Holt have always had a good relationship with Southwold, a long distance one but a good one. Great to see them traveling all the way up from Suffolk for this fixture. Although after five minutes they may have regretted honouring the fixture, whether it was the long journey or the fact that Holt were so up for this game from the start, who can tell, it was just that everything seemed to click for the home team.
The notepad had hardly been opened and Callum was under the posts, following a great catch from Alex Storey and a superb straight run breaking through the Southwold lines. Ally popped the conversion over to make it Holt 7: Southwold 0. Callum was soon adding to his tally, sprinting down the wing after a well contested scrum and the won ball being spun out wide, another Ally conversion and the scores were Holt 14: Southwold 0 in the blink of an eye.
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| Ally creeps up on an unsuspecting ball. |
The Holt scrums were looking solid, George Robson really leading the pack in, calling the 'hit, one, two, three'. Ollie Ross and Ben in the 2nd row driving the front row on against much larger opponents, the back row alert and ready. Another Holt score was soon on the cards, this time from Matti making what is becoming one of his trademark straight strong runs through the middle, to go under the posts and Ally again converting. Holt 21 : Southwold 0.
As much as Southwold were looking to get back into the game, Holt just kept on coming back, through hard work and great tackling, they really didn't want to concede a try. The Holt forwards were having to battle against a good strong pack but they kept at it and whenever the ball come out on the visitor's side the Holt three-quarters were straight up and in their faces, looking to turn the ball over. And this is exactly what happened to give Holt another score, Alex and Callum combining well to rip the ball off an isolated Southwold player and Callum was away to complete his hat-trick. No conversion this time.
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| Scrum time. |
And then another. This one from Simmo, a classic solo effort, straight from the start down the left wing and with a chip on the last defender, a nice controlled grubber kick, he was over to score. These latest two tries taking the scores to Holt 31: Southwold 0. The talk from the sidelines was all about what a superb display they were witnessing. Great stuff and a real advert for the way the Holt u14s can play the game.
It was then Matti's turn to add to his earlier score, taking the ball well, spinning out of a couple of tackles and then straightening up and speeding away to score under the posts. A simple conversion took the score to Holt 38: Southwold 0. Everything was working well, great hands giving good distribution which can only be achieved with support runners. It was following one of these periods of linked up play that Jerry then came as close as he has to scoring his first competitive try, breaking from the side of a maul and bursting forward, only to be held up on the 5metre line. So close but an example of how so many of the Holt players have improved in not only their ability but also their confidence. Great to see. Another example of this was Jack Brady joining in the fray putting great pressure on the opposition. Not to be outdone Caz then got stuck in, taking the ball on and into contact. Good to see everyone really going for it. Theo then added to the score after a very well won scrum 10metres out from the Southwold line, picking the ball from the back of the scrum, keeping low and driving over in the corner, showing good strength.
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| A gaggle of Holt players. |
Jack Brady then scored his first for the club, a special moment for any player, at any level. This one coming just as Southwold were starting to look more and more threatening and getting closer to the Holt 22. Matti broke, with Callum and Jack in support, an off-load from Callum set Jack free to make the score, even though he still had plenty of ground to make. Jamie converted and the whistle blew for half-time, the score was Holt 50: Southwold 0.
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| Jamie rehearses for next years Strictly. |
Although Holt had been rolling subs on and off all morning, even more changes were made at half-time, looking to see players in a variety of positions. Southwold were definitely the stronger team at the start of the half and were certainly threatening the Holt line. This was until a super run at speed and from a very good angle by Alex, who passed back to Simmo to score in the corner. The tricky conversion was missed. Southwold then delivered what they had threatened to do from the start of the 2nd half, their big No. 8, Joe picking from a won scrum and driving over from 10 metres. A second score from Southwold soon followed their first and this one came from a good move, a neat side-step and good running from one of the visitor's stand-out players, Luke. The converted try made it Holt 55: Southwold 12.
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| 'Come on Jerry' |
Holt were not going to finish on a low and several phases of play with Alex running some great lines, Jack tackling everything and looking dangerous, Caz linking well and slipping through tackles, Robbo trying out at No.8, Sam Crafer playing really well at scrum-half and Dean boshing everything in sight. The last try of the game though was one to behold, a super all-round try. The forwards winning the scrum, Alexander and Jerry having to work hard all morning, giving a good platform to Sam to deliver to the backs, Caz joining in to add options. Matti received the ball, broke through and Jack was on his shoulder in a perfect position to take the ball at speed and go over to seal the victory. Jack then won the crossbar challenge and the final score was a very impressive Holt 60: Southwold 12.
Brilliant rugby, excellent teamwork and what a way to win the last game of the year. Well done everyone who came on, all performed superbly.
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