Southwold 26-12 Swaffham
8th February 2014
Match Report written by Anthony Bohncke

Southwold faced Swaffham this past Saturday on a very windy common. Following three weeks off, Southwold were keen to hit the ground running again after four back-to-back wins.

Southwold started the game with great intent and were pressurising the Swaffham defence. The 'wold were putting the Swaffham on the back foot and Southwold were gaining yards around the fringes. This lead to Swaffham conceding a penalty in their 22 and quick thinking saw Tim O’Connell, from a tap penalty, crashed over the line to score, the try was converted by Elliot McDaniel, 7-0 to Southwold.

From the restart, Southwold regained the ball and attacked the Swaffham team with great skill and purpose. It wasn’t long until the Southwold had camped themselves in the Swaffham 22 and were close to scoring again. When the Southwold forwards made even more yards the space out wide grew and when the ball was spun out, Rob Owles was able collect the ball and side step his way past his opposite number to score his first try of the game, 12-0 to Southwold.

After this strong start from the home side, Swaffham themselves began to play, using the wind. They were able to gain territory, but strong tackling in Southwold forwards prevented any real damage to the Southwold defence. In particular James Hall was tackling well and getting back to his feet to contest the ball. Stuart Butler was also playing well, organizing the defensive line who were staying strong.

When Swaffham did get a penalty they decided to kick for touch and from a lineout they were able to spin the ball quickly out wide to score in the corner, the try was converted to make the score 12-7 to Southwold at half time.

The message at the break was to regain the intensity shown in the opening phases and to keep the pressure on Swaffham team, as well as play in their half.

Southwold came out looking refreshed and were having most of the possession and chances to score. They were again building pressure by using the skills practised in training and were looking like they were about to score again. This soon happened when again Rob Owles received the ball and ran at the Swaffham defence before side stepping inside to score, 19-7 to Southwold.

This try gave the Southwold team some breathing space and the opportunity to try new things. The team were in control and when they were again in the Swaffham 22, quick ball from the ruck enabled quick hands down the line for James Hall to scamper his way to the line to score his try of the game, 26-7 to Southwold, with Elliot McDaniel converting.

The final passages of play belonged to Swaffham who were able to score another try late on, but Southwold were able to hold out for the remaining minutes to win the game. This made the final score 26-12 to Southwold.

This makes it the fifth win in a row for Southwold who are now showing the form that was missing in the first half of the season.

This week Southwold travel to Ipswich YM and after last year’s loss, the Southwold team will be keen to prove themselves, and make it 6 from 6.

Aaaarn the 'Wold!