Generally Wold came out on top in all the stats bar two in this twisting , turning, thrilling and exhilarating game on a windy Southwold Common. Those two were penalties and the more importantly the result. Wold pipped East London generally in possession, scrummaging, general open play, defence and attack, lineouts being shared equally, but if you give away 26 penalties, barring a miracle, no team is going to win , and that proved critical on Saturday.

On chances created alone Wold were the better side and even the East London supporters knew they were fortunate to take the five points as was confirmed in the after match discussions in the shelter of the bar, but this was a great game between two evenly matched sides who both wanted the win.
First blood went to Wold, playing against the strong wind when they were awarded a penalty on East London's 22, and with everyone expecting a kick for goal , a quickly taken penalty by Jonny Mayall caught the visitors and the crowd by surprise and Charlie Smith crashed over for a great try under the posts which was easily converted for a 7-0 lead.

Wold's talented fly half Callum Anthony went off with a shoulder injury a minute later, Luke Wade moved to the ten spot from full back and Aaron bliss came on at the back but could do nothing about the penalties Wold were giving away up front and by the 20th minute the score had narrowed to 7 - 6 after two successful kicks from the East London fly half, one of which was landed from the half way line. That fact should have registered in the Wold heads, that giving away penalties against a talented and strong kicker would lead to giving away precious points, but alas that was not the case. Hard fought Wold territory was also conceded by massive wind assisted touch line kicking from inside the East London half from several more silly penalties, keeping the visitors in the game.
Despite all that it was Wold who scored next when James Barton streaked away up the touchline to be tackled just by the corner flag and forced into touch for a London throw in. Wold stole the ball at the lineout and dove over for Duncan Hume to score their second try and with the tough conversion missed the score on 25 minutes was then 12 - 6 to Wold
Six minutes later with the penalties still being given away, one such penalty led to a kick to the corner and this time London secured the ball at their resulting lineout and just as Wold had done earlier drove ten metres from the corner for their first try to take the lead with the resulting conversion at 12 -13 which was followed by another great kick from the halfway line to make it 12 -16
The penalties kept coming and on the stroke of half time a carbon copy of the visitors first try followed with a kick to the corner, good lineout ball won, great drive and another five points but this time the conversion was narrowly missed leaving the score at the break 12 - 21

The start of the second half brought more of the same and again another three points went to London from a penalty only three minutes in.
Charlie Smith was then yellow carded for Wold for a tip tackle for what was actually the best tackle of the game and the big crowd showed their disgust at the refs decision but London took advantage of the extra man and scored their best try on 55 minutes. A good spell of possession lead to a try out wide on the left wing, which with the previously successful penalty increased their lead to 12 - 29 and even with the conversion missed the game seemed out of Wold's reach even though unbelievably they has dominated play in general
Charlie Smith came back on the pitch after his enforced ten minute absence and almost straight away scored a another great try just to the right of the London posts following a Wold lineout and a series of great handling and drives as the ball moved its way across the pitch, with Luke Wades conversion closing the gap to ten points at 19 -29 on 62 minutes
Ten minutes later the gap was narrowed again when London dropped the ball from their own lineout on the 22 and James Barton pounced on the loose ball , kicked ahead and gathered the ball to score an individually brilliant try in the corner. Wade missed the wide conversion but soon kicked a penalty to bring Wold within three points at 26 -29 with five minutes to go.

Credit to East London, they had taken all their opportunities up until then and they kept Wold at bay, despite massive pressure, till the final whistle and their celebration at the close said it all. It was a great win for them but Wold had pushed them all the way and but for their discipline issues would have had the win themselves