Today’s Sudbury Festival was the last festival in the 2008/2009 season. A chilly morning soon turned into a pleasantly warm, spring afternoon. Cambridge’s rugby largely followed the increase in temperature. A bye in the first round of the pool stage saw them pitted against Colchester B for their first game of the tournament.

Colchester B v Cambridge (0-0)

This proved to be a strongly defended game with neither side giving any quarter.

In the first half Annalie Barker, Fin Creighton and Sam Wallis did some good tackling for Cambridge. Indeed, Sam put in a try saving tackle to stop a flying run down the wing by Colchester.

Cambridge stepped up a gear at the start of the first half. Blair Reid was unlucky not to score after a driving run. A good drive by fellow forward, Max Sayer, also gained Cambridge some vital ground.

In the end, however, defiant defending by two evenly matched teams left the scores level.

Bury v Cambridge (5-0)

This was a similar game to the Colchester game, with tough defending by both teams.

Blair Reid put in a strong performance for Cambridge in this game, putting in some decisive tackles in the first half and being unlucky not to score in the second half after being pushed into touch just short of the try line.

Bury won by the narrowest of margins, their single try coming after Cambridge had conceded a penalty just before half time.

Sudbury v Cambridge (5-10)

A smaller pool than originally intended saw Cambridge through to this, the plate semi final.

Cambridge came out strongly in the first half. A good link up between Sam Wallis and Fin Creighton left Cambridge tantalisingly close to the Sudbury try line. Fin soon scored for Cambridge, however, with a fine, breakaway try.

The second half was very evenly matched. Sudbury applied the pressure in the early stages and it was only through a crunching tackle by Matthew Schofield that they were denied a try. They soon equalized, however, after a passage of dominant rugby.

Cambridge’s confidence was not dented by this and a try from Sam Wallis saw them through to victory and the plate final.

Woodbridge v Cambridge (15-10)

Woodbridge scored a flying try at the start of the first half but Cambridge then settled and, once again, a hard fought defensive battle ensued.

A great, weaving try by Jonah Stekly for Cambridge in the second half gave huge inspiration and when Fin Creighton brought the scores level at 10-10 it looked like Cambridge might just have the momentum to see them through. Woodbridge clinched the win at the death, however, with a third try just seconds before the final whistle.

All in all, the festival saw Cambridge play some spirited rugby which they will hopefully build on next year.

Now it only remains for your scribe to say what a pleasure it has been to once again produce these reports. Have a good summer and see you in September!