After two seasons of what can best be described as difficult circumstances, the Chipping Sodbury RFC Mens section has launched into the 2025-26 season with a renewed passion and sense of purpose. Early preseason wins showed that the influx of young players from last year’s Colts, as well as the welcome return of some senior faces, was going to make this a season to remember. Numbers at training have been excellent and Head Coach Steve Hopes’ leadership was bearing fruit.
Early wins in September against Bristol Barbarians (55-19 at home) and Cleve II (19-45 away) showed the way, with a new brand of fast flowing wide out running adding to the strength and power that we have come to expect from the Sods forwards. The month finished with a home walkover against Bristol Aeroplanes Co. in the Plate competition.
October blew in with another strong performance against St Brendan’s Old Boys (48-5 at home) and a big win over Old Bristolians II (76-5 away). The second XV has also been busy, regularly fielding a squad of twenty plus, for friendly fixtures that have produced some solid wins against local opposition.
A so to this week. After so many good wins, the Sods sit second in the table, with Yate first on points difference and Frampton Cotterell II a close third, all three sides on maximum points. Saturday saw the visit of a Dings III side that had suffered mixed fortunes so far with a two and two record after a slow start to the season. Recent form suggested, however, that this would be a stiffer test for the boys in black.
Playing up the Ridings with a stiff breeze blowing, the Sods soon found themselves under pressure from a Dings side determined to bludgeon the defensive line with one-out runners. Some big tackling from forwards and backs, along with good kicking from James Bennett at 10 and Franklin Griffee at 15 kept the visitor out despite repeated attempts to score. The scrum was working well with go-forward on both our own and opposition ball and Freddie Nutt carrying well from the base, but the lineout struggled in the breeze and added to the pressure. Repeated attempts to break the Sodbury line ended in a series of knock-ons or turnovers and after 15 minutes it was still all square at 0-0 with Sodbury having hardly left their 22.
Dings were penalised for not releasing in the ruck, then a cross field from inside his own 22 clearance was taken in the air by Franklin who put boot to ball and the chase caused the Dings fullback to slice his clearance giving Sodbury a lineout just outside the 22. A clean catch and some hard running, by Joe Sanders and Captain Ben Keeping, in close lead to the ball being moved out wide to the right and Franklin dove over in the corner for the first try. 5-0 Sodbury against the run of play.
Dings were soon back in the mix, driving hard against determined defensive work from the home side. Poor discipline from both teams led to a string of free kicks and penalties which on 24 minutes produced a 3-point score for the visitors. 5-3. More pressure and more penalties followed producing a lineout on the Sodbury 5 which Dings took and drove over for a try. 5-8 on 34 minutes. The game then oscillated between the 22s with both sides making too many mistakes until a penalty for holding on in the ruck produced a good lineout take at the front for Dings on the Sodbury 10; the subsequent passing moving the ball wide right for a score in the corner. 5-13 deep into extra time.
Half-time saw Steve delivering a strong message to the boys to play the patterns and system they have developed and to carry the game to the opponents, down the hill towards the clubhouse and into the breeze.
More Pressure in the Second Half
The second half started with more pressure from the visitors, but the Sods defence was now making it much harder for the one-out runners, driving them back time after time until they kicked the ball away or made a mistake. On their own ball Sodbury were now looking to use the back line more, with Dave Mouatt and Franklin Griffee among the players making good metres in the wider channels.
The scrums were now very clean, allowing Freddie to pick and go from the base, linking with Ryan Halford who had come on at half time. One such attack led to a kick from Ryan down the centre and follow up to put the 15 under pressure. His kick was fielded by AJ Smith who kicked it behind the 9 and after gaining an advantage he eventually went over for Sodbury’ second try just to the left of the posts. The conversion by James Bennett, his last touch before being substituted looking battered and bruised made it 12-13 with 56 minutes on the clock.
The game now evenly balanced, Sodbury really started to exert some pressure with strong runs from all and sundry and fierce tackling leaving one or two of the Dings players littered about the field at times. More good work at the scrum produced the next try, with good hands in the middle of the pitch putting George Lockett over in the left corner. 17-13 with 2 minutes of normal time to go.
The final score for Sodbury came from a lineout. A freekick for an early lift by Dings had Mike Orram taking a quick one and sets up another strong run by Joe Sanders. Jordan Davies takes the ball from the ruck and dances through 3 defenders to score under the sticks. 22-13.
A final determined drive by Dings carried them deep into the Sodbury 22 and repeatedly trying to break the defence. Eventually the moves break down on the 5-metre line close to Sodbury’s right corner but a determined effort at the lineout saw the ball stolen and Ryan Halford kicking the ball dead.
A scrappy, stop-start affair between two sides determined to go at each other with no mercy. However, the Chipping Sodbury side kept their composure well and finished strongly to keep the unbeaten record in tack and score yet another try bonus point.
Next week sees the boys at home in the Plate second round against local rivals Yate. Get yourself up to the Ridings and support the Team.