In our second away game of the season, the Saxons made the long trip down to Southend. With a winter chill in the air, the Saxons prepped for the game in a cramped room with a door that we originally thought was a toilet but turned out to be a door to the physio room.
Southend matched us on Numbers as we were short several people, so we played 12 a Side with uncontested scrums and lineouts but still attempting to hook in the scrums and jumping in the lineouts. We set up the game in 15min quarters with shorter breaks between the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th quarters and a longer break at half time. Their bench being much fuller than ours.

Mr A (Aldeburgh Coach) got us warmed up and the Ref came over to check boots and discuss the layout of the game. We requested that he do a bit of ref/coaching and he clarified how he would play the advantage during the game. With the Southend Captain trying to figure out who would run the touchline from their side, the ref asked Nat to call it. She went with tails and asked to receive the Ball, so Southend played away from the sun.

The first quarter saw the Saxons, who were massively out of position, play a very disorganised game, with everyone trying to figure out how to structure with just 12 players in positions they were not used to. In the Chaos, Southend scored within the first 5 mins, showing an impressive display of their backs moves, placing it in a top corner, making it a difficult kick, which they missed. Trying to calm the players and keep spirits up, Nat rallied the team to get back out on the pitch. Southend scored and converted, but the Saxons were not letting that get them down. On Southend’s run at their 3rd try, back of the match, Ashleigh Morton was chasing down their wing, she grabbed her by the shorts and G-string and yanked back, Who needs a seat-belt tackle when you can G-string tackle! This did not hold up Southend long though and they scored 3 Try’s and converted 1 in the first quarter. The first quarter came with the first Injury, Ashleigh went off with an injured knee, which was playing up from a previous Game. Saxons 0 – Southend 17.

In the second 15mins, Southend scored another try, but the Saxons had become more organised and used their kickers to put Southend on the back foot. Toni Kerr showing her great footwork, Manon Kinchin her line speed, and Lauren Howard with her pick and go, placed us within a meter of the try line. After 6 attempts to ram the ball over the line, we knocked it on only to hear the half time whistle. Two things were noted in that quarter – firstly their 8 was not binding on, and you could see her eyes over the top of the scrum. Secondly, despite the warning from the ref at the start of the game, Southend favoured elbowing people in the neck and face, perhaps they were taking note from France in the world cup, they must have missed the red card! Nat mentioned both to the ref, to which he says he has noticed and will have a word with Southend Captain. Saxons 0 – Southend 22.

In the third quarter Harriet, our Hooker, had figured out a trick with the oppositions scrum. If we weren’t going to win it just kick it out the back. This made their Nine fumble a little and allowed to us more time to come up on their backs. We picked up two more injuries, allowing only one try through in the process and we dropped down to 10 aside. Alex Radcliffe, our women of the match, put in some fantastic tackles and ended up in an awkward position with one of the Southend Ladies - straddled across her. The ref gave us some pointers and said we were hanging too wide off the scrum, which is how they broke our line to get their try. Though they did not manage to convert it. Lesson learned – Georgia needs to stay at 10 for us to be organised and not too sparse, though she did a fantastic job at 9. Saxons 0 – Southend 27.

For the final Quarter, the Saxons were aching from the hard battle that had taken place on the pitch and the low numbers pushed our fitness to its brink. Southend prevailed to get another try out near the touchlines, again showing the skill of their backs and formation. On the final injury in the game, we called the last quarter early, rather than drop to 9 players. Southend showed us their experience and ferocity, but we kept our heads high, showing that the East Suffolk Saxon spirit is hard to falter. Saxons 0 – Southend 32.

While the crowd was not on our side, it was nice to see the progression of Women’s rugby down in Southend who held a Sponsors lunch, which drew in a crowd on the day. The Curry was fantastic and was very much appreciated – Thank you for having us ladies and we look forward to hosting you in the second half of the season. Manon Kinchin being named player of the match by their sponsors; she received a bottle of white wine for the title.

Back of the match: Ashleigh Morton, Forward of the match: Lauren Howard; Women of the Match: Alex Radcliffe.

c. Natilie Swateridge