Our 1XV Match Reports kindly produced and written by Jon Hood
Saturday 6th April
1XV v Wisbech 1XV
After wrapping up the championship a fortnight ago this was Wymondhams opportunity to entertain their enthusiastic supporters without the pressure of having precious league points at stake. Wisbech took the field with a depleted squad having been wracked with injury but put in a performance full of guts and determination that should hopefully see them quickly bounce back from their relegation.
With the Old Warhorse Josh Wright (allegedly) playing his final competitive game Wymondham pretty much controlled the first half, using their inventive backline to run in seven tries against one in reply. The pick of these saw Mustard dive in at the corner following a series of lightning rucks and a “miraculous” one handed pass from Stace as he was tackled to the turf.
The second half was a much more even affair as the visitors dug deep, running in three tries largely through the efforts of their combative forwards. Wymondham added another four of their own with the best including another incredible pass, this time a fingertip catch and give from Mustard following an accurate six iron to the corner by Delaney with Bradley the lucky beneficiary.
On the final whistle the celebrations for the team winning the league and reaching level six, the highest it has ever achieved, began in earnest with fireworks, live music and lots of back slapping. It has been a challenging and physically demanding league season with some very capable and ambitious teams so to come out at the top of the pile is no mean feat. Equally as pleasing is it has been done with a squad of players the majority of whom are home grown talent, progressing through from the vibrant mini and youth ranks. The seconds also had their championship confirmed as both theirs and their nearest challenger Lakenham Unions opponents conceded, effectively making their bonus point victory over their rivals two weeks ago the league decider.
All eyes now turn to the Norfolk Senior and Intermediate Cup competitions where next Saturday the teams face Diss and Holt 2nds respectively.
Final Score - Wymondham 63 Wisbech 24
Tries - Mustard 2, Girdler 2, Airdrie, Foley, Stace 2, Bradley, Houghting, Reek
Conversions - Bradley 4
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Oliver Reek
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Luke Bailey
6 Harry Wasdell
7 Sam Head
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney (capt)
11 Elliott Foley
12 Connor Jermyn
13 Joe Stace
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Dane Canning
17 Oscar Berry
18 Connor Houghting
Saturday 23rd March
1XV v Cantabs 1XV
Facing a team who had completed the league double over Shelford Nomads this season Wymondham knew they could take nothing for granted. An interesting subplot was brothers Joe and Tom Stace playing second row and centre for Cantabs and Wymondham respectively.
Early exchanges saw both sides battling to get to grips with the sporadic rain squalls, soft pitch and greasy ball. Wymondhams first try came after 5 minutes courtesy of a long kick from Delaney that was spilled by the home winger and collected by Mustard who put Wasdell in under the sticks. Two minutes later it was Cantabs profiting from a fumbled kick and scoring a try of their own. However these were to be their last points of the afternoon as Wymondham skillfully managed the game from here on in, allowing Cantabs plenty of possession and territory while never looking in danger of conceding. By contrast Wymondham were ruthless with ball in hand and scored five tries in each half, nine of which were converted by the trusty booted Bradley. The first of these came following a scrum on the home 22 which was moved right and from the quick centrefield ruck man mountain Luke Bailey picked up and drove over. Shortly after he doubled his tally when following an excellent Delaney 50/20 he peeled off a lineout and crashed over. Flanker Wasdell then bagged his second in bizarre fashion when he collected a clearance kick wide on the left and proceeded to crab his way across the pitch stepping and handing off potential tacklers to score in the opposite corner. The final try of the half was another individual effort with Stace receiving scrum possession on the opposition 10 metre line, bouncing off his opposite number then scything through to touch down under the posts.
Half time Cantabs 5 Wymondham 33
The second half continued in much the same vein with Cantabs showing plenty of endeavour and application but finding Wymondham in no mood to concede. The first try of this period was an absolute cracker involving the entire backline. Scrum possession was spun right and following a Clark dummy run and appearance in the line from opposite winger Bradley the ball was skilfully moved through the hands to right wing Mustard who dived in at the corner. Wymondham were playing some beautiful rugby that even had the home fans nodding their appreciation. From a line out inside their 22 forward interplay drove possession up to halfway. Mobile hooker Reek linked through the middle before offloading to Stace with Clark taking it at pace then passing one handed out of the tackle to the supporting Mustard for the score. From the restart and again from a scrum in their own 22 the ball was driven forward by number 8 Luke Bailey who fed replacement scrum half Airdrie on his shoulder. Cousens streaked away over half way before Mustard took the inside switch pass, drawing the fullback before putting Head in under the posts. After these three consecutive contenders for try of the season the final two were relatively simple in comparison. The first was an intercepted pass from Stace that showcased his beautifully balanced running style as he scooted in from 40 metres and the final score was courtesy of another Luke Bailey scrum pick up on halfway, feeding Airdrie and the supporting Head for his second of the afternoon.
Full time Cantabs 5 Wymondham 68
This was a victory built on hard graft, mean well organised defence and ruthless efficiency in attack. Shortly after the final whistle news came through that Wymondhams nearest rivals Shelford had lost at Bury meaning the league title and promotion to the highest level the team has ever played at had been achieved with one game left. This is a fantastic effort and a fitting reward for all the hard work and commitment shown by the players, coaching team and loyal band of supporters.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Oliver Reek
3 Dane Canning
4 Luke Bailey
5 Oscar Berry
6 Matthew Bailey
7 Harry Wasdell
8 Jake Girdler
9 Connor Jermyn
10 Charlie Delaney (capt)
11 Jordan Mustard
12 Joe Stace
13 Josh Clark
14 Angus Bradley
15 Josh Cousens
16 Josh Wright
17 Sam Head
18 Auden Airdrie
Saturday 17th March 2024
1XV v Shelford 2XV
Pictures kindly taken by Kerry Lake - See all the pictures here: KML Photography
Wymondham knew this would be a season-defining fixture, facing a team with a string of impressive recent results to their name and one place above them at the top of the table. Shelford claimed victory by a couple of points in the corresponding fixture in December so the red and blacks were in no doubt about the size of the task facing them.
The game kicked off in springlike conditions in front of a large and vociferous crowd and Wymondham immediately made their attacking intent known with left winger Foley being bundled into touch on the Shelford 10m line. Continuing in the same lively vein the ball was moved right with Bradley unable to get his pass off to Mustard who had a clear path to the line. The home side were applying all the early pressure and knew they had to come away with a points reward. It came when Shelford illegally pulled down a line out drive and from the resultant quickly tapped penalty the ball was tipped on to young prop Spriddell who bludgeoned his way over from 5 metres, Bradley adding the simple conversion. Shelford had barely touched the ball up to now and when they finally had some possession to play with they found the home tackling accurate and aggressive, with flankers Matt Bailey and Rodger taking no prisoners. Shelford kicked a long range penalty on 15 minutes answered shortly after by Bradley. Wymondham continued to entertain, moving the ball wide whenever possible. Clark broke from his own half to the visitors 22 then Mustard was inches away from touching down Delaneys searching cross kick to the corner. However when the second try came it was courtesy of the pack when a series of short range penalties stretched the Shelford defence before Reeks long cut out pass put the rangey Berry over on the wide left. Shelford now enjoyed their best period of the game and following a series of drives from their rugged pack were able to force their way over for a converted try, followed shortly after by a penalty to bring them to within 2. This stung Wymondham into action and they were soon battering on the door again with Girdler being held up over the line following a huge home scrum drive. With half time rapidly approaching Wymondham mounted one final attack with hooker Reek taking line out possession into contact midway inside the opposition half. What happened next had the crowd in ecstasy as instead of hitting the deck he powered through the would-be tacklers, pumping his not inconsiderable legs and carrying on to the line before handing off the fullback to score, Bradley slotting the extras.
Half time 22 - 13.
Wymondham started the second period the way they finished the first with the forwards building multiple phases in opposition territory and half backs Jermyn and Delaney expertly pulling the strings. From one of these drives and quick rucks Wrights well timed pass put Rodger through a gap and under the posts for the bonus point try, Bradley converting. Shelford were doing their best to play their way back into the game with their big forwards and pacey backs however the home side, driven on by enthusiastic support, were consistently nailing their tackles and stifling any momentum. In contrast Wymondham were making big inroads when they carried with one barnstorming surge from Clark seeing him shrugging off would be tacklers with seeming ease. Another attack saw possession driven deep into the opposition 22 before Daleneys vision and huge looped pass picked out Bradley and his step inside wrong footed the defence letting him scamper in untouched under the post, adding the conversion himself. Wymondham now had their tails well and truly up and straight from the kick off Wasdell ran the ball back, linking with the supporting Matt Bailey who drew the final defender before putting the flying Mustard in at the corner, Bradley converting. The final try was a beautifully executed piece of rugby skill showcasing the depth of understanding developing within the team. Well controlled middle line out possession was spun out to fly half Delaney and his precisely executed cross kick was gathered full stride by Clark who hurtled in under the sticks, Bradleys extras bringing up the 50 and completing the scoring.
Final score - Wymondham 50 Shelford Nomads 13
Common agreement among the smiling supporters was that this was by far the most complete Wymondham performance of the season and against a quality opponent. The rugby we are now being treated to is both entertaining and effective and seems to be finding a good balance between being structured without stifling individual flair.
The red and black travelling bandwagon now moves on to Cantabs, Shelfords close neighbour and the only other team in the league to lower their colours this season.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Oliver Reek
3 Dane Canning
4 Josh Wright
5 Oscar Berry
6 Matthew Bailey
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Connor Jermyn
10 Charlie Delaney (capt)
11 Jordan Mustard
12 Josh Cousens
13 Josh Clark
14 Elliott Foley
15 Angus Bradley
16 Luke Bailey
17 Joe Stace
18 Harry Wasdell
1XV v Bury St Edmunds 2XV
Saturday 2nd March
The afternoon started with players and supporters respecting a minutes silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ermenonville air disaster, when 18 Bury players tragically lost their lives returning from a rugby tour to France.
It has been a long and attritional season and the Wymondham team showed several changes, both in personnel and position, from last week. The visitors knew they would have to dig deep against a Bury team marrying talent from their successful Colts side with players boasting National League experience.
The game started at a furious pace with an early home attack being halted by a crunching tackle from Bradley who was destined to become a thorn in their side all afternoon. Wymondham worked their way into the Bury half and when Bailey effected a superb chop tackle on the number eight Bradley’s thwarted jackal won a penalty which he duly slotted for a 3 - 0 lead. However the response came straight from the kick off when Burys elusive number 9 took a quick penalty and weaved through a retreating defence to score a fine converted try. Wymondham were using their forwards to put multiple phases together and test their hosts mettle however spilled possession allowed Bury the chance to counterattack and their winger was able to squeeze in to take their lead to 12 - 3. Wymondham also lost club captain Wright to a nasty facial injury allowing Berry to make his first team debut. The game continued to be played at lung busting pace with the visitors enjoying plenty of attacking possession and territory while at the other end Foley executed a textbook try saving tackle on the Bury winger. It was at this point that Wymondham scored one of the tries of the season. On the attack Bury kicked towards the corner and it was fielded by Foley. Keeping composed under pressure an inside pass to Cousens was returned to him and he swerved infield, checking the would be tacklers before feeding Clark, who’s perfectly timed pass to winger Houghting saw him scorch in from halfway, Bradley converting superbly into the wind. Once again Burys response came courtesy of some uncharacteristically sloppy defence, allowing their flying fullback to run back a wayward touch finder from halfway.
As the half drew to a close Wymondham put together a concerted forward assault on the homeline, Spriddell driving to within a metre before skipper Boggan finished it off for the front row union, Bradleys conversion making it all square at 17 apiece at the break.
Bury applied the early second half pressure and a superb cover tackle on their winger by hooker Reek stopped a certain try, however at the ensuing ruck Wymondham transgressed and Bury took the lead. With the rain slanting down Wymondham worked their way back into the home 22 and when they won a breakdown penalty Bradleys trusty boot brought it back to all square. From the kick off two more phases of attack saw Bury penalised and Bradley was able to stroke over his third of the day, putting the visitors into the lead. Much as the first half was defined by its speed of play the second was becoming a physical arm wrestle. The pack were getting through a lot of the heavy carrying while Clark put in a couple of stonking midfield crash tackles. Bury looked to have scored when their centre crashed through under the posts but somehow man of the moment Bradley managed to tackle him and turn him on his back, preventing the touchdown.
With the second half rapidly running out Bury made one final push to regain the lead however when Clark ripped the ball in the tackle, Jermyn punted it onto the clubhouse roof and the referee blew the final whistle the relative demeanours of the two teams told their own story.
This game was a superb advert for grass roots rugby and as skipper Boggan attested as he staggered off “that was the hardest match of the season” (expletives deleted!). Wymondhams loyal travelling support was thrilled by the spirit and never say die attitude shown by their heroes in red and black and we look forward to welcoming Shelford to Barnard Fields in 2 weeks time.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Oliver Reek
3 Jamie Boggan (capt)
4 Josh Wright
5 Sam Brabazon
6 Matthew Bailey - Man of the Match
7 Charlie Widmer
8 Jake Girdler
9 Connor Jermyn
10 Josh Cousens
11 Connor Houghting
12 Angus Bradley
13 Josh Clark
14 Alex Lamberson
15 Elliot Foley
16 Josh Fairman
17 Oscar Berry
18 Harry Dunkinson
Match Report
1XV v Diss
Saturday 17th February 2024
With Barnards Field looking magnificent despite the recent heavy rain Wymondham faced their South Norfolk rivals knowing they were in for a keenly contested encounter. The sizable and largely knowledgeable crowd included Eastern Counties RFU Chairman Roger Pierson and RFU President Rob Briers, making his first visit to our club.
Following a bodged kick off Wymondham drove the resultant scrum back at a rate of knots however any illusions about Diss intentions were quickly disabused as the visitors effected a fierce counter ruck and spent the next 10 minutes in the home half battering away at the Wymondham defence but without success. By contrast the red and blacks first attacking foray saw the rugged Foley burst down the wing to within five metres before Spriddell drove to the line and irrepressible skipper Boggan finished the job under the posts, Bradley converting.
Wymondham were now getting into their rhythm and following a 40 metre break from deceptively rapid flanker Rodger the ball was fired left and Stace was unlucky to see his clever pass hit the deck. However the sustained period of attack saw Diss transgress and Bradley gratefully kick the three.
From the kick off Wasdell gathered and offloaded to Bradley, who sent a long pass to centre partner Stace on the left. He purred downfield, engaging the winger before feeding the supporting Mustard whose beautifully timed draw and pass on the covering fullback allowed Houghting the space to pin his ears back and streak in for a beautifully crafted score.
Diss were doing all they could to disrupt home momentum and their county scrum half was a real handful, however possession is key and Wymondham were dominating at both set piece and loose. One mighty scrum drive on their ten metre line saw Diss lose ball against the head and it took an excellent tackle to deny Houghting his second following Girdlers’ break from the base.
Wymondhams’ next points came from scrum possession on the Diss 22 with simple straight running from the backs and the hint of a dummy putting Mustard in between the centre and wing for a textbook score.
Half time Wymondham 20 Diss 0
Diss started the second period in lively fashion however Wymondham were after their bonus point try and a change of tactic saw Cousens put up a huge up and under from his own 22 onto the centre spot. Bradley successfully contested in the air and following Wrights gallop forward Cousens huge 3 man cut out pass picked out Foley and his inside pass put Bradley over for a try he then converted from the touchline.
The introduction of the Bailey brothers in the pack and Lamberson on the wing added fresh energy and impetus and all three soon made their mark.
Following a series of muscular drives in front of the visitors posts Luke Bailey smashed up to within 5 and when Jermyns’ pinpoint service found Stace his searing acceleration and eye for the gap put him over for a well deserved score, Bradley again converting this time from the other touchline.
A lesser opponent might have capitulated at this point but not Diss and following a series of well controlled and disciplined forward drives they got their try reward. Wymondhams reply was swift and efficient with Cousens fielding a clearance kick in midfield, hooker Reek providing the link and Bradley putting Lamberson, the human cannonball, in at the corner.
Back came Diss, scoring a repeat of their earlier try, something the coaching team will no doubt be analysing and addressing at training.
However Wymondham were determined to have the final say and it came following scrum possession moved left with some deft handling putting Foley over, Bradley converting.
Final score Wymondham 48 - Diss 12.
This was a satisfying and entertaining performance against an opponent they will face twice more next month in the Norfolk Cup. There were many impressive performances but mention should be made of utility man Connor Jermyn, who successfully and efficiently reprised his colts position of scrum half and flanker Sam Head who worked his socks off doing the hard graft both in attack and defence.
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Ollie Reek
3 Jamie Boggan (capt)
4 Josh Wright
5 Harry Wasdell
6 Sam Head
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Connor Jermyn
10 Josh Cousens
11 Connor Houghting
12 Angus Bradley
13 Joe Stace
14 Elliott Foley
15 Jordan Mustard
16 Matthew Bailey
17 Luke Bailey
18 Alex Lamberson
Match Report
1XV v West Norfolk
Saturday 3rd February
After last week's disappointment at Ipswich the home faithful wondered how Wymondham would react and after an opening 10 minutes of almost constant pressure from the visitors nervous glances were being exchanged. However a spilled catch allowing Mustard to scamper in at the corner from inside his own half seemed to settle the home side and from there on they produced their best 70 minutes of sustained quality rugby of the season. Despite playing into a strong wind they managed six first half tries. Mustard got his second when Stace timed his pass to perfection to split the defence then a huge Wymondham scrum drive allowed the robust Clark to bludgeon his way through several attempted tacklers to dot down under the posts. Airdrie was next on the scoresheet taking a quick tapped penalty on the West 22 before zig zagging his way through the attempted tacklers. Old warhorse Wright continued his scoring habit cantering in from a metre following Spriddells typical bullocking run before Clark bagged his second bursting through the opposition centres from close range.
Half time - 34 - 0
Now having the benefit of the wind Wymondham continued to play largely with ball in hand and although West were tackling themselves into the ground they had no answer for the home side’s pace and accuracy. Further scores came from the athletic Wasdell after some great phase play, Cousens following fantastic interplay between forward and backs, big Luke Bailey barging over from close range, a quickfire brace from young flyer Houghting both the result of classic three-quarter moves, Spriddell with his shortest carry of the day, Mustard for his hat trick after chasing his own cheeky chip through and finally deceptively pacey hooker Dring supporting a break from winger Foley.
Result Wymondham 84 - West Norfolk 0
Without patronising Wests didn’t stop trying for the full 80 minutes however they came up against an 18 man squad playing closer to their potential than they have all season. It was very much a team effort and showed the depth of talent now available and competing for starting places. We now have a rest week before the final push to the end of the season…… we can't wait!
Team
1 Shawn Spriddell
2 Josh Dring
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Harry Wasdell
6 Sam Head
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Josh Cousens
11 Connor Houghting
12 Joe Stace
13 Josh Clark
14 Elliott Foley
15 Jordan Mustard
16 Matt Bailey
17 Luke Bailey
18 Alex Lamberson
Match Report
1XV v Ipswich (A)
Saturday 27th Janaury 2024
Following last weeks’ hard fought victory over Southwold Wymondham travelled to Suffolk hoping to complete the double over their in-form hosts; it was not to be. The visitors made a lively start with Bradley converting an early penalty, however the early loss to injury of inspirational captain and playmaker Delaney and the subsequent reorganisation didn’t help their cause. Ipswich executed a simple but very effective game plan, using their big, experienced and well drilled forward pack to secure possession and territory, crossing the line seven times in similar fashion. Wymondham scored three tries of their own. The first came courtesy of young tighthead Spriddell bursting over following a series of forward thrusts. The second was scored by Rodgers after an inspired midfield gallop and round the tackler pass from the evergreen Wright. The third saw provider turn scorer as Wright touched down when quality line out possession was driven through the midfield by Boggan.
There was plenty of effort and endeavour throughout from Wymondham with Airdrie in particular swarming all over his opposite number and young winger Houghting looking electric, albeit with very few opportunities.
As is the nature of this current Wymondham squad they will take the memory of this defeat onto the training ground and use the lessons learnt to improve on their own game.
Final Score - Ipswich 39 Wymondham 22
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Josh Dring
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Harry Wasdell
6 Sam Head
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney (capt)
11 Connor Houghting
12 Josh Cousens
13 Joe Stace
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Dane Canning
17 Sam Hughes
18 Elliott Foley
Match Report
1XV v Ipswich YM
Saturday 13th Jan
On a crisp winter's afternoon Wymondham and their vociferous band of loyal supporters made the first of two trips to Ipswich in two weeks to face YM for the second time this season. The pitch was in immaculate condition, perfect for Wymondhams brand of running rugby.
The visitors made a strong start trucking the ball up through the middle with their mobile forward pack and with 5 minutes on the clock they scored their first try. Following a series of forward drives robust 1st team debutant Luke Bailey battered his way over the 22 dragging three opposition forwards with him before setting up the ruck. Possession was whipped left and a well timed Jermy dummy run checked the defence giving winger Houghting, another debutant, room to round his man before touching down near the posts with Bradley converting.
YM did their best to respond using their bulky forwards however Wymondhams defence remained resolutely solid and their inventive backline was a class apart, looking consistently dangerous with ball in hand. A Delaney cross kick saw winger Mustard inches away from sending marauding fullback Bradley away on the right while at the other end Matt Bailey put in a superb try saving tackle on the YM winger. On the half hour Wymondham scored their second try, a real cracker. From a successful line out 10 meters inside the YM half possession moved back and forth the width of the pitch no less than five times pulling the defence out of shape before finally allowing Bradley to put young Houghting over for his second in the corner.
The visitors continued to look dangerous but with no further scores it remained 0 - 12 at the break. .
Wymondham started the second half in a similar vein to the first, looking to run possession wherever possible. One massive scrum effort drove YM off their own ball on the 22 forcing them to concede a penalty. With confidence high Wymondham turned down the easy 3 points instead kicking to the corner and although YM were able to clear the attempted line out the ball was returned back into the opposite corner by Delaney for a 50/20, attacking side ball. Mustard then lived up to his name, sprinting over to take a quick throw to the alert Jermy who gathered in full stride to dive into the corner for an excellent opportunist score.
Stung by this YM applied pressure from the restart and following a series of well orchestrated pick and drives forced their way over for their first score of the match. Wymondham's reply was courtesy of a piece of individual brilliance from Mustard when a scuffed clearance kick was chipped back over the top of the advancing opponents, regathered and touched down under the posts, Bradley converting
The final score came when quality line out possession was moved rapidly right along the three quarters with left winger Mustard popping up to make the extra man before putting Houghting in for his hat trick score, Bradley landing an excellent conversion from the touchline
A lesser opponent would have capitulated at this point however YM were still giving their all and following a series of muscular drives got their second score.
Wymondham finished the game back on top with yet another debutant, replacement winger Dunkinson, getting to within 2 meters of his own first try.
Final score 14 - 31
This was an entertaining and satisfying team performance, delivering a bonus point win against stubborn and proud opponents. Mention must be made of the five first team debutants Houghting, Luke Bailey, Dunkinson, replacement hooker Dring and replacement prop Calvin Beales. All looked very comfortable at this level and will only serve to strengthen the senior squad in the coming weeks.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Dan Fincham
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Luke Bailey
6 Matt Bailey
7 Sam Head
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney
11 Connor Houghting
12 Josh Cousens
13 Conor Jermyn
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Calvin Beales
17 Josh Dring
18 Harry Dunkinson
1XV v Ely Tigers
Saturday 6th January 2024
With these two teams boasting the stingiest defences in the league anyone expecting this game to serve up a points fest would be disappointed.
Wymondham began like a train, running the kick off back at the visitors and testing their organisation with multiple phases of play. Ely stood up well to this early onslaught however on ten minutes the hosts scored a remarkable individual try. Under pressure on halfway Ely spilled possession and from the resulting melee of players fighting for the ball number eight Girdler burst out of the chaos and strode downfield, outpacing the chasing defenders to touch down.
Wymondham were edging the set pieces, with Head, Rodger and the returning Wasdell mixing it up well to supply a steady stream of quality line out possession. However Ely were proving formidable in defence and despite some good attacking runs from pacey wingers McCluskey and Mustard the visitors tackling was solid. It took until 20 minutes before Wymondham could cross the line again when Delaney put a pinpoint accurate penalty kick to within 10 meters. From the resultant line out Wasdell rose high and fed Girdler who was stopped short of the line before the marauding Boggan picked up and drove over for the score, Bradley converting.
In reply Ely kicked a penalty however the remainder of the half was played out in a strange stalemate with defences on top and the referees whistle regularly punctuating the action. 12 - 3 at half time and still all to play for.
The majority of the second half followed in much the same vein as the first ended with long periods of midfield stalemate. That isn't to say there was a lack of skill and effort on display, with one superb Spriddell counter ruck and a Boggan jackal keeping the crowd entertained. Midway through the half Ely enjoyed their best period of the game, putting the home defence under a period of sustained pressure in their red zone. However despite their best efforts the home line stayed uncrossed and when a Delaney kick relieved the siege Wymondham swept forward and landed their third try. From an attacking scrum on the Ely 22 Airdrie swept right and Cousens danced and jinked his way to 10 meters. From the resulting ruck Delaneys long miss pass picked out rangy replacement full back Perry who’s well timed run bisected the defence allowing him to score wide right.
Wymondham now scented the bonus point however Ely still had plenty of fight left and despite their best efforts there were no further scores leaving the final score 17 - 3 to Wymondham.
This was far from vintage performance however a combination of wet slippery conditions, a touch of post Christmas break rustiness, the inability of both sides to keep the referee consistently happy and a very capable opponent meant a win, however achieved was very welcome.
TEAM
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Matt Bailey
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Sam Hughes
5 Harry Wasdell
6 Sam Head
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney (capt)
11 Sam McCluskey
12 Josh Cousens
13 Connor Jermyn
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Chris Miller
17 Dan Fincham
18 Danny Perry
1XV v North Walsham Raiders
Saturday 16th December 2023
Despite their relative league positions Wymondham knew that North Walsham would be a tricky and proud opponent on their home turf. With several players having recent National League experience and fielding a useful looking backline nothing could or should be taken for granted.
After early skirmishes testing each other's mettle Wymondham settled their early nerves with a Bradley penalty. Soon after they scored their first try of the day when a messy line out was cleared up by Hughes at the tail. Delaney's flat pass sent a flying Clark through the middle and he used a combination of speed, footwork and bloody minded determination to touch down under the posts, Bradley adding the conversion. On 15 minutes a superb Wymondham counter-ruck in their own 22 saw the ball scooped up by the versatile Cousens. His mazy run up to halfway was taken on by centre Clark who in turn put speedster Mustard in under the sticks, Bradley converting. At 17 0 up after as many minutes it was starting to look ominous for the home side however they tightened their defence and the next 15 minutes were dominated by their all out effort to blunt Wymondham’s attacking flair. One concerted period of attack saw the visitors dominant scrum camped on the North Walsham 5 meter line for a full five minutes however time and again Walsham were able to turn, twist and generally frustrate before breaking out and scoring their first points through their rangy full back. Up to then Wymondham’s midfield defence had proved impenetrable with one particularly solid tackle from birthday boy Jermyn causing even the crowd to wince! As the half ended Walsham were only 10 points adrift, a lot closer than the visitors early dominance suggested it would be.
From the restart the ball was lost in midfield contact, allowing the Walsham fullback to chip over the flat defence and score, pegging the score back to 14 - 17. Fortunately one thing the class of 2023 have is youthful resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks and they were soon back on the attack. An Airdrie snipe from the base of a scrum set Bradley away on a penetrating run, Spriddell went into contact and quick ruck ball allowed Airdrie to put Cousens down the blindside and around under the posts, Bradley converting. The bonus point try soon followed when following a dominant Wymondham scrum on the Walsham 5 metre line Girdler drove to within a metre before veteran Wright picked up and galloped over. Delaney at 10 was cleverly using the gusting wind to pin Walsham inside their 22 and following one such kick and a successful chase a 5 metre scrum was won, driven over the line and touched down by Girdler with Bradley adding the extras. Further points came when another long click from Delaney put Walsham under pressure on their line and conceeding a five metre scrum. On this occasion they were able to resist the drive however Delaney’s beautifully timed pass saw Clark burst to the line allowing the prolific Girdler the opportunity to use his telescopic right arm to touch down. Despite the score Walsham were still fully committed and when a quickly tapped penalty was put through the hands they were able to score their third converted try of the match and get within one score of securing a bonus point. However Wymondham were in no mood to let this happen and following a superb tackle from replacement winger Stace, Airdrie's attempted jackal was illegally prevented and following a quick tap and series of forward drives and offloads powerhouse prop Spriddell was able to burst the last few tackles and score under the posts to complete the scoring.
Final score North Walsham Raiders 21 - Wymondham 48
Wymondham must be pleased with such a dominant performance against fierce Norfolk rivals to finish the year oñ a winning high. However knowing Max and his coaching team he will quite rightly be concentrating as much in training on the points that weren't scored as on the ones that were.
Mention must go to recent Colts George Wadham and Owen May who have both showcased their considerable skills in the senior teams this season and are off travelling after Christmas playing for Melbourne Harlequins. We wish them well and look forward to their return.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Stig Terzza
3 Chris Miller
4 Josh Wright
5 Sam Hughes
6 Matt Bailey
7 Sam Head
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney (c)
11 Angus Bradley
12 Connor Jermyn
13 Josh Clark
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Josh Cousens
16 Jamie Boggan
17 George Wadham
18 Joe Stace
Match Report
1XV v Cantabrigian
9th December 2023
On Saturday Wymondham entertained Cantabs, the only team to defeat Shelford Nomads this season, in another top of the table clash knowing they needed to win well to maintain the pressure on the league leaders.
Playing into a strengthening, gusty wind Wymondham soon hit their stride and an early attack saw them in the opposition 22 where they drove their opponents off their own scrum ball and attacked up to the line only for the Cantab fly half to hoof it back the length of the pitch. Cantabs then showed they were not to be taken lightly and a break out from their backs saw them score a fine wingers try. Large portions of the first half were spent playing between the 22’s with the home pack, using the powerful Miller, Terzza and old warhorse Wright trucking possession up through the middle and keeping the ball away from the dangerous opposition backline. With passing in the worsening conditions proving difficult possession was rarely making it beyond the congested midfield however when the ball did reach jet heeled winger Foley his 50 metre break was carried on by Cousens and Spriddell with Delaney having the ball squirt frustratingly from his grasp as he dived over the line. However the home side's first score came shortly after when a clearance kick was run back by Bradley, the forwards taking on the drive to the line and Girdler finishing it off with a typically muscular short range score. Just before half time Cantabs kicked a penalty to enter the break with a one point advantage but would it be enough against the wind, only time would tell?
Half time Wymondham 7 - Cantabrigian 8
Wymondham made a lively start to the second period with forwards and backs combining to force an early penalty converted by Bradley. Soon after the ever impressive Clark made a clean break through the middle where he found Bradley in support and when Cantabs prevented release at the subsequent breakdown Bradley chalked up another three. At this point the wind became crazily strong and when Delaney cleverly hoisted a high kick down centrefield it drifted over the fullbacks head and the charging Clark was able to gather the bouncing ball and feed the supporting Spriddell who showed an impressive turn of speed for a prop to scamper in under the sticks, Bradley converting. Wymondham continued to press and a Bradley prod through was fumbled on the 22 giving them an attacking scrum. From the base the ball was driven through a series of phases up to the line before the abrasive Bailey was able to burst through the last defenders and dive in at the corner with Bradley kicking a remarkable touchline conversion. From the kick off Clark gathered and pinballed his way through the opposition defenders however his final pass drifted forward in the wind. Pressing for the all important bonus point score Wymondham were soon back in the visitors 22 and when a 5 metre scrum was driven over the line a Cantabs player illegally stopped the touchdown and the referee, who was excellent all afternoon, had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try. As the half came to an end Cantabs mounted a final big effort to cross the home whitewash again using their well drilled forwards to batter away at the line. However Wymondham showed fantastic defensive organisation and discipline with flankers Head and Rodger putting in a prodigious number of tackles before Clark was able to lift the siege with a relieving kick.
There was time for Bradley to land one more penalty kick before the final whistle and in the process secure the man of the match award for his faultless 3 conversions and three penalties.
This was a fine win against a quality Cantabs side and brings the first half of the season to an end with Wymondham sitting in a strong second place in the league and playing some fantastic, entertaining rugby.
Final score Wymondham 37 Cantabrigian 8
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Stig Terzza
3 Chris Miller
4 Josh Wright
5 Matt Bailey
6 Sam Head
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney (c)
11 Elliot Foley
12 Josh Cousens
13 Josh Clark
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Ed Colman
17 Sam Hughes
18 Jack Blackham
Match Report
1XV v Shelford 2XV
2nd December 2023
Freezing fog, an unfamiliar artificial pitch and an experienced opponent meant Wymondham knew they were in for a challenging afternoon of rugby.
Unfortunately they made the worst possible start when a long kickoff to the corner wasn’t dealt with. From a resultant penalty the ball was driven over the line by the huge Shelford pack for a converted try with less than two minutes on the clock. The restart saw Wymondham run the ball back with Clark cutting a sublime angle, taking play deep into the opposition 22 before being downed by the fullback. Putting together half a dozen phases of possession drew a Shelford transgression, allowing Bradleys trusty boot to cut the deficit to 4 points. Shelford then delivered a sucker punch when their lanky winger snatched the kick off out of the air, pirouetted then sprinted through untouched to score. Undaunted, Wymondham came straight back, mounting a series of flowing attacks and moving the bulky Shelford forwards around. From one of these incursions possession reached winger Mustard who had the ball tackled from his grasp just short of the line. However, Wymondham got a nudge on the resulting Shelford scrum causing the ball to squirt out and allowing Airdrie to pounce terrier like and dance over for the try. As the half entered its final 10 minutes an exchange of penalties took the score to 15-13 before the travelling supporters were treated to a remarkable piece of individual skill. A long raking kick to the corner by Delaney saw the Shelford fullback put the ball into touch ten meters from their tryline. From the resultant line out the ball was driven to 5 meters and a ruck formed. Airdrie then popped the ball to winger Mustard who, from a standing start and with three defenders hitting him simultaneously, somehow managed to generate the momentum to go airborne and dot the ball down one handed. This made the half time score 15 - 18 to Wymondham.
The second half began as the first finished with Wymondham looking to run the ball at every opportunity and in defence putting in percussive tackles with Wadham, Head and the evergreen Boggan leading the charge. A long Shelford clearance kick was fielded by Bradley and his pass set Foley off on a direct and fast stepping run to the home 22. Following a series of forward drives the ball was moved right to skipper Delaney who bamboozled the onrushing defenders before purring in under the posts, Bradley converting. At 15-25 ahead it was looking good for the visitors however Shelford had realised their way to get back into the game was to starve the inventive visiting backs of possession. The huge shift the Wymondham forwards had put in up to now was beginning to take its toll, both on their bodies and energy levels, and the home pack were using their big lads to batter away through the middle. After a series of well orchestrated pick and drives Shelford burst through and scored under the posts. Wymondham continued to use their possession to test the home defence however the loss of prop Passmore and specialist hooker Reek forced a reorganisation that saw them struggle to win any consistent quality set piece possession. With the clock slowly heading towards 80 minutes it looked like the slim 3 point lead might be enough however one last concerted Shelford forward effort saw them drive the ball to the line before bundling over for a converted try. Wymondham finished the game back on the attack trying to find the way to unlock the Shelford defence again, something livewire replacement scrum half McCluskey thought he had managed, sprinting free as the ref blew for a Shelford injury. However it was not to be and the relief on the Shelford players faces at the final whistle told its own story.
Final score Shelford Nomads 27 Wymondham 25
Despite the obvious disappointment at the narrow loss this was an excellent team performance against a very good Shelford side. The lads now look forward to hosting an in-form Cantabs in front of its appreciative home support at Barnard Fields next week.
Team
1 Shaun Spriddell
2 Ollie Reek
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Sam Brabazon
6 Sam Head
7 George Wadham
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Charlie Delaney
11 Elliott Foley
12 Josh Cousens
13 Josh Clark
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Ed Passmore
17 Matt Bailey
18 Sam McCluskey
Match Report
1XV v Bury st Edmonds 2XV
18th November 2023
Written by Jon Hood & pictures from Kerry Lake
Playing a team one place ahead of them with an identical record Wymondham knew this was a must win game if they were to continue their pressure on league leaders Shelford.
It was very nearly the dream start when Blackhams long kick off pushed Bury deep into their own 22 and an energetic chase forced the mistake, giving Wymondham a 5 meter attacking scrum. A Girdler drive from the base took them up to the line however their over enthusiasm was penalised and Bury were able to clear. Wymondham were using their big ball carriers through the middle to test and sap the visitors defence with Boggan and Hughes making hard yards. On the quarter hour a low dropout following an unsuccessful Bradley penalty kick was intercepted by hooker Lenihan and his dribble to the line was grabbed illegally by the prone winger giving the referee no option but to award a penalty try. From the restart Wymondham were soon back on the attack and when line out possession was spun left a clever Clark miss pass gave Foley the chance to show his pace, losing the ball in contact 5 metres out. However Wymondham were not to be denied and the ensuing line out was expertly stacked and driven allowing the old war horse Wright to peel off and touch down for a score converted by Bradley.
The Bury side were clearly full of talent but Wymondhams suffocating defence was foiling their attacks, forcing them to cough up possession or make errors. Their best period of pressure came towards the end of the half when a series of 5 meter scrums on the home line was superbly defended before Wasdell and Airdrie combined to rob the scrum half and make a very important clearance.
HT 14 - 0
Team captain Delaney made his first appearance of the season after the break and had an immediate impact. Wymondham had initiated a series of pick and drives inside the visitors 22 when Airdie spotted Delaney making a blind side run, his clever pass letting him bisect the waiting defence and dive in at the corner.
It became apparent that the two excellent defences were now mostly getting the upper hand and long periods of play were spent in the middle third. Usually at this point in a game tiredness begins to take over and gaps appear; however it is testament to the fitness and skill of two similar and evenly matched sides that this didn't happen. The strengthening wind in Burys favour had also become a factor, shortening passes and making the long kick a potent weapon. As the half came to an end Bury mounted one final assault on the home line and following a series of pick and drives managed to breach the home defence. Wymondham finished the game on the attack, vainly pushing for a bonus point try but ultimately happy to record a satisfying victory.
Full time Wymondham 19 - Bury St Edmonds 2nds 5
This sets things up nicely for the visit to Shelford in two weeks time. Despite a lengthy injury list Wymondham now have a real depth of largely home grown talent to call upon and they are showing they have both the ability and desire to play entertaining and effective rugby.
1 Ed Passmore
2 George Lenihan
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Josh Wright
5 Sam Hughes
6 Harry Wasdell
7 Charlie Wtdmer
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie (c)
10 Jack Blackham
11 Elliot Foley
12 Josh Cousens
13 Josh Clark
14 Sam McCluskey
15 Angus Bradley
16 Connor Jermyn
17 Chris Miller
18 Charlie Delaney
Match Report
1XV v Diss
11th November 2023
Written by Jon Hood
With local bragging rights at stake and Diss having edged the pre- season trial match, this was always likely to be a lively and entertaining encounter. It certainly didn't disappoint.
From the kick off a motivated Diss applied the early pressure however the Wymondham defence, which has been a particular strength this season, was able keep them at bay . It soon became apparent that both sides were attempting to move the ball and add width to their play whenever possible and with an abundance of precocious young talent on both sides there was plenty of exciting running rugby to entertain the vociferous and sizeable crowd. Diss drew first blood on the half hour when the winger squeezed over in the corner following some sharp handling. A home penalty, matched by Bradley soon followed before Wymondham scored their first of the day. A series of drives had taken play deep into the home 22 when Boggan skillfully dived on a loose ball, allowing Airdrie to feed a rampaging Girdler who powered over. Just before the break Diss kicked another penalty to make it 13 - 10, a fair reflection of the half.
An early Bradley penalty brought it back to level pegging early in the second period. Wymondham began to turn the screw, continuing their scrum domination and running some incisive lines. Blackham very nearly touched down a Jermyn kick through then, following a dominant scrum, Cousens clever floated pass allowed Foley to drive to 5 meters before speedy ruck ball found Reek lurking in midfield and unstoppable at close range. From the long restart a skillful Rodger jackal gave a counterattack opportunity and replacement winger McCluskeys lightning break saw him lose the ball forward on the line. A Bradley penalty took it out to 13 - 20 however Diss were far from finished and Wymondham showed some fantastic skill and discipline around the breakdown to repulse their mini revival. As the half wore on Wymondham took control again and Reek very nearly profited from a Mustard run and infield kick. Shortly after a prodigious lineout drive took them from 22 to the line before it was illegally collapsed however from the quickly tapped penalty Girdler drove hard and low for his second of the afternoon. Wymondham now had their eyes on the bonus point and as the clock edged towards 80 minutes their centres punched deep into Diss territory allowing fly half Blackham to find Reek with a sublime flat pass before feeding the supporting Rodger for a well deserved try. Bradley converted with the last kick of the game to cap a fine performance and send the visiting supporters into the bar with a smile on their face.
Final score 13 - 34
This was a performance built on confidence and teamwork however mention should be made of Ed Passmore, who made his maiden first team start at tighthead prop and looks a very good addition to the club front row union.
TEAM
1 Ed Passmore
2 Ollie Reek
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Sam Hughes
5 Joe Hughes
6 Harry Wasdell
7 Chris Rodger
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie (c)
10 Jack Blackham
11 Elliot Foley
12 Josh Cousens
13 Connor Jermyn
14 Jordan Mustard
15 Angus Bradley
16 Luke Beales
17 George Wadham
18 Sam McCluskey
Match Report
1XV v West Norfolk Away
Saturday 4th November 2023
Written by Jon Hood & Pictures from Kerry Lake
Unfortunately this keenly anticipated fixture was spoiled as a spectacle by the saturated playing surface, squally rain showers and the difficulty both sides had in keeping their feet at the breakdown, resulting in a very whistle heavy afternoon.
Wymondham repulsed early pressure from the home side before mounting an attack of their own, winning a penalty successfully converted by Bradley. Despite the conditions, which would traditionally suggest a stick it up your jumper style conservative game plan, both sides were attempting to play open rugby. Jermyn came close to breaking through following a clever inside pass from Cousens and Mustard very nearly profited from a deft Blackham chip to the corner. In defence Rodgers was tackling everything in a grey shirt. Wymondham continued to use their three quarters to threaten the home line before finally finding a way through. From a period of concerted pressure Cousens took play left, dragging the defence with him, before quick ruck ball fired right saw the rugged Girdler maori sidestep through two defenders before putting the supporting Bradley in for a beautifully crafted score which he also converted. It was shortly after this that Wymondham lost their highly influential skipper Kiddle to a serious leg injury. This disrupted their momentum and the half petered out with neither side able to mount any further serious threat save a lone West Norfolk penalty. Half time score 3 - 10.
The visitors started the second half in determined mood and quickly laid siege to the home line. Showing excellent patience and discipline they probed left then right with Airdrie and Cousens both going close before young Hughes demonstrated excellent footwork then explosive power to surge over, Bradley converting. At this point the weather deteriorated further and the game settled into a long period of stalemate with neither side able to sustain any real momentum. Bradley managed to land a long range penalty and at 3 - 20 just as it looked like the game was petering out Wests secured a lineout in the Wymondham 22, drove to the line and were awarded a penalty try when the maul collapsed. A player down and with Wests looking to capitalise the Wymondham defence showed its mettle and they gradually managed to wrestle back momentum to finish the game on the front foot.
Final score West Norfolk 10 Wymondham 20
This was a pleasing if not pretty victory on the road against a stubborn and hard tackling opponent. Notable performances came from the ever improving Blackham who is forming a highly effective half back partnership with a rejuvenated Airdrie and the whole pack who worked tirelessly throughout. Mention must also be made of Kiddle, who has been a stand out forward during the first half of the season and who’s steadying hand on the tiller will be sorely missed during his absence. We wish him a successful and speedy recovery.
Match Report
1XV v Ipswich YM
Saturday 7th October 2023
Written by Jon Hood & Pictures from Kerry Lake
Determined to put last weeks disappointment behind them Wymondham kicked off in front of a knowledgeable and well lubricated crowd, bolstered by club alumni from the pre match past players lunch, Facing a slight breeze with the Barnards Fields playing surface looking immaculate Wymondham quickly showed their intention to play with width and tempo. After a couple of promising incursions Wymondham got on the scoreboard when quickly recycled centrefield possession was moved right and following some neat back line interplay Mustard took the inside pass and arrowed in under the posts. Wymondham continued to dominate this first period with the scrum having the edge, Airdrie swarming all over his opposing number 9 and Lenihan and Kiddle linking well at the line out. With the possession they got YM were attempting to get their big strike runners in play however the Wymondham tackling was solid and feisty. The next score came courtesy of a 5m line out with a series of forceful forward drives finished off by a beaming Boggan. Further points shortly followed with an almost carbon copy of the first when a pacey thrust down the right saw Wadham take the tackle and offload to the supporting Mustard. At 21 3 courtesy of 3 excellent Bradley conversions momentum began to swing and following a period of pressure the speedy YM flanker touched down on the left. Their resurgence continued and when the hooker went through the middle of an under resourced ruck to score and make the half time score 21 15 a few of the balcony silverbacks were ruefully shaking their heads.
However Wymondham are now blessed with confidence and self belief and following some sage words from the coaching team they began the second period with renewed focus. From an attacking scrum the ball was driven infield and following some neat forward interplay the ball was popped to the lurking Beales who bounced over from 2 meters. Still very much alive YM brough it back to 6 points when their big hard running centre burst through from close range. With the game back in the balance the Wymondham defence was coming into its own with Head, Jermyn and young Hughes putting in a prodigious tackling shift. After another concerted drive by YM was repulsed and Wadham effected a brilliant jackal the ball was whipped out to Bradley who ran ¾ of the length of the pitch before putting the supporting Mills in at the corner. With the game finally secure the final try was a beautifully crafted effort with Blackhams deft infield chip gathered by who else but Bradley who left defenders in his wake to touch down in the corner. Ironically this was the only kick at the sticks he failed to convert bringing his points tally for the game to 18 and capping an outstanding personal effort.
Final score - 43 - 22
Although far from faultless this was an exciting performance not least because this squad promises so much more. YM were a well organised, experienced and determined opponent and for a Wymondham side of mostly home- grown talent and containing six players aged 20 or under looking to play exciting crowd pleasing rugby it bodes well for the rest of the campaign. With several established players absent through injury or unavailability it poses some interesting selection dilemmas for Max and his coaching team when they return.
Match Report
1XV v North Walsham Raiders
Saturday 23rd September 2023
Courtesy of Jon Hood
Following their impressive win last week at Wisbech the red and blacks faced newly promoted Walsham Raiders at Barnards Fields hoping to entertain the vociferous balcony crowd. The team included young tearaway flankers Joe Hughes and George Wadham and fullback Jack Blackham, all recent products of the vibrant and successful youth section.
Flying out of the blocks Wymondham regained the kick off, driving up to the try line before conceding a penalty allowing Walsham to clear. This was to become a theme throughout the match with the refs whistle frustrating so many promising moves. Walsham had come to play and were keen to get the ball wide however the midfield defence was resolute and as the game progressed it became clear Wymondham held the aces in the forwards and backs. The first try was a real beauty with the ball being moved through the hands to the right wing before a quick recycle and four zipped passes saw Bradley in on the left The next points came following a series of muscular drives up to the Walsham line before Airdie picked out prop Beales lurking on the left and he motored in from 2 meters. The home scrum was now completely dominant and following a huge 8 man drive Airdrie, who's service was fast and accurate all match, found Hughes with a flat pass who burst through the defence from 10 meters. The final points of the half came courtesy of a penalty try after Foley was obstructed as he went to touch down a Clark kick through. Half time 24 - 6
Walsham started the second half with a try in the corner following a series of penalties however this resurgence was short lived as Wymondham regained their first half dominance. They added two more tries and but for some committed Walsham defence could have had more. The first was driven over by mobile hooker Reek following a series of driving rucks and the second a wonderful sweeping move the length of the pitch finished off by Stace. Bradley kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Man of the match was centre Josh Clark awarded for his vision and elusive running
Final score Wymondham 41 Walsham 11.
TEAM
1 Luke Beales
2 Ollie Reek
3 Jamie Boggan
4 Duncan Williams
5 Sandy Kiddle (c)
6 Joe Hughes
7 George Wadham
8 Jake Girdler
9 Auden Airdrie
10 Josh Cousens
11 Angus Bradley
12 Connor Jermyn
13 Josh Clark
14 Elliot Foley
15 Jack Blackham
16 Chris Miller
17 Sam Brabazon
18 Joe Stace