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.
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