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.