Woodbridge squeezed home versus Southwold in a tightly contested League match this afternoon, holding on to take the points despite a determined second half rally by the home team, including a last minute penalty miss which would have tied the match.

Despite bright spring sunshine in Woodbridge the Southwold microclimate offered up a white-out in the form of a sea mist (or Haar), fortunately not the sort which saw the cancellation of the fixture earlier this year.

Whilst it would be harsh to blame the visibility, Woodbridge fumbled the kick- off allowing Southwold to take the initiative. After ten minutes of loose midfield play, Woodbridge settled, and a chip through by Adrian Sanday, which initially looked speculative given the overlap available, was fumbled by their winger allowing Donovan to score. 

Faced with a difficult conversion from the touchline, Yorke showed all his experience, in passing the kick to the youthful MacIntyre, who contrived to kick the ball backwards.

In the backs, Donny looked in the mood, and to be able to beat his man at ease; something which he was quick to point out to him. He was involved in running back with interest, several failed touch finders, and was also put in space by a threatening looking Woodbridge backline. Unfortunately any yardage gained was negated by a lack of support (or the attack outrunning the support depending which way you look at it) – seeing the referee penalising for holding.

However, Woodbridge looked in control and with Olli and Big Show winning line-out ball, and Eddie at his snapping snarling best (and that is just to his own team), more points seemed imminent. These came when the referee’s arm was finally pointed in the other direction and Yorke took three before narrowly missing with two further kicks from central (albeit deep) positions.

In the scrum, Melon was embroiled in a ‘coming of age’ struggle, extracting long awaited pay- back on an opponent that had picked on him when he was just a baby prop. Revenge being best served cold, his oppo was assisted from the field in the first half and a succession of replacements given a torrid time. 

At half time and with an 8-0 lead which could easily have been 20, a comfortable win looked in the offing. 

Southwold however, had other ideas and took the game to Woodbridge. Working the blind side they retained the ball well, and across the park seemed sharper to react after the tackle, their fresh faced seven particularly impressive.

In the backs, the Southwold play maker at ten looked sharp, and repeatedly brought in the blindside winger. This seemed to be their ‘banker’ move in the backs, and guaranteed them yardage and as food for thought, seemed to be a damn site simpler than ‘South Africa.’

Apart from two brief forays into the opposition half, when tries went begging (Mr Manning..), Woodbridge were on the defensive, surviving wave after wave of attack. Stubborn defence was the order of the day, and whilst generally up to the task, the line was finally breached, making for a nervous last quarter.

Coach Adi commented that the solitary high point from a defensive second half display was the promising debut of big Dan in the second row, but a win is a win is a win. Filthy habit.