Norfolk Cup Final v North Walsham (03.03.13)

What a great bunch.

There are many words to describe yesterday's performance by such a great bunch of boys. Determined, hard-working, disciplined, courageous but one word really sums it up and that is Proud. Something you should be of yourselves, your team mates and without doubt something your parents, grandparents and of course your coaches are of you.

This has been a tough journey to get this far, an opener against Wymondham, a team who really thought they were going to turn us over. Result: Holt 35 - Wymondham 10. And comments from some of the Wymondham's parents about how 'their forwards have never been so bullied before..'
Then came Beccles, an unknown quantity and a fast improving team. Result: Holt 46 - Beccles 7. And this after playing ten minutes with two players off the field. 

So finally came the final. A game much anticipated and against our greatest rivals (in a friendly way of course), North Walsham. Losing players of the calibre of Callum and Alexander was always going to be a blow but there were plenty of players who stepped up to the mark and it didn't stop us believing a win was possible. It absolutely was possible and every one of you gave your all on the pitch, right until the final whistle. It just wasn't to be.

What an even greater bunch.

Below is not a full blow by blow match report, just a brief summary and a load of pics. Hopefully these speak louder than my botched attempt at English.

What a smart bunch, in their new tops.

A strong start from both sides saw the game held in the middle of the pitch for the first five minutes, until Walsham broke the deadlock with a driven over try from five metres out. A second try was added in a similar fashion before Simmo gave the team and the massed ranks of supporters a massive lift by sniping down the blindside to score in the corner. Half time Walsham 10 - Holt 5.

Ready and waiting.

The second half saw Holt really take it to Walsham and how further Holt tries weren't scored will remain a mystery. Virtually the whole half was played in the Walsham twentytwo, with the home team having to defend with their lives and to be fair they stopped everything we threw at them, albeit by conceding penalty after penalty, a penalty count well into double figures, a yellow card was eventually produced but it could have been more. Walsham did manage to add two more tries from probably their only two forays into the Holt half, enough to make the game safe but not until Holt had given everything, fresh legs were introduced and the pressure was intensified. Holt were determined until the very end, every player giving absolutely everything they had and you can't ask for more than that. A great game to watch. Apparently. Final score Walsham 20 - Holt 5

Mutual respect.

Wear it with pride.

Turd of the week: Josh Taylor. Two minutes on the pitch and almost instantly started a scrap.

Oh dear, oh dear. Further training required.

 Man of the match. Never and easy one in a game like this with so many players trying their hearts out but was awarded to Harry Simmons for constantly trying to take the team forward and leading by example.