Sundays clash was a true test of grit, skill, and determination as ICENI battled their way to yet another victory — making it four wins from four in what’s shaping up to be an exceptional run of form.

Before the game, players, family, friends, sponsors, and club representatives gathered for a lovely pre-match lunch, sharing good food and great company as excitement built for the contest ahead.

From the first whistle, it was clear this would be no easy encounter. Both sides were to-ing and fro-ing in the opening exchanges, trading possession and testing each other’s defences. Neither team could settle early, but ICENI began to find their rhythm, moving the ball fluidly through the hands — just as they’d been practising.

Their patience paid off when Beth Philpott was tackled high near the line but managed to ground the ball in the 11th minute, giving ICENI the lead (5–0).

Wymondham were quick to respond, launching a dangerous break that looked destined for the line until Lucy Philpott made a crucial covering tackle. The pressure didn’t stop there — Allie Morris followed up with another big hit, allowing Zoe Goate to swoop in with a brilliant jackal turnover. Unfortunately, ICENI couldn’t capitalise, as the ball was turned straight back over, and Wymondham struck back to level the score at 5–5.

What followed was a tense back-and-forth battle — a real arm wrestle where either side could have taken control. But ICENI’s composure and structure began to shine through once more.

After sustained pressure and smart play from the forwards, a scrum move saw Zoe Goate pick her moment perfectly, cutting through a gap after a clever reverse play to score just before the half-hour mark. The conversion went astray, but ICENI were back in front 10–5, showing the discipline and teamwork that have defined their unbeaten run.

Wymondham weren’t finished yet. They continued to apply relentless pressure,
pushing hard for territory and possession. Their persistence finally paid off as they crossed the line again to level the scores 10–10 just before half-time — setting up a nail-biting second half.

As the teams regrouped, there were nerves and key substitutions for ICENI. Both sides came out strong after the break, and it took a long spell of hard defensive work before the scoreboard changed. Then, breaking the deadlock, Lucy Philpott showed her class — bursting through the defensive line with support on both sides of her, using a beautiful sidestep to finish it herself she put ICENI ahead once more (15–10).That try seemed to settle the team.

The ICENI forwards began to dominate, crashing the ball up phase after phase, wearing down the Wymondham defence. Their patience paid off when Anaseini Seruisavou powered her way over the line to extend the lead to 20–10.

But Wymondham weren’t giving up easily. They hit back immediately with a well-worked, converted try to bring it to 20–17, keeping the game on a knife’s edge. With only minutes remaining and less than a try’s difference between the sides, ICENI had to dig deep.

ICENI were back on the defensive, facing wave after wave of a Wymondham attack. After a string of high tackles from the opposition, a yellow card was finally shown to Wymondham’s second row — giving ICENI a crucial one-player advantage for the final ten minutes.

Still, Wymondham refused to roll over. They pushed hard right to the final whistle, camping near the ICENI line. But with every player putting their body on the line, ICENI’s defence held firm. In the dying seconds, a last-ditch Wymondham ruck collapsed as they came off their feet, handing possession — and the hard-fought win— to ICENI.

A thrilling contest from start to finish — a battle between two sides that could have
gone either way, but ICENI once again showed their resilience and teamwork to
come out on top.

Final Score: ICENI 20 – Wymondham 17

Four from four — and the winning streak continues!

Player of the Game: ?AnaseinI Seruisavou

Under the Radar: ?Kaitlyn Dell

Next up, ICENI travel to Ipswich, looking to make it five wins from five. Ipswich will be hungry for the victory, having taken the win the last time these two teams met but with ICENI’s current form and determination, it’s still all to play for!