Eastern Counties Rugby Union

The festive weekend started with a bang when Colchester’s venerable veterans met a Suffolk vets squad on Friday night, serving up the preface to Saturday’s local derby.
Colchester’s gallant 15, drawn mostly from the Roundheads were supported by Daniel Land from Clacton, and Jeremy Foster from YM; the squad averaging a comfortable 50 years of age.
The Suffolk squad, playing in Bury kit, numbering 20, and curated by Bury’s Zac Sutton, represented no less than 7 clubs, with significant numbers from Bury, Ipswich YM and Felixstowe, supported by players from Woodbridge, Mildenhall, Hadleigh & Halstead.
The game was played to commemorate & celebrate Colchester’s gnarly prop Alan Goggin’s 75 birthday. Alan has been the scourge of opposition’s front rows in North Essex & Suffolk for many, many years.

Played on Colchester’s all-weather pitch but in sub-zero temperatures, the game was managed by Colchester’s veteran 67 year old referee, Ross Cowie.
The game was played at a good pace, closely contested, with never more than 2 tries between the teams. At times the tackling was physical and brutal; at other times tackling was optional ! An 11 try feast resulted.

Colchester were immediately on the attack, with Daniel Land scoring under the posts for Bart Wilkinson to convert. 7-0
Suffolk responded immediately when Danny Brown (YM) strolled over for an unconverted try. 7-5
Following a half pitch break from Sam Girdlestone, Colchester’s Wilfred Lau was taken out around the neck, just short of the line. A penalty try was awarded. 14-5
Again Suffolk responded swiftly with Carl Jones (Bury) running over to convert his own try. 14-12
Suffolk scored again when Felixstowe prop forward, Gareth Carr bruised over – Jones again converting. 14-19 at half time.
Suffolk increased their lead when Andy Osborne (Felixstowe) went over after sustained pressure, converting his own try. 14-26
Colchester reduced the deficit when Kier Stannard spotted a gap in the Suffolk defence and popped over under the posts. Wilkinson converted 21-26
Tit for tat, Suffolk responded when Gareth Carr scored his second try with Jones again converting. 21-33
Daniel Land, showing the pace of his youth took the ball on the half way line to run the length of pitch, scoring his second try under the posts. Wilkinson slotted the conversion 28-33.
Bart Wilkinson collected a loose ball on Colchester’s 22, and with a seemingly open pitch in front of him, started haring down the pitch but realised that his pace was no longer there, kicked ahead. From the resulting line-out, Colchester’s No8, Gary Palmer charged over in the corner to level the scores. 33-33.
The last 5 minutes of the game moved from end to end, but Suffolk took a deserved lead in the dying seconds when Adam Grimwood (Felixstowe) popped over for their 6th try.
The final score was 33-38 to Suffolk, not that anyone was too worried; a great night, when 30 plus veterans could enjoy a relaxed game and a pint in their own company, celebrating Alan Goggin’s 75th birthday.
£400 was raised for Wooden Spoon, rugby’s charity.