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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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