Sep 10 - M2 Broadland 2 (H)

W 56 - 0  

(photos & report)

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Broadland arrived with a full team and reserves heralding the start of the rugby season for the 3’s at Tuttles Lane. Both encounters last season verses Broadland where hard fought and the physical size of the team that they brought indicated that Wymondham would have to knock off the ring rust accrued through the summer quickly if they were to take the win.

Taking the slight camber and the wind behind them in the first half Wymondham used the elements well to ensure Broadland would be penned back in their own half constantly. With the battle in the forward fairly even at set pieces it was Wym’s ability to force turn over in the loose and make more yards in the backs with ball in hand that tipped the scales to the homesides advantage. Wym’s opening score came off the back of a scrum 10 yards from the line, Pape at 8 picked blind and unloaded before contact to Gus at 9 who drew the winger and slipped the pass to Doc who was coming at full tilt and was unstoppable as he dove into the corner for the score, conversion missed

A well fielded kick off by Chris Parker and quick hands saw Wym back on the attack again working phases with a crashing run from Midgley proving his shoulder was in good nick for the season forced  Broadland to kill the ball to delay quick release. In front of the posts Wym took the 3 points on offer, kicking into an 8-0 lead

Still using the advantage of the elements Wym continued to put boot to ball when deep in own half and turned the screw on Broadland whipping out the quick & controlled ball the forwards were recycling to the ¾’s who were enjoying the tempo of the game. As the half came to a close Broadland’s stout defense creaked as Rupert feed Stibbsy a short ball and he ran through on the inside shoulder of his opposite number, despite the attention of Broadlands scramble defense Stibbsy powered through and placed the ball under the posts for an easy 7, taking Wym to a half time lead of 15-0

Thanks to Marty’s work through the week on the phone Wym had the luxury of depth on the bench and with the hard ground causing a couple of niggles to players and the heat draining energy from the legs it was put to full use.

The second half started in much the same vein as the first, the forwards commitment to keep it simpleand recycle clean ball (not as easy as it sounds as shown if you caught the England performance Saturday morning) to release the backs who continued to make good ground with every carry. This relentless tempo was a test of Broadland’s summer fitness training and eventually the floodgates opened and Wym crossed the line several occasions

Morfoot opened his 3rd team account this season following rolling mauls off the well functioning 5 man line out. The backs were crying for the ball and as Broadland’s fringe defense drifted out to add extra cover in the centres the second rower saw a Morfoot sized gap and crashed over grounding the ball despite a last ditch effort to hold him up. Conversion slotted

Stibbsy scored his second try of the afternoon is a replica of his first half effort, taking the ball short and running through the inside shoulder of his man to go under the posts again. Conversion slotted

Broadland tried to use the wind behind them but found Ross Crook at full back in fine form, launching counter attacks at pace, following an interchange of passes with the other backs he broke through and  touched down near the posts. Conversion slotted

Never a side to give up Broadland dug deep for a period of sustained pressure themselves, forcing  Wymondham to defend their lines with a series of goal line tackles before being able to clear their lines. As the game entered the final stages Wym found the gaps and ran in two similar tries, Dodd’s cutting back on a dummy scissors went 60 metres under the posts. Conversion slotted Right from the restart JD fielded the ball broke through and seeing he had 50 yards still to go wisely passed to Rupert to finish off the passage of play with a score. Conversion slotted

With a penalty immediately after the kick off and just 3 minutes left Wym again whipped it wide tothe newly married Eric on the wing who sprinted towards the line. Credit to Broadland who kept chasing and tackling as Wym kept the ball alive trying to crown the performance with a final score for condemned man celebrating groom. A forward pass brought an end to the attack and allowed

Broadland to clear their lines and the ref blow for full time

Lot’s of positives came out of the performance, most pleasing was the tempo/rhythm that Wym struck up early in the game and maintained through the 80minutes, proving early in the season you cannot have too complicated a game plan but a simple, well executed one can be very effective.

50-0

Tries: Stibbs 2, Doc, Morfoot, Crook, Dodd, Wilson

Conversions: Wilson 6

Penalty: Wilson

MoM: Bob Pence, first full 80minutes at prop, went quietly about putting in an effective shift

NOTE: the ref thought it was 56-0 but having reconciled who scored & kicks made I’m going with 50 for Wym