1. Grant Deeks
2. Matt Stephenson (Ben Jones)
3. Paul Bergin
4. Martin Ransome (Ian Flannery)
5. Tony Smith
6. Carl Anderson
7. Sean Harkett
8. Ryan Raffel (Capt)
9. Simon Lester
10. Jake Plumbridge
11. Brodi Patrick
12. Bradley Gibson
13. Mike Woods
14. Dan Bishop
15. Rambo
Haverhill 17 Swaffham 13
Haverhill do enough to gain points
Haverhill had to call upon a number of their second team for this game, the players making the transition very well in most cases. Haverhill pressurised from the start, trying to unsettle the Swaffham team, and did a good job for the first ten minutes. There were some great displays of hard rugby, with Bradley Gibson putting in a number of very hard tackles to let his opposite number know who was going to boss the game. Finally Swaffham broke into the Haverhill half, and some good covering tackles by Brodi Patrick on the wing, and Mike Woods at outside centre prevented the score.
Haverhill came back, and a clever chip kick from Jake Plumbridge and penetrating run almost led to points for Haverhill, but an infringement for holding onto the ball lost Haverhill the position. Patrick on the wing produced three great pieces of play, catching difficult ball on the line and driving back into the Swaffham half to keep Haverhill firmly in the Swaffham end. Finally, on twenty minutes, a big jump by Carl Anderson in the line results in Haverhill winning the ball from the Swaffham throw, with quick hands from Simon Lester and Plumbridge to release Gibson for a score near the posts, converted by Plumbridge. 7-0
Swaffham started to apply some pressure, coming into the Haverhill half for only the second time in the game. Some backchat from Tony Smith caused a penalty to be moved 10 metres up the park. After a number of further Haverhill infringements, Swaffham take the three points for the penalty on 30 minutes. 7-3
From the restart, Swaffham infringe and Haverhill go for the posts, which was given by the two line judges and many of the Swaffham players, but was overturned by the referee, leaving the score at 7-3.
Some good play from Martin Ransome releases Lester, who is held up just short of the line, but penalised for feeding the ball into the resultant scrum, and Swaffham clear their lines and the half time whistle has Haverhill turning at 7-3.
From the off, a scrum sees Haverhill penalised, allowing Swaffham to kick to 5 metres from the Haverhill line. The defence from Haverhill is good, but finally Swaffham score, not converted. 7-8
Last season we would have seen heads go down, but not this time. Haverhill come back and win a penalty on ten minutes, that just misses the posts, but the Swaffham defence drop the ball to give Haverhill a scrum on 5 metres. Swaffham infringe, but Haverhill use the advantage, and Lester sees his opportunity for a cheeky pick up and dive under the posts for Plumbridge to convert. 14-8
Haverhill keep the pressure on Swaffham, with Anderson showing how a flanker should get to the breakdown quickly and spoil the oppositions rhythm. On 25 minutes, at a Swaffham lineout, Anderson again puts in a huge jump to win the ball, which is switched to Plumbridge who kicks the most awful looking drop goal, but gets the three points. 17-8. This is pivotal to the game, as it now means Swaffham have to score twice to win.
An ugly scene that involves players and staff from both teams breaks out, which may cause Haverhill some trouble over the next few weeks.
Haverhill continue to pressurise, with another penalty scraping the wrong side of the posts, but with Haverhill in Swaffham’s half, the chance of a comeback is diminished.
Finally, on the last move of the game, Swaffham touch down in the corner to bring the score back to 17-13, but not converted. Haverhill enjoys that winning feeling.
Director of Rugby Andy “Calzaghe” Price quote “Good start to season. Still plenty to work on”
Echo Man Of Match – Bradley Gibson
Jim Morgan Castle Field, Haverhill.
The Daddy
awfull jimbo????????????? i thought well executed
The Daddy
Good game yesterday fellas we did lose are heads a couple of time but recovered and done well....all i think we need to do is get back to how we were a few years ago where we could link 2 or 3 phases from first phase we would be far more effective and retaining ball and be able to relax and control a game like i know we can....
Jimbo
Well as drop kicks go, it was well executed as you got us the points and that all important 8 point lead. But it was jinky and did so many back somersaults it must have been dizzy by the time is slipped over.
Good one though Jacob, it secured the comfort of the spectators for the last 20 minutes or so.
Jimbo
Raff
Jake i thought u controlled the game very well and did everything i asked of you. My forwards were superb espcially the front row. Carl was great in the line out and the backs tackled their hearts out.
I don't care how they go over but the drop goal went over and it was 3 points on the board. We must keep the score board tickin over.
We were ragged at times, being together as a team will come through playing together and training together.
Dan Bishop scored the try, and he's off work guys and needs an op on his finger. Broken, dislocated and ligament damage. Thank Dan you had a good game too and great finish. So if you get a chance speak to Bish and see how he is for me please!
See you all at training on Tues.
Raff
Plus just another add on, i think were are ok for the little scuffle thazt broke out. we were in our technical area, swaffham were not!
Andy got set upon. It was nice to see the passion as a club. we donot though want to be involved in stuff like that again. Lets use our passion and aggresion to beat the other team up within the laws.
Jimbo
I hope you are right with that one Raff. However, if we get hit and they not, then there is no justice.
BTW. It was a great drop goal too. Still can not fathom why he disallowed the penalty. Their players said it was a good one, so beats me.
