Holt v Fakenham (16.12.12)

What a lovely way to round off a messy half to the season. Great to see such a good turn-out for this fixture and as usual we managed to keep players rotated so everyone got as much rugby as possible.

If the cap fits...

The game started with a very well, Holt kicking off to Fakenham and the resulting drive from this pressure meant the ball popped out to Jacko, who used his strength to break a couple of tackles and go over. Ally converted this one, and many others during the morning, which really did help to keep the score ticking over. Fakenham responded really well, courtesy of a messy re-start and then a good kick through and a ball that died just over the line as Simmo went to touch it down, missing by a hands length. Holt 7 - Fakenham 5.

The game overall was very well competed and it was never going to be an easy win, Holt had to work very hard to either keep possession or regain possession in the breakdown. Both teams were playing a very condensed game and not making the most of the very wide Holt 1st team pitch. There was some great tackling by the Holt players and strong running that either broke tackles or gave the opportunity for the ball to be re-cycled. Jacko then scored his second of the game after a much better re-start putting pressure on Fakenham straight away causing an advantage to be played, Jacko picked and went. Another Ally conversion made it Holt 14 - Fakenham 5.

The coalface.

The next Holt score came from a very strong scrum, the ball coming out and through Ally, Matti, Callum, Shed and finally Alex to dive over right in the corner. A tough conversion was missed and the score was Holt 21 - Fakenham 5. It wasn't long before another Holt try was added, this one from Matti, making a welcome return, bursting through the middle and sprinting away to score under the posts. Ally popped this one over to make it Holt 28 - Fakenham 5.

Super backs play on show all morning.

The last try of the half came from Simmo. Another super scrum after some great rucking and counter-rucking, the ball coming out to Simmo, who skipped through three tackles to score. The scrummaging was well contested all morning and this gave an excellent platform to the backs to do their magic. Ally just missed this conversion and the half time score was Holt 33 - Fakenham 5.

Coach Will looks on...

The second half was a scrappy start, possibly due to the changes to each side but mainly to Fakenham upping their game and really looking to get back into the match. The opposition were keeping things tight and pulling the Holt players in too. Holt were managing to hold off the visitors pressure and just need to get the ball wide and use their speed. Eventually an opportunity arrived and the ball was worked wide but Fakenham covered the move and a little awkwardly the ball was re-worked back inside with Matti straightening to burst through and score under the posts. Another conversion for Ally. Holt 40 - Fakenham 5.

Matti gets his second of three tries.

Try number seven was scored by Alex, again after some solid work in the centre of the pitch. Eventually, through great hands the ball came out to Alex who sprinted away down the wing in front of a really good crowd of mostly appreciative Holt supporters. Ally kicked the conversion and the score was Holt 47 - Fakenham 5. At half-time the boys were challenged to keep a clean sheet in the second half and this was only going to be possible with a really high work rate. Something that was kept up, whoever was on the pitch.

Subs ready for action.

The next try was worthy of the 'turd of the day' for the wave from Matti for Theo to take a picture as he sprinted by. A great try, not so sure about the show-boating... Needless to say Theo's reactions weren't quick enough! The try was converted and the the scores stood at Holt 54 - Fakenham 5. Callum scored the penultimate try, after a kick over the top that didn't seem necessary at the time but fortunately came off, Caz put the defender under immediate pressure and Callum profited from the the situation, nicking the ball away and sprinting over to score. A tricky conversion was missed. Score Holt 59 - Fakenham 5.

'I think I'll leave it here..' Callum scores try number nine.

Credit must be given to Fakenham who kept trying to make it difficult for Holt and were always looking as if they could make a break but the Holt defence was immense. None more so than for the last try. Fakenham had secured possession and their winger managed to break through a couple of tackles, escaping into open space behind the Holt back line. However, just as Fakenham thought a score was going to made in came Simmo from nowhere, to tackle the player and then immediately Jacko was on the scene to do what he does best, jackling the ball from the isolated player, the play was switched to the opposite wing and all it required was for Shed to run half the length of the pitch. It was then that the whole game seemed to slow down, cue the music to 'Chariots Of Fire' ...Shed pinned his ears back, (this gave him another 5 miles an hour) and with two of Fakenham's slowest players chasing him the line eventually came. As Shed was so exhausted at such exertion he didn't bother to go for the posts and Ally had a difficult kick for conversion, which was just missed. Shed was awarded the 'Turd Of The Day' for this moment. Final score Holt 64 - Fakenham 5.

N.B. This picture has been modified to give the appearance of speed.

Although the score made it look like it was a very one-sided game, it was only though hard work that it was possible to create to so many opportunities, opportunities that were taken with great skill. After Christmas we have a warm-up fixture against Norwich, then Walsham at home (time to do the double?) and Wymondham in the first round of the Norfolk Cup. Holt will need to show more of the effort, determination and control to be successful in these tough games. have a great Christmas and New Year. Enjoy the break and we'll see you back in January.

Holt v Swaffham (11.11.2012)

An excellent effort and performance by George, Dean, Shed, Jacko, Jenks, Caz, Tobias, Harrison and Josh, not only for their performance in the game but because they were the only Holt u15s on the pitch.  4 players were recruited from the u14s and Swaffham lent us a player for each half. Special thanks must go to those guys who came and put on one of our shirts, without them we wouldn't have been able to play the game and Swaffham would have traveled for nothing.

An impeccable minutes silence was held before the game, with both teams facing each other and all the other players and families coming to the side of the first team pitch to pay their respects. Brilliant.

Despite being disappointed by the lack of team mates and the re-organising it took to get the 14 players to work together the game was well fought and closer than the final score reflects. Swaffham are a developing side but they are also a very big side and were going to take some stopping.
Although the visitors scored first it was not going to be one way traffic and Holt soon replied, the game settled down and with much of the play in the middle of the field and it became a fairly even and well contested battle. Half time score was Holt 12 - Swaffham 14. A try by Shed and Jenks with Shed converting one of the tries.

Swaffham started the second half a little sharper and got an early try, which wasn't converted. However Holt pinned the visitors back not only in their 22 but on their 5 metre line and were denied a try by some very strong defence and a foot just in touch. Harrison eventually managed to close the gap after a quick penalty was taken. From this moment Holt could have edged ahead but Swaffham had found their rythmn and started to find holes in the Holt defence. A couple of further tries by the boys in yellow meant the final score was Holt 17 - Swaffham 31.

Well done to Swaffham who were obviously delighted on the final whistle, they came with 20 players and even loaning a couple to Holt still rotated their subs and gave everyone some valuable time on the pitch. An excellent effort by the Holt players, they had to tackle twice as much, cover more ground and gel with players they had only met 10 minutes before the game.

Man of the match: Tobias. Who worked really well with Caz at 10 and Josh at 8, digging the ball out and making things happen. When Tobias stood on the chair for his 'boat race' he was still only as tall as the Swaffham man of the match, before he climbed up on his chair. Congratulations Tobias and good to see you pulling on that shirt.

There was no Turd Of The Day presented for obvious reasons and Mel very kindly offered to wash the shirts. I will need to organise a rota system for this, so we can all share the load. Hands up who wants first dibs?

A big thank you to the helpers in the kitchen and with serving the matchday lunch. Not ideal for parents to help when their children are playing but it was just one of those unfortunate unavoidables. The Minis should have been away, as should have the u14s, which only left us and the u13s, who were scheduled to have had a match but it was cancelled very late.

Thanks to those who did let us know in advance that they were unavailable - obviously there were other events happening, a Norfolk fixture and Remembrance Sunday. But please let us know if you are unable to play as early as possible because matches can be cancelled, as a last resort, even though it does cause issues with ordered food and arrangements with the kitchen but at at least it will avoid any future embarrassment.

West Norfolk v Holt (04.11.12)

The result of this fixture was a difficult one to take. Holt were ahead for virtually the entire game, leading early on and kept on plugging away to stay in front right until the end, in fact the last play of the game and the longest 20 seconds ever. We felt robbed. So much hard work on a freezing, wet, muddy day and with half the team either absent or playing out of position it was looking like an incredible but totally deserved victory. However West won by the margin of 2 points. Next time...

The first half was against the rain and up a slight incline, yet Holt were not going to let that stop them showing how well they can play. After a scrappy passage of play, partly due to the conditions, a scrum was awarded to the home team which Holt won against the head. Something that happened plenty of times in the game, even though Holt must have been giving away a stone a man, at least. The ball was passed out and Alexander made a great run, Matti took the ball on the switch and was through.

The second try came from Jenks, a super run following another brilliant scrum. The ball came wide and Jenks was off up the left touchline, like the Jenks of old, to go over and make it West Norfolk 0 - Holt 10. However West came back into the game late on in the half to score a couple of tries and convert one. The first was a break down the wing and the second a bundled over try near the posts. Half time West Norfolk 12 - Holt 10.

The half time talk was short and sweet. Keep playing the way you did in the first half, Holt had the slope and the wind with them, they were told to use it and keep up the great work. With only a couple of spare players everyone had to dig deep for the rest of the game. Holt's third try of the game came from a long line-out, intentional I'm sure, snatched by Jacko at the back, who then made a surging run through the middle of the pitch to score under the posts. Ally converted.

The next try followed another powerful break by Jacko, who totally unselfishly off-loaded to Matti just short of the line. Matti was held up but the ball was re-cycled and fed out to the right wing where Matti popped up again and went over. West Norfolk 12 - Holt 22.

Then came West's response. The first a gift after a complete mess-up on our try line, the ball popping out and one of the West players flopping on the loose ball. Holt still continued to attack and kept pegging West back into their own twentytwo, however as much pressure as Holt exerted they just couldn't add to the score. Then came the heartbreak of a line-out on the Holt twentytwo, West stole the ball and tried to bundle their way through but some brave defending by Alex and Finn kept the home side out. Unfortunately the clock couldn't tick quick enough and more importantly Holt couldn't get possession of the ball to kick it into touch and West managed to get the ball back to the centre of the pitch and burst through under the posts. A simple conversion and the final whistle. Final score: West Norfolk 24 - Holt 22.

As hard as it is to take the defeat there are a great many positives to take from the game. A game played in tricky conditions with several players missing and many others having to play out of position. There were some great interchanges of play, some strong running and tackling. The scrummaging was immense and the spirit was absolutely brilliant, everyone stepped up to the mark. Great effort everyone.

Now for this week's guest photographer: Step up Mel Robson. Okay I just handed her my point and shoot camera but the resulting images, I'm sure you will agree, are possible Turner Prize contenders. I'm not even going to caption these ones. Not because I can't see anything in them but because I think they speak for themselves. Mel, get yourself and agent, you could have found a new career...
(ps, these were the better ones).

North Walsham v Holt (14.10.12) take 2

Someone certainly found their Mojo. And shared it around, to everyone. This fixture has always been a well contested one, with most of these boys having played against each other since they were about six years old. However on this occasion one team was definitely more at the races than the other.

Spot the ball competition.

It could have been so different with Walsham looking the stronger from the off, making good progressive work through the middle and pulling the strings to orchestrate a well-worked try after some good rucking to gain possession. A repeat of last year was on the cards, or was it. Maybe this was what was needed to wake the Holt players up, from then on in it was pretty much all Holt. A much better re-start, with a series of breaks, from Simmo and Callum, Jack, Alex and Matti, Alexander and Jerry making some lovely hits, George taking it to the opposition with Ben, Theo, Jack and Jenks working like Trojans. Ally and Caz working together to control the flow of the game.

Catch me. If you can.

The first try for Holt was scored by Callum, running a lovely line after the ball had been worked left, then switched right before Callum cut back inside. All made possible by some solid work in the midfield. Scores even. Then came try two for Holt, another super run by Alex Storey after Ally had made a lovely break in the middle of the pitch, outfoxing the onrushing Walsham defence with a quick dummy and all of sudden Holt were through, the ball was worked out to the left after some good handling and great back line distribution the ball came out to Alex and he was away. Super example of keeping good width and putting the ball through quick hands, making sure you commit the defender.

Holt's forwards have always belied their size and beaten many a larger pack and they were really up for this game, not only were winning their own scrums but also getting significant scrums against the head. The third Holt score coming from one of these scrums won against the head, shoving Walsham backwards, the ball was quickly got out wide and Alex was in again.

Half time and the score was North Walsham 5 - Holt 15. Time for some changes and on came the cavalry, a whole new pack, apart from Alexander and Jerry who were more than happy to keep taking it to Walsham. The phrase 'They don't like it up 'em, Mr Mainwaring...' from Dad's Army comes to mind.

Let's all do the Ben and Ally wobble dance.

The second half was just as fierce as the first with the fresh legs getting stuck into the action. There were times when Walsham looked like they were going to break through but there always seemed to be a black shirt to snuffle out the danger and if it wasn't ripped, jackled or rucked back there was always the set pieces to contest. Line-outs have become a bit of a flappy hand lottery and until next year when we can lift the jumper we perhaps should keep it simpler. Rucking is still an area we do need to work on. Once the ball carrier has gone to ground, he needs support immediately, otherwise the opposition are either going to jackle the ball or ruck over. We got away with it at times on Sunday but this is definitely an area we need to improve on.

Caz, 'I don't need to see the game, I can feel the game..'.

Try number four came from Simmo, and what a typical Simmo try it was. A break down in our own 22, the ball coming out from another very strong scrum and then away he went, managing to break three or four tackles to run virtually the length of the pitch and score. Callum looked to add to the tally with a super strong run on the left wing, only to be caught by good defensive work. It was definitely the width that Holt were maintaining that was causing the home team problems, time and time again dangerous breaks were being made. And it was from one of these that Matti added Holt's fifth and final of the game, again only made possible by the forwards, securing good ball and providing a solid platform for the backs to work with.

Bish...

...bosh!

Walsham did get a try back. A complete break-away from an intercepted pass in their 22, when it looked as if Matti was going to add another to the Holt total. Walsham worked their way through the Holt defence to score their only try of the half. As soon as the conversion had been attempted the whistle went and it was game, set and match to Holt. 

Final score: North Walsham 10 - Holt 25.

A super result made possible by tremendous work all over the pitch by everybody. And we can play even better than this, we have some big games coming up, let's take this performance, bottle it and bring it out again in two weeks time. 

Hovver boots at the ready.

Cuddle time.

Quotes of the day:

"Tracey, I love you but I'm going to be late..."

Rob Hughes, at half time (who should have left after kick off).

"Wonderful, gorgeous, brilliant."

Carl Durban, a lot.

"Sexy Rugby."

George Robson.

Man of the match - 

Everyone. You all played so well for both halves, no single player deserves to be highlighted more than any other.

Turd of the week -

It would be harsh to pick any one thing after such a great performance.

However Jerry is in the book for next week for disappearing very soon after the match for a McDonalds. Kate, what were you thinking, these boys need to treat their bodies as temples. Just like Rob and I do. And anyway, there's a better meal deal at KFC.

NB There are more pics on Amelia Ghanbouri's FB page.

Norwich v Holt (07.10.12)

Well done to all those that turned up for this fixture, which was postponed from last week. And, as usual, we wanted to get you all as much pitch-time as we could. This was made a little more possible as Norwich were short and we could lend them a few players, so well done to all those that played for the enemy.

Although the first half was very one-sided affair with some very good phases and moments, there were still a lot of areas that will need improving for the next few forthcoming fixtures, and beyond. On the positive side there was some good distribution, great breaks from Callum, Matti and Alex. Caz had a great game, Tommy T worked hard to make sure he was at every ruck protecting the ball. George R distributing well as scrum-half. Alexander bashing players out of the way. Josh, what a wonderful sight at full flight, something we've missed over the years. Dean putting his body on the line and a debut try for James. Well done everyone, not just those mentioned here.

However, and there's always a however... we still need to get to the breakdown quicker, be more dominant and quicker to re-cycle the ball at the ruck. We are still following the ball and sometimes losing our shape and when the ball comes out we are in danger of being run through, or around in defence but also in offence by losing our width we are not offering as many options and tend to close each others space down. Maybe it's easier to see from the sidelines but sometimes you have to scan the pitch and see what is the best option, take a look first before you make the next move. And talk to each other, there might be one captain but there can be many leaders.

The second half saw a much tighter game, helped no doubt by Jenks, Jack and Matti putting on Norwich shirts and the score in this half was 3 tries to Holt and 2 to Norwich. Next week we will need to up our game and play some better, simpler rugby not only well but fast, decisive and with good controlled aggression. Looking forward to it.

This weeks Man Of The Match: Robin Locke.
Worked hard all game, playing the first half for Norwich. Didn't quite win the boat race though. Work to be done there...

A note also for this week's Guest Photographer. Geoff 'One-Eye' Webster. The fruit of his morning's work are below.

Moody, misty and a long way away.

Sam attempting a moonwalk. Badly.

'Oh, for goodness sake, get a move on with it...'

Catch me if you can.

Josh looking his next bosh.

Mr Calm.

Norfolk 10's

Welcome back everyone to my ramblings and recollections of Sunday mornings. Just think only eight more months of no Sunday lay-ins, burgers for Sunday lunch and enjoying the gorgeous English weather over the winter months.

Last Sunday saw our first competitive fixture of the season. Well, 30 minutes of competitive rugby spread evenly over 3 hours. Not ideal but then again we won every game and beat our rivals, so mustn't grumble.

The scores and try scorers are below:
North Walsham 1 - Holt 3
Holt try scorers; Callum x2, Simmo x1.

West Norfolk 2 - Holt 3
Holt try scorers; Simmo x1, Callum x2 .

Wymondham 2 - Holt 3
Holt try scorers; Matti x1, Callum x1, Simmo x1.

Having a chat with the ref.

Come on everybody, hands on hips.

"What, we've got to wait another hour for a 10 minute game?"

Discussing the soon to be completely pointless schedule.

"look, I'll show you all how to pose, watch me."

"There, see, that's how to do it."

Happy players, just after beating all their local rivals.

Holt v Long Buckby (touring team)

After all the fun and games of Morocco it was good to see so many Holt boys ready for their last game of the season. They may have been there in body but most of their heads were elsewhere in a fixture against a team we knew nothing about, apart from the fact that they had come to Norfolk on their u14s tour.

Photography this week by guest snapper, Lynette Briscoe.

Nice pic Lynette but we were playing at the other end of the pitch

The match started fairly evenly as both teams settled into the game, working out strengths and weaknesses. Long Buckby were a good competitive side with some outstanding players, especially in their pink and black touring kit, nice. Holt eventually got going with Simmo making a break and carving a hole through the visitors defence. The conversion was missed.

The second try for Holt came after the home team took a quick penalty, then Holt gained a further 10 metres for Long Buckby not retreating. The subsequent set-piece worked really well and the decoy runners drawing the defence and Alex Storey breaking through to score. Again the conversion was missed.

Nice shirts

The game then entered a scrappy phase, with several knock-ons, the result of some great tackling by both sides, Theo, Jack and Alexander not letting anyone through, there was also a series of scrums, which unfortunately disrupted the flow of the game. Jack Webster finished the half off with a great try after slipping a couple of tackles and going over. Giving Holt a 15:0 advantage at half time.

No Fin, I'm fine, you just come along when you're ready.

Ten changes were made at half-time. As promised everybody was going to get at least half a game, although it's always nice to win, it is also important to give everybody as much pitch time as possible and a fixture like this is the perfect opportunity to look at different combinations. Winning isn't everything. The tourists kept pretty much the same team, making only a few changes and although Holt held their own it took a break by one of Buckby's stand-out players down the wing, dodging the tackles to give them a much rejoiced try. No conversion added. Buckby added another soon after the re-start, this one they converted and the scores were Holt 15 : Long Buckby 12.

Why's no-one cuddling me?

It was getting tight and Holt responded with some very determined tackling, especially by Gabriel, Harrison and Robin. Alexander took a short line-out and drove up the pitch only to be held up by a committed defence, it was getting harder to break through. All this pressure then gave Buckby space to work in and after a series of fumbles by both sides and indecision all round, the ball came out to the visitors who took the lead.

Crunch

Holt looked to up their game and to their credit kept going to the end, Jali and Robin combining well. Sam and Caz setting up the opportunities. Shed at eight looking to make some breaks but it was becoming more compressed and whenever the ball came out wide a defender seemed to be there to break the move down. Buckby added a further try and although Holt kept going they couldn't quite break through. The final five to ten minutes was played with Holt pushing the tourists further and further back but they held on as Holt were breaking into their twentytwo. Final score Holt 15 : Long Buckby 23ish.

Just look at the determination on Robin's face.

The game was played in good spirit and Long Buckby really enjoyed their visit to Norfolk and especially Holt. They were very impressed with our setting, facilities and the amount of pitches we have, something we can easily take for granted. Ben was presented with a pennant and tie. At the end of the day, Rugby was the winner.

Man of the match chosen by the Long Buckby Coach: Alexander. As usual he gave it his all.
Turd of the week: Theo. Only because I am the muggins who took the shirts away to decontaminate them for next season.

Southwold v Holt (01.04.12)

Ahhh, Southwold. So bracing. So far away. So thank you to all those that made the journey.

Somehow we managed to put a team together, not bad considering we only had one regular front row player and a completely different set-up in the centres. Southwold were suffering from a similar lack of players, with numbers away and injured. The most important thing was we were there to honour the return fixture.

Team talk, talk.

The game soon got underway and although possession and field position were very even, with Holt in fact pushing the home team back, it was Southwold who made the first successful break from a ruck won after it looked like a hand was doing more than it should it on the blind side. The try wasn't converted with the wind blowing off the sea making kicking unpredictable all morning.

We'll make a front player of you yet, Robin.

After a game effort by Robin at prop, Harrison hooking and George propping on the loose side, the scrums had to go uncontested. Safety first and foremost. No doubt the uncontested scrums affected the next move from Southwold as they 'won' the scrum, came round the open side and went through a completely and strangely static Holt team. A common occurrence in uncontested games when the pressure of a scrum is taken out of a game. Lesson learnt. This try was converted and it was Southwold 12 : Holt 0. Half time.

A sunny day in Southwold. Yes, we were surprised too.

The second started with Holt playing up the slope and Southwold were looking to pin Holt back in their half. Some great defensive work by Holt kept the home team out until a kick to touch bounced just right for the Southwold winger who stepped the onrushing defender and went over. No conversion. Southwold 17 : Holt 0.

Getting stuck in.

Holt then started to up their game and some great work by several players was paying dividends. Jack W springing out of his blocks at every opportunity, Gabriel always looking to connect and break through, Sam working hard at scrum half to set things up, Jamie either making breaks or supporting the runner, Alex smashing into everybody. A series of successive penalties put Holt up to the Southwold 5metre line Theo trying to burst through three times in a row but their defence held out with the ball being held up on the line. Just. 

Driven over but no grounding, cruel.

It took a superb Simmo solo run to get Holt on the scoreboard, coming from the middle of the pitch and seemingly going sideways but always having an eye on making a hole in the defence, which he eventually did, scoring in the corner. The conversion was close but not close enough. Southwold 17 : Holt 5.

May contain nuts.

Sam then took one for the team and another team juggle was required with Alastair coming on for the first time in weeks. Southwold made the most of the re-shuffle and drove over shortly afterwards. Then followed a period when just as Holt were looking to get back in the game Southwold made the most of opportunities that came their way and scored a couple of quick tries to make the score look more convincing than perhaps it should have. The final score was Southwold 36 : Holt 5. But considering the situation with many players away and others out of position the positives must outway the disappointment. The game was played in good heart and as ever Southwold were great hosts and indeed worthy winners on this occasion.

Men of the match: Robin and Harrison. Props for the day, well stuck at it boys.
Turd of the week: Jamie. For far too many reasons to mention here.