Wanstead 20-34 Southwold
Match Report written by Anthony Bohncke

Southwold made their first trip to London this past Saturday to what would be a tough test against Wanstead. There were a number of changes in the Wold team from last week, Des Brett and James Hall both back in the starting line up along with the young Callum Anthony starting in at fly half.
Wold got off to a terrible start when Rob Owles playing in centres picked up a bad injury with minutes on the clocks and was taken off for the rest of the game. This however didn’t stop Wold from getting onto the front foot and within the first 10 minutes Wold were running through Wanstead’s defence. A quick break up the middle left space open out wide and accurate hands from Josh Crick enabled Ben Balls to score in the corner, 5-0 to Southwold.
From this, Southwold began to get a real grip on the game and started to dominate. The set place was solid both and scrum and line out and on the 20 minute mark, space again opened up wide and James Hall was able to sprint over to score, 10-0 to Southwold.
Wold’s dominance was paying off and superb finishing was getting them points. Another solid passage of play in the Wanstead half lead to more points being scored when hard and fast running opened up the Wanstead defence, Phil Pymer broke through and was able to give and lovely 2 on 1 pass out to Andrew Skitch who was able to score, the try was converted 17-0 to Southwold.
The remainder of the first half possession and territory belonged to Wanstead, but Southwold’s fitness and defence was too good and were able to stop any chances getting through. Great line speed in defence was knocking Wanstead back and even when Wanstead were metres from the line Southwold were able to turn the ball over and clear the danger.
Wanstead were able to make the possession and territory count on the stroke of half time, they were awarded a scrum in Wold’s 22 and after a number of reset scrums they were able to score, 17-5 to Southwold at half time.

Wold were the better team and now need to start the second half well and put more points on the board to be out of sight. Wold were straight onto the front foot and Callum Anthony was able to make a break through the Wanstead defence which eventually lead to a penalty just outside the Wanstead 22 giving Andrew Skitch the chance to add a further three points 20-5 to Southwold.
Wold know they need to be ruthless now and really pile on the points. After a period in the own half Wold were able to break, with James Barton sprinting with the ball out on the wing. He was able to get to the Wanstead before passing inside to Josh Crick who was able to score, 27-5 to Southwold.

Wold now seemingly out of sight, fatigue started to set in a number of replacements were made, one of them being Jonny Clark’s first appearance for the first team he went into the second row.
After the changes it took Wold a while to get organised, this gave Wanstead a period of the game where they were dominate. They were able to get possession and territory in their favour. Camped in the Wold 22 good handling in the Wanstead back line enabled them to score, 27-10 to Southwold. Wanstead were then able to make Wold feel a little nervy when from a scrum they were able to add another try to bring the scores a little closer at 27-15.
However Wold showed they could take the pressure and when a set move in the backs worked and centres Pete Holmes and Josh Crick combined perfectly together so that Josh could score, this gave again Wold some more breathing space, 34-15.
Going into the final moments of the game, Wanstead were able to score consolation try with good hands in the backs to make the final score 34-20 to the Wold.
This is an excellent first victory for Southwold especially on the road in London. The team showed great spirit and more of these performances will be needed when travelling.

Southwold welcome Upminster to the common next Saturday so hopefully the team can build on from this win and continue it next week.

ARN THE WOLD!!