1 Ben Jones
2 Paul Bergin (Toby Flood)
3 Luke Dore
4 Alan Burnett (Dave Golding)
5 Martin Ransome
6 Kieran McDonagh
7 Chris Flannery
8 Ryan Raffell
9 Sami M’Bark
10 Nick Ager
11 Kieron Ewens
12 Mick Lansdowne
13 Simon Potter
14 Joe Brown
15 Adam Hunt
Haverhill 17 – Dereham 14
Suggested strap line :- Ewens boot makes the difference
With the welcome return of Chris Flannery to the side and Dave Golding on the bench Haverhill looked strong from the start, immediately camping inside the Dereham 22M, pressurising from the off. Things looked good, but a kick forward was picked up by Dereham, and a few good passes and some missed tackles from Haverhill led to an 80 M run and score under the posts for Dereham. 0-7 after 5 minutes.
Haverhill came back at Dereham, and proceeded to spend the rest of the half in the Dereham half. Great work by Sami M’Bark in a new position of scrum half, with Kieran McDonagh showing what a complete player he has become, and Ryan Raffell, Micky Landsdowne, Simon Potter and Adam Hunt all stepping up to the plate enabling Haverhill to keep the pressure on Dereham throughout.
Some great moves were spoilt by bad handling or indiscipline and a lack of understanding of the new ELV laws for Rugby, by the referee, led to Haverhill being penalised in a position that would have led to a score.
Again, the quick penalty by Haverhill was overused throughout the game, often leading to unnecessary pressure being placed on the home side, and the potential for throwing away the chance to take the three points on offer, but the Haverhill scrum was, at times, awesome, winning ball against the head at will. One such scrum on 30 minutes led to a great push towards the Dereham line, where finally, man mountain Martin Ransome smashed through the Dereham line to score in the corner. Your reporter had this down as 5-7 due to the difficultly of the kick, but Kieron Ewens stepped up and slotted the ball between the posts for 7-7.
Back came Haverhill again, and a Dereham infringement was quickly taken by M’Bark for a try by McDonagh in the corner on 37 minutes. Ewens again converted the difficult kick and the crowd were looking forward to a lead at half time. However, slow ball and a charged down kick from the kick off led to Dereham being awarded a penalty 5 M out, leading to a Dereham try under the posts, ensuring Haverhill went to the turn at 14-14.
Back came Haverhill in the second half to camp again in the Dereham half, attacking all the time. With the scores level, getting points on the board should always be the aim of any team, so there was unconstrained apoplexy on the touch line as Haverhill were awarded two penalties in front of the posts, but took these quickly. Finally, the third penalty in the play was broken by an injury to skipper Bergin, and Haverhill took the points, kicked by Ewens on 51 minutes. 17-14 The loss of Bergin caused a change with Potter moving to Hooker and Toby Flood coming into the three quarter line.
Haverhill continued to pressurise the Dereham line, but Dereham always looked dangerous, and some great defence work, with a momentous tackle from winger Joe Brown stopping a Dereham breakout in its tracks.
On 70 minutes, Golding replaced Alan Burnett, and showed the skill and drive that made him first on the coach’s team sheet before his injury kept him out. On 75 minutes Dereham finally broke into the Haverhill 22M and pressured to the close, but great Haverhill defence kept the score in Haverhill’s advantage.
Commitment to training is required for next week’s big game against Southwold in the Suffolk Plate semi-final, as on this performance, Haverhill are in with a shout.
Many good performances this week, but again for the rounded performance Echo man of the Match – Kieran McDonagh
Jim Morgan – Castle Fields
sexykev
does anyone no how bergs is how bad was his injury?
Jimbo
Walking wounded he was after the game Kev. Did his knee.
Only the man can say if he will be on the park Saturday though.
Jim
Bergs
Not going to be playing this week, haven't managed to straighten my leg out yet after Saturday.
I pulled a calf muscle, rather a sore experience, but am having lots of physio so hope to be back before the end of the season - but probably not for another few weeks.
Cheers
Bergs
PS training tonight and Thursday very important - we have a cup semi final this weekend and with some good, all team drilling, can win and have a final to play for at the end of the season.
