London 3 East Wisbech 26 Southwold 38 Southwold claimed a bonus-point win at Wisbech, but will have to settle for a promotion-deciding play-off clash with Millwall after finishing as league runners-up to Stowmarket.
That game, on Southwold Common this Saturday, will be the biggest game in the club’s history as a win would put them at the highest level they’ve ever played at.
Wold opened the scoring on five minutes when Adam Smith crashed over from a forwards gather and drive after having won good line-out ball five metres out, and Josh Wallis added the extra two points from wide on the left.
Less than ten minutes later Wisbech were awarded two needless penalties and went from their 22 into Wold’s via two successive great touch kicks, and they then made a carbon copy of Wold’s try to narrow the score deservedly to 7-5.
It then got worse when Adam Smith was yellow carded and Wisbech were awarded a penalty under the posts. They drove over for a great forwards try and took the lead at 12-7, having slotted the easy conversion.
Wallis added a penalty and it was 12-10 to Wisbech at the break.
Southwold came out firing after the break and the evergreen Des Brett went over to put them back in front, converted by Wallis for 17-12.
Then Zak Loader added another try, coupled with Wallis extras, and Wold were 24-12 to the good.
It got even better when Dom Hill crossed after great work from Brett straight from the restart, Wallis converting again, and Southwold were sitting pretty at 31-12.
Wisbech reduced the deficit with their forwards scoring a great try right under the Wold posts following a penalty for offside, and with the kick good, with quarter of an hour to go it was 31-19 to Wold.
Six minutes from time, Sammy Harmer made the game safe, with Wallis again slotting the extras, for 38-19.
Resilient Wisbech were not finished however and after three consecutive penalties on the Wold line the forwards drove over yet again on the stroke of full time to make the final score 38-26.
Wold finished as league runners up on the basis of losing two games to champions Stowmarket’s one, and now face that Millwall play-off.
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