 at half time.

The second half carried on in the same vein with tries by both centres. Adam Hateley made a tremendous run having fielded a deep kick. From the ruck, Peter Mann, prop, made a break, his brother Toby ran an excellent line to take the pass and break right through over the Ipswich line where he paused to pass the ball back to Peter to score. Sweet.

Peter got another try at the end of some excellent forward interpassing. The centres each scored again as did the other member of the second row, Dean Wilkins. The depths were reached by Ipswich when their fly half dropped a pass and stood there while Aldeburgh players picked it up, playing to the whistle, and eventually Fred Precious (playing at scrum half in the second period) danced his way around the defence to score.

Aldeburgh were keen to build up their points in case points difference was a deciding factor at the end of the season but all agreed to end the uneven contest after 30 minutes of the second half.

The result leaves Aldeburgh second in the table with three games in hand on Braintree 2. Halstead Templars are third. They are the teams who were relegated last season. We have to play both before the end of the season in what could be crucial matches.

Aldeburgh v Colchester 4

10th February – Queen’s Field

Result: Aldeburgh 64 Colchester 0

New players, similar dominant performance

Fielding several new players, Aldeburgh maintained their flowing style of rugby to record another big win in front of a large crowd of VPs, many of whom had just enjoyed a splendid lunch in the clubhouse. 

With many members of the squad unavailable each week for one reason or another, it has been a feature of the season that the club has continued to attract new players.  A core of regulars provide the stable base.  Regular props Peter Mann and Matt Elias anchored the scrum which was solid throughout the match.  The back line revolves around Ed Robson who showed his vision in the first couple of minutes with a long pass to create space resulting in new skipper Ben Watts scoring the first of his four tries.

Playing at centre, Ben scored his second after ten minutes, finishing off a good move in the backs.  His powerful running was a threat throughout the match which Colchester struggled to contain. 

The third try a few minutes later was driven in by the forwards with Matt Elias the scorer.  The remainder of the first half saw Aldeburgh increasingly in charge through their ability to move the ball swiftly, combined with powerful runs by both forwards and backs.  The fourth try typified this with a superb move in the backs linking to No 8 Charlie Blakeley who gave the final pass to Ben.  Charlie made several powerful runs during the game as did new hooker, Aaron Tuck, who made his presence felt in the loose.

On 28 minutes, the ball was again moved rapidly down the back line, brought back in then out again to create the overlap for new full back Ramsey Bourke to go over.  There was time for another sparkling back move to put Ben through for his fourth try of the half with enough space to run round under the posts before dotting down. 

38-0 at half time suggested that it could be a mammoth score but Colchester continued to resist stoutly to the final whistle, never letting the game get completely away from them.  Special mention must be made of Colchester’s prop who played the full match at the age of 76 (yes, that’s right, he is seventy six years old).  What an inspiration.

It took ten minutes of the second half before Aldeburgh could get another score.  From a quick penalty, Toby Mann, showing his versatility by playing at centre this week rather than his recent back row position, powered over.  Almost immediately, another stunning move in the backs saw Ben link with Ed Robson who put flanker Alex Cox in the clear with time for an extravagant swan dive. 

He got back to his feet all smiles but was smiling less broadly a few minutes later when Colchester took a quick penalty and Alex was unable to resist the urge to tackle the penalty taker before he had taken a couple of strides.  His yellow card was somewhat harsh but undoubtedly fair.  Despite being a man down, Aldeburgh got the next try.  Ed Robson began it by hacking on a loose ball, chasing 30 metres to tackle the full back who spilled the ball.  A covering player managed to get to the ball but somehow spilled it backwards over the line where Toby Mann dived to get his hand on the ball first. 

Colchester managed a period of pressure without seriously threatening to score but they did pin Aldeburgh back for large parts of the final quarter.  Nevertheless, the final score of the game was another scintillating Aldeburgh try with full back Ramsey Bourke making a superb run before linking with Toby Mann who gave Adam Hateley the chance to show his speed and strength. With Ed Robson contributing seven conversions, the score at the final whistle was 64-0.

Following the match the players enjoyed another of Paddy and Freddie’s delicious match teas and the chance to watch England beat Wales on the big screen.  Another splendid day at Aldeburgh Rugby Club.

Woodbridge 2 v Aldeburgh

27th January – Woodbridge

Result:

Woodbridge 27 Aldeburgh 38

End to end contest in the sunshine

Before getting into the match report, let me pass on the appreciation of the Coach and players for the travelling support they enjoyed.  I reckon there were more supporters for Aldeburgh than for Woodbridge which made for a great atmosphere.  The watching VPs were treated to a cracking game of rugby on a perfect afternoon for watching, followed by an enjoyable session in the bar.

Although Aldeburgh fielded a strong team, only 13 of the starting XV were ours.  Sadly, captain Freddie Burgess had to accept in the warm up that is was too soon to return from his achilles injury.  One player departed after 3 minutes having realised that nine years since his last match was too long a gap.  Adam Hateley left at half time to catch a train to his weekend away which he had delayed in order to play at least half a match.  On the other hand, Peter Mann got away from his farming duties to get on the pitch before the end of the first half.  It wouldn’t happen like this in the Premiership.

Woodbridge had plenty of players available whom they shared in the spirit of the RFU’s ‘Game On’ protocol so the whole game was played with 15 a side and contested scrums.

It was clear from the start that this match was not going to be a repeat of the home fixture when Aldeburgh totally dominated the whole game.  We did get the first score when a passage of adept passing opened a gap for fly half Ed Robson to get over the line before converting his own try.  But Woodbridge came straight back.  They had some big, powerful runners who were a handful all afternoon.  Their first try came directly from a strong run; their second from a burst from his own half by the big centre who then linked slickly with the backs outside him.  The second try was converted.

Replying in like fashion, Aldeburgh began to bring our strong running full back, Ben Watts, into the game.  From a line out, which Aldeburgh dominated throughout with the jumping of Toby Mann, the ball came to Ben who made ground powerfully.  After it was recycled, he was able to make the break to score.  Ed again converted.

The final score of the first half went to Woodbridge through sheer force of bodies piling in to score a somewhat messy try.  The missed conversion meant that they only had a three point lead at half time despite being three tries to two up.

The second half continued in the same vein with the teams swapping tries like a pair of prize fighters exchanging blows.  Aldeburgh applied early pressure which generated a series of penalties in the Woodbridge 22 from which prop Matt Elias finally powered over.  Ed again converted.

It looked as though Aldeburgh were getting the upper hand.  A series of drives and good linking play by the forwards got the ball to Ed with two men on the overlap but the ball went to ground.  Nevertheless, the pressure continued leading to a tap penalty from which Toby Mann, No 8, barged over.  Although the conversion was missed it opened up a lead of 26-17. 

In the final quarter, the Woodbridge backs started to play fluently.  Previously, they had relied on individual strength and power without seeming able to co-ordinate.  Perhaps I missed a substitution but they put together flowing moves leading to two tries.  They were looking good.

In between these tries, Aldeburgh snatched a fortuitous but well-taken opportunist try through winger Fred Precious.  When a Woodbridge player dropped the ball, Fred hacked on from his own half, picked the ball up and raced away to score.

Going into the last ten minutes, there were only two conversions between the teams.  It could have been anybody’s match.  Woodbridge were threatening, Aldeburgh reduced to scrambling, gutsy defence.  A clearing kick took us down the pitch.  We stole another line out ball.  From a series of rucks, scrum half Jed Gallant picked out hard running forwards who recycled quickly.  Two or three such drives gained ground and sucked in the Woodbridge pack.  Jed then moved the ball out to Ed Robson who made the decisive break and converted his own try.  There was no time for Woodbridge to respond.

Every player gave their all in a spirited performance.  A particular shout out to former chairman Lee Barber who completed the full 80 minutes in the second row including some sparkling passing late in the game. 

Next Match: Saturday 3rd February at home to Bury St Edmunds 4.  Kick off 2pm