London 3 promotion play-off Southwold 49 Millwall 3 Southwold wrote a new page in their history book as they smashed Millwall to win promotion to London 2 North, the highest level of rugby the club will have ever played at, writes David Vaughan.
Wold’s speed, fitness and total organisation together with their team spirit, ably lead by skipper and man of the match, James Hall, lead to the stunning display of attacking rugby in what was probably Wold’s best performance of the entire campaign.
Wold were seven points up after only two minutes when they drove up the pitch from the halfway line and Dom Hill got the opening try pretty much under the Millwall posts.
Millwall replied with a penalty, but that was to be the only time they troubled the scorer all day.
Two Josh Wallis penalties moved the score on to 13-3 before Ollie Carlstroem got the first of his four tries wide on the left following a series of drives by Wold right across the pitch, making it 18-3 at the break.
Wold pretty much sealed the game from the kick-off in the second stanza as they kept possession for seven or eight phases and swept up the pitch, allowing Carlstroem to run in for his second try and a 23-3 lead.
Next James Hall went over wide on the left on 60 minutes, after Will Debenham had carved the opportunity. Wallis this time slotted form the touchline and Wold’s lead increased to 30-3.
Carlstroem crossed for his hat-trick and Jon Utting added another as Wold cruised towards promotion.
Just before the final whistle Millwall cleared their 22 with a poorish kick up the centre and Wallis picked up and jinked his way down the right hand side before feeding Utting, who made good metres before he executed a grubber kick perfectly for Carlstroem to chase down for his fourth try and Wold’s final of the day.
Wallis crowned the move with a perfect two point kick from the touchline and, as the final whistle blew, Southwold celebrated their historic win.
It was a fantastic day for the club and great credit should go to Seb Anthony, Kevin Cayley and James Alvis as the coaches who have guided this young team and masterminded their fantastic performances.
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