Feb 18 - M2 Southwold 2 (H)

w  36 - 5  Report attached

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Southwold made the trip to Tuttles Lane and credit must go for them making the journey with just 12 men and not calling off Saturday morning.  Thankfully John Lake had been a busy guy in the week and from the squad he had put together Wym were able to loan Southwold players to not only make up numbers but also ensure contested scrums for the vast majority of the match.

The game got underway under dark clouds and it wasn’t long before they delivered the expected down pour, which in turn turned the pitch into a mud bath. (See a full selection of in match photo’s by the ever reliable Kerry Lake on Facebook)  These inclement conditions could have made for a very scrappy game but both teams adapted to the conditions and still played a decent standard of rugby, ultimately Wym would be more accomplished and composed through the 80minutes (despite an early rash of infringements penalised for) and would run out winners 36-5.  With the backs crossing the line for 4 of the 6 Wymondham tries it does indicate that even in fairly appauling conditions the Thirds are keen to keep ball in hand and put width on it when possible.

So to the Try’s themselves

Opening score was from Billy Duffin, in at hooker for the day while incumbent Larke continues to malinger over his sore ribs.  Eric Allenby, starting in the pack, had put his hand in the air to take on line out responsibilities and the dominant display he put in was evidenced with a great take early on, the forwards protected the ball with a well made wedge, Rich Divey controlling the ball at the back.  The maul rolled forward Divey sneaked the ball to Duffin who was now bound on at the rear, as Wym remaining forwards standing out called for the ball, drawing the loose defence of Southwold, Billy rolled blind and showed a clean pair of heels to canter the 40yards or so to the try line unopposed. 

With tails up from this opportunistic try Wym caught the kick-off and through a series of quick interchanges were soon back into Southwold’s 22, with the visitors defensive line dog legged the Wym ¾ line screamed for quick release, it was given, and simple hands played Kieron on wing in for a diving finish out wide. 

This second score so soon after the first left Southwold reeling and in the breakdowns after the re-start in efforts to slow the pace of the game down they were penalised several times allowing for easy territorial gains by Wymondham.  Couple this with a growing dominance in the both set pieces it was a matter of when not if Wym would score for a third time.  More open running saw Wym cross the line only to be held up and a 5 metre scrum being awarded, the pack fancied a push over and were not to be denied with Tom Morris deputizing at 8 for the day getting his first ever Try for Wymondham with the simplest of touchdowns after a powerful front 5 drive.

At 19-0 with not more than a quarter of the game gone it would be fair to think the game was a one sided affair but in open play Southwold were still very much making a contest of it, however whether it was the weather or lack of composure under the pressure of the tackle they seemed unable to string the phases together to really convert possession into meaningful territory/yards.  When ball was overturned the speed and handling of the counter-attacking Wym back line caused the visitors all sorts of problems and the last try of the first half came from a decent show of hands following a turnover and Rod cutting back in on the angle to leave Southwold flat footed with a score near the posts

In the second half the threat Wymondham carried in the centres and Rod coming in from full-back meant Southwold had to stack tacklers in the middle of the field and often left their blind side open for exploitation, MoM Jez Saville and Matty Brighton enjoyed several bullocking runs down this side, forcing Southwold to reconsider the spread of the tacklers. Rupert Wilson at flyhalf identified the weakness in the line was now right in front of him so with one slight side step he was though unopposed for Wym 5^th try of the day.

Southwold’s players were not down and out though and for the next 15minutes the contest intensity rose and they enjoyed a sustained period of success in the game with culminated in them crossing the line for a well deserved score.  Not wanting to take anything away from Southwold’s efforts but at this stage Wym players had started playing over an elaborate style, double miss passes etc and carrying the ball too far into contact, not going to ground for swift and clean ball. 

A quick team-talk under posts to get back towards a more basic, ruthless, style and the for the remaining 10minutes of the game Wym were back in the ascendancy and as the game ran towards conclusion Kieron crossed the line again for his second score of the day and the final action of the match

Wymondham 3rd’s 36-5  Southwold 2nd’s

Special mention to Mr Tom Crowe who played his last match in red and black this season before work takes him overseas.  A worthy addition to any of the 3 senior squads at the club, it has been a privilege to run out with him in the 3^rd’s and the whole squad wishes him well and hopes he know’s he is always welcome back in the team.