Comprehensive defeat for Wisbech at Woodbridge
Wisbech 1st XV suffered their second defeat of the season last Saturday when they were comprehensively beaten by Woodbridge at Hatchley Barn.
It took 15 minutes for Woodbridge to edge the lead when they scored a try through full back Thomas Ives. Fly half Jamie Smith slotted the conversion to put the home side 7-0 up.
Wisbech’s poor discipline at the breakdown which would prove to be their Achilles heel all afternoon, saw them give away a kickable penalty. Jamie Smith pointed to the posts and slotted the kick over to extend their lead to 10-0.
The Men in Red’s case was not helped by the lack of a replacement when Raimondas Vinksna picked up a rib injury and the only substitute was unfortunately delayed on the M25 travelling from Portsmouth University.
Woodbridge were in control and that showed on 25 minutes when centre Jean-Paul Hart scored their second try of the game.
Wisbech finished the half strongly but failed to take their chances in good positions with several errors and poor discipline, which would see Woodbridge clear their lines, costing Wisbech dearly, as they went into the break 15-0 down.
The previous week’s free-flowing attacking rugby from Wisbech was nowhere to be seen as Woodbridge’s momentum carried over into the second half.
Wisbech were slow out of the starting blocks in the second half and Woodbridge made them pay with a penalty just seven minutes in to extent their lead to 18-0.
Wisbech had gone away from their traditional high tempo offloading game for the unfamiliar crash ball approach with one out runners constantly being turned over.
The Wisbech forwards struggled at the breakdown and rucks producing slow ball which Woodbridge defended with ease.
Pinned in their half by a clinical Woodbridge side, Wisbech, tactically naïve, instead of clearing their lines and kicking for field position, uncharacteristically tried to force the game by trying to run every ball from deep behind the gain line, only to be knocked back by a stubborn Woodbridge defence.
Woodbridge withstood the Wisbech pressure and responded, scoring their third try of the game through winger Oliver Brown to stretch the home sides lead to 23-0, with 15 minutes to play.
With the game gone Wisbech started a fightback too little too late, scoring two consolation tries in the final 10 minutes to reduce the score to 23-12, as Wisbech headed home with their second loss of the season.
Wisbech director of rugby Leonard Veenendaal said: “Today’s result was an example of what happens when you take the opposition for granted. Woodbridge gave the lads a lesson in what happens when you do.
“We made our own problems starting with poor training and availability to travel, and that’s not good enough
“Our poor discipline and inability to execute our game plan cost us dearly and I call on the players to respond positively with commitment, starting with training and putting it right at Fakenham.”
Next up, Wisbech travel to Fakenham, which traditionally has not been a happy hunting ground for the Men in Red, for their final league match this side of Christmas.
Wisbech 1st XV: 15. Samuel Anderson 14. Raimondas Vinksna 13. Lewis Haddon 12. Ethan Garford 11. Andrew Martin, 10. Gerhard Wessels (c) 9. Zac Lakey 8. Toddy Case 7. Brad Williams 6. Skippy Parsons 5. Solomon Prestidge 4. Jack Obey 3. Kerrie McMullen 2. George Overland 1. Josh Anderson 16. Frazer Brown