A good solid start with Holt looking to put pressure on the visitors. Jack and Jerry both making initial breaks and gaining valuable ground, taking Holt within 10 metres of the Trafford try line, although the tourists in their very colourful shirts cleared their lines. They then went on and very un-sportingly took the lead, converting the well taken try. One word Holt. Tackles.
Trafford soon added a second try after a good re-start and with Holt looking to get back on even ground but the superior numbers out wide told, with Trafford scoring in the corner. This was looking like it was going to be a very one-sided game, fortunately Holt did not let their heads drop and responded well. Shed and Jack combining in the centres, Alex and Caz getting stuck in. Matti, playing his first game for Holt, in fact his first game of club rugby, joining in from fullback and driving forward until he was stopped illegally 10 metres out. The resulting penalty was taken quickly by Theo, driving and diving for the line. Half time: Holt 5 - Trafford MV 12
A sloppy re-start by Holt gave Trafford an immediate advantage, putting Holt back in their 22. The tourists soon made their good start pay by scoring the first try of the second half.
One thing that had been consistent all morning was the scrums, although Holt were by far the smaller pack, they won every one of their put-ins and even in the second half with changes in the back row the forwards were giving good clean ball to Simmo. Well done Jerry, George and Alexander at the coal face, Ben and Theo in the engine room, Robbo, Ollie and Jenks at the back. Not forgetting those that came on, Finn at hooker, Tommy T and Hedley in the 2nd row and Harrison on the flank. Using this great platform Holt were able to create plenty of chances and it wasn't long before a Holt scrum gave Simmo the chance to snipe, off-loading to a still-recovering from injury Ally, to pounce in the corner. This was turning into a great game.
Another Holt try soon followed after another driving run by Matti, recycled well by the forwards, Simmo again off-loading to Ally to score again in the corner. Holt were coming back into this game, the difficult conversion just missed and the score was Holt 15 - Trafford MV 17.
Holt very nearly took the lead with the next phase of play. Theo picked and went, Matti going over, only to be held up on the line. The resulting scrum saw another superb effort by the forwards, Theo picking from No.8 and diving over. The conversion going over to take the score to Holt 22 - Trafford MV 17. The last few minutes seemed to drag on as Trafford were desperate to get back into the game, using the full width of the pitch and getting the ball to their strong runners on the wing. Holt continued to play well, looking to make breaks, Miles and Harrison made some great tackles, Dean always looking dangerous, taking a full-blooded hand-off in the face for his pains, Jack supporting a super Simmo break. Everyone was playing well, in fact, as a team Holt were playing the best they have since THAT day at North Walsham.
However, in the end Trafford MV got a well-deserved equaling score in the corner. Their strong runners eventually crossing the line after some brave tackling by Holt. The difficult missed conversion meant the game ended Holt 22 - Trafford MV 22. Honours even and a superb game of rugby with lots of really good comments coming from the supporters afterwards and from Trafford's coach Steve who credited Holt with 'giving them one of the best matches they've had in a long time'. Praise indeed.
Once again a huge thank you to the kitchen and all the helpers, including the boys recruited to put all the tables and chairs away at the end.
Man of the match: Matti. A great start, looking forward to seeing more of the same.
Turd of the week: Slightly unfair as no-one deserved it but someone has to wash the shirts. Thank you Jerry (and Mum and Grandma) for taking one for the team.
Next week we have the bag-packing at Budgens and the Sponsored Walk on Sunday. A little break from rugby and a good chance for everyone to not only get together but also raise some funds for our tour to Morocco next year.
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