Rugby: 1st XV Cup Match V King’s Peterborough: Won 33-0
The Match started with great pace and intensity, with Woodbridge immediately on the front foot and on the attack, the forwards and backs working well together. The inevitable opening appeared and Hugo Kelleway dummied through a static defence to race over in the corner and make it 7-0 after 5 minutes. Straight from the kick off, and following a great set piece play and ‘quick hands’ to Rupert Clogg on the wing, another try was added: 12-0; 10 minutes; Woodbridge cruising and in complete control: keep composed, play to a structure and the game would be over by half time… But the opposition fought back, and the game became a little messy for the next 25 minutes, with lots of turnovers, lots of dropped balls and some muddled thinking meant that for the rest of the half Woodbridge remained broadly penned in despite some excellent work from James Bellhouse and Tristan Hilger late on. The second half would need fewer mistakes, and better preparation and organisation.
Kieran Saxton obliged first with two barnstorming runs, barrelling over numerous opponents to put Woodbridge into a fantastic field position. A poor defensive kick to Hugo Kelleway; a catch in the middle of the field… side-step one, then two defenders, chip over the defence, speed through, catch his own kick, outsmart the full back and ….score under the posts! Even his own team mates stopped to applaud a fantastic individual try. 19-0.
Next, our defensive lineout to put into practice recent lessons, with Fynn Kiley leaping like a salmon under the support of Belhouse and James Brown, winning the opposition ball, offloading to Tom Innes who passed to the now marauding Saxton who swatted aside tackle after tackle before finally succumbing to about five in one hit! But the ruck was won quickly and Tom Lomas jinked expertly to squeeze over in the corner leaving two defenders on the floor bamboozled by the speed of his hips and feet. 26-0.
The game effectively won, what could Woodbridge add? A quick tap penalty, a driving run by Bellhouse, 20m more gained by the irrepressible Saxton, quick ball at the ruck, and a Kelleway dummy and dive to score under the posts. Conversion made. 33-0. A great second half performance driven by an outstanding display by Kieran Saxton.
Woodbridge play Beaumont School next, date and time to follow.
