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Colchester Iceni 37 Southwold 19
Doug Boulton24 Jan 2023 - 11:03
Report by Steve Whiteman
On a cold but calm day the Colchester’s RFC Women’s Team, The Iceni, put on another terrific display notching up seven tries to the visitors’ three.
Southwold kicked off and Emma Goate came back at them well supported by the backs. The ball was moved quickly to outside centre Chloe Mills, who burst through the middle to score under the posts with No 8 Madison Seal converting the try.
Five minutes later, after a break by skipper Yas Amber, Chloe went over for her second try in the corner, bringing the score to 12-0. For a while the two teams battled for ascendancy until Southwold’s inside centre Holly Walsh sprinted around the Colchester defence to score a fine try under the posts with their fly half adding the extras. With the score at 12-7 The Iceni realised they had a tough game on their hands.
Later, after an injury to a Southwold player, second rower Layla Goodchild graciously left the pitch to keep the numbers even. Straightaway The Iceni moved the ball left and fullback Lucy Yendall went over for an unconverted try in the corner taking the lead to 17-7.
There followed 20 minutes of intense pressure by both sides to try to gain the advantage. Scrum half Jess Brenan caught the eye with her constant harassment of her opposite No 9 and her ability to fend off defenders as she advanced up the pitch.
As halftime approached, after a successful scrum, Iceni moved the ball quickly to Jess who used her pace to score a good try. The conversion failed and the home side turned round with a 22-7 lead.
Coaches Graham Seal and Danny Whiteman made several team changes at the interval to ensure all the substitutes got a game. The match resumed and before long Yas made a break and the ball was passed quickly to Chloe who sped up the field to score her hat-trick try.
Not to be outdone Southwold soon came back at the other end and their burly forwards crashed over for a try themselves to make the score 32-19.
From the restart the visitors again pushed forward but good defence by The Iceni kept them at bay. As the clock wound down The Iceni turned over a Southwold line-out and back Jade Baker did a brilliant 50 metre run but was tackled a few metres from the try line. However, she managed to pass the ball to Jess in support, who claimed her second try, the jubilant Iceni finishing the match as worthy winners; Tracy Sealwas awarded Player of the Match for her work in defence.
There were several stoppages during the game with replacement players coming on. Consequently both sides had to make changes in their personnel, but having seven substitutes enabled The Iceni to give all their players a game. Southwold had no reserves . Indeed there were often only 13 or 14 players on each side as in this league sides have to have to have equal numbers.
A good crowd ensured great support.
Southwold kicked off and Emma Goate came back at them well supported by the backs. The ball was moved quickly to outside centre Chloe Mills, who burst through the middle to score under the posts with No 8 Madison Seal converting the try.
Five minutes later, after a break by skipper Yas Amber, Chloe went over for her second try in the corner, bringing the score to 12-0. For a while the two teams battled for ascendancy until Southwold’s inside centre Holly Walsh sprinted around the Colchester defence to score a fine try under the posts with their fly half adding the extras. With the score at 12-7 The Iceni realised they had a tough game on their hands.
Later, after an injury to a Southwold player, second rower Layla Goodchild graciously left the pitch to keep the numbers even. Straightaway The Iceni moved the ball left and fullback Lucy Yendall went over for an unconverted try in the corner taking the lead to 17-7.
There followed 20 minutes of intense pressure by both sides to try to gain the advantage. Scrum half Jess Brenan caught the eye with her constant harassment of her opposite No 9 and her ability to fend off defenders as she advanced up the pitch.
As halftime approached, after a successful scrum, Iceni moved the ball quickly to Jess who used her pace to score a good try. The conversion failed and the home side turned round with a 22-7 lead.
Coaches Graham Seal and Danny Whiteman made several team changes at the interval to ensure all the substitutes got a game. The match resumed and before long Yas made a break and the ball was passed quickly to Chloe who sped up the field to score her hat-trick try.
Not to be outdone Southwold soon came back at the other end and their burly forwards crashed over for a try themselves to make the score 32-19.
From the restart the visitors again pushed forward but good defence by The Iceni kept them at bay. As the clock wound down The Iceni turned over a Southwold line-out and back Jade Baker did a brilliant 50 metre run but was tackled a few metres from the try line. However, she managed to pass the ball to Jess in support, who claimed her second try, the jubilant Iceni finishing the match as worthy winners; Tracy Sealwas awarded Player of the Match for her work in defence.
There were several stoppages during the game with replacement players coming on. Consequently both sides had to make changes in their personnel, but having seven substitutes enabled The Iceni to give all their players a game. Southwold had no reserves . Indeed there were often only 13 or 14 players on each side as in this league sides have to have to have equal numbers.
A good crowd ensured great support.
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