Mersea Island’s first foray into the new season was away to Woodbridge 1st XV on Saturday. Woodbridge – who finished mid-table last season – provided a stern challenge for Islanders, taking the win after a very even contest.

On a hot and dry afternoon on a lush wide pitch, both sides decided that running rugby was the order of the day and the first half saw both sides run hard through the middle and give the ball some air out wide. From a Woodbridge exit, centre Isaac Sestak countered up through the middle, with quick ball going out to right wing Cam Higgins. Woodbridge were offside and Pat Gardiner opened Mersea’s account for the season from the penalty. Shortly afterwards, a Mersea clearance was taken in the Woodbridge back field, and the ensuing counterattack resulted in a try to the visitors. With both sides evenly matched, it took a Woodbridge mistake to result in the visitors next points; Alex Strutt streaking away through the middle and offloading to Brad Gardiner to score. With the ascendancy leaning towards Mersea, another indiscretion gave Pat Gardiner 3 more points, taking the visitors lead out to 7-13. Woodbridge then came back, putting pressure on the visitors inside their 22; a team yellow finally being dished out. From the tap and go, Woodbridge bashed up, and then shifted it left for quick passing to reach the left winger for the home sides second try. An excellent touch line conversion made it 14-13 at the break.

The first 10 minutes of the second half continued in a relative stalemate with both teams making errors, or not capitalising on pressure; and Mersea doing well to hold out with only 14 men on the pitch. Now back to 15 and 60 minutes on the clock, Mersea again drew a penalty from the visitors and Gardiner slotted his fourth goal for the day to make it 14-16. The last 20 to go, and a slender lead for Mersea to protect. However, from the restart Mersea conceded a penalty of their own, and Woodbridge took the lead back from right out in front. The home side then managed to gain possession inside Mersea territory, and from another penalty Woodbridge extended their lead to 20-16 with 10 minutes to play. From the restart, Mersea retook possession of the ball and attacked deep into the Woodbridge half. However the ball was turned over and the home team shifted it right to attack the right touchline. Mersea scrambled well back into the middle of the park but a kick back down the right bobbled unkindly for the visitors, and a Woodbridge player dived on the loose ball to score. The conversion was missed and Woodbridge had a 25-16 lead. Although disappointed, the Mersea players showed grit in the next few minutes to wrestle most of the possession and give Gardiner another shot at the posts after a slew of Woodbridge penalties, which was duly taken. The final stanza saw both teams have a chance at scoring points, with Woodbridge attacking Mersea’s left hand 22 before a penalty gave the visitors a last crack at the whip. From the quick tap, Ben Norfolk slung a long wide pass out to Brad Gardiner, who put Sestak and Higgins away on the left. Mersea recycled the ball through multiple phases but an error put an end to the 60 metre attack and Woodbridge took the spoils.

The final score Woodbridge 25, Mersea 19.