Southwold maintained their 100% record with a fifteenth straight win away at Thetford on Saturday to stay 20 points clear of Ely in second spot at the top of Eastern Counties One, but it was one of the hardest fought wins of the season so far
The heavy snow that started half an hour before the game and carried on right to the final whistle made conditions very hard for both teams, in a game littered understandably with dropped passes from both sides as the players hands froze and passing rugby became almost impossible, as did throwing the ball in accurately at lineouts.
Great credit should be given to both sets of players for the standard of play they achieved and both sets of supporters gave a great ovation at the end of the game by way of recognition in what could only be described as freezing blizzard like conditions, evidenced by the fact that the Thetford Bar ran out of Brandy as supporters also made provision to combat the cold
Wold were the first to put points on the board from a Chippy Middleditch penalty following a Thetford offside infringement at a ruck and hence after ten minutes it was 0 - 3 to Wold
Seven minutes later , the Wold front row who were giving their opposite numbers a torrid time at all scrums, again applied massive pressure and as the Thetford scrum began to lift and break up only ten metres out, the ball popped out on the open side and Jonny Stevenson at flanker pounced on the loose ball to smash his way over for Wolds first try but the conversion was narrowly missed to leave Wold with only an eight point advantage
The game was being played at a frantic pace with Wold shading the territorial advantage with the wind behind them, but despite that fact it was Thetford's turn to score next when they were awarded a penalty fifteen minutes before half time when the Wold backs came up a fraction too quick and were adjudged offside at a ruck and the gap was narrowed to a mere five points after a well taken kick against both the snow and the wind
A minute before half time saw the best move and try of the game for Wold. From a scrum forty metres out from the Thetford line, Wold got good ball out to their backs and Rob Owles at fly half put in a great kick deep into the corner of Thetford's twenty two and although their winger covered back well he decided to run the ball and was gobbled up by Wold backs who followed the kick up well and as the forwards arrived in numbers they turned over the ball and drove repeatedly for the Thetford line.
Eventually Adam Smith at prop muscled his way over the line to score and Chippy Middleditch duly converted from a wide angle to make it 15 - 3 at half time and the previously noisy Thetford supporters walked back to their Clubhouse in moderate silence at the half time break to try and warm up for the second half.
When the game restarted the artic conditions continued but Thetford now had the aid of the wind and snow.
As the half progressed Thetford came on stronger and stronger and an illegal tackle form Rob Owles after quarter of an hour led to a yellow card and life got even tougher for Wold with the fly half being sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.

Thetford took due advantage and camped for six minutes or so in the Wold twenty two before eventually breaking the Wold defence with their winger running round the outside of the Wold back line in the right hand corner and continuing his run behind the line to touch down under the posts. A deserved try easily converted to bring the scores to 10 - 15 which was to prove to be the final score line
Wold did have chances to increase their lead, with Darius Mullen on the wing coming closest when he was desperately but well tackled only a metre short of the line after a strong run.
Thetford however had the better of the final quarter and pushed and pushed for the equalising try but Wold refused to buckle under the pressure and bravely held on to win, much to the relief of their travelling supporters who for the first time for some time sensed the 100% win record was about to be broken, but it was not to be.
The final whistle saw all players head for the warmth of the showers as quick as possible after handshakes and congratulations all round, which highlighted the great spirit this game was played in under near impossible conditions which hopefully will not be repeated next week when Wold travel to Thurston

MOM v Thetford - Duncan Hume

Arn The Freezing Wold !!!