Jimbo
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Haverhill 5 - Southwold 40Here is the write up guys.
1 Grant Deeks
2 Ben Jackson
3 Luke Dore
4 Alan Burnett (Ben Jones)
5 Martin Ransome (Alan Jenkins)
6 Kieran McDonagh (Nick Ager)
7 Chris Flannery
8 Ryan Raffell
9 Aaron Carr
10 Luke Plumbridge
11 Sami M’Bark
12 Adam Hunt
13 Toby Flood
14 Joe Brown (Kieron Ewens)
15 Bradley Gibson
Haverhill 5 – Southwold 40
Suggested strap line :- Indiscipline Costs Dear
Haverhill, missing their “outed” Captain Bergin through injury, fielded a strong side for the biggest game of the season so far against the well drilled outfit from the Suffolk coast, Southwold.
The game started well, with Haverhill pressurising Southwold from the off. Tackling by Haverhill was hard and furious, and Southwold were on the back foot for the first 15 minutes of the game. The penalty count against Haverhill was disappointingly high during this period, but they kept the pressure on Southwold. Finally, Southwold broke through to the Haverhill half, but great defence from the Haverhill side kept Southwold at bay. The ball, clearly seen loose at the back of the ruck was picked up by Ryan Raffell to break away. Unfortunately the referee did not see it this way, and a penalty was awarded, and Raffell earned himself a 10 minute visit to the sin bin for a “professional foul”.
This incident proved dramatic to the game, as Southwold scored from the penalty to make it 0-7. Southwold came back and pressured Haverhill, who soaked up the pressure, but eventually on 20 minutes, the player down told and Southwold scored under the posts for 0-14. Haverhill fought back and got the Southwold line. Martin Ransome, trying to sweep up the ball for a try, went down with an injured elbow, and Southwold, now with a two man overlap drove back to the Haverhill half. Great tackling from Joe Brown and Sami M’Bark only delayed the inevitable, and Southwold scored under the posts for 0-21 on 25 minutes.
Ransome is replaced by Alan Jenkins, and Raffell returns to the pitch, but the card had cost Haverhill 21 points. Haverhill come back at Southwold, and Raffell makes a good drive from a 5 M line out to score in the corner on 30 minutes, unconverted by Jake Plumbridge. 5-21. Haverhill kept the pressure on Southwold until half time.
Brown is replaced by Kieron Ewens at the turn due to a bad back. Haverhill pressurise the Southwold half, and win a penalty on 5 minutes, but Plumbridge puts it wide. Finally, another penalty by Southwold picks up the deserved yellow card, and Southwold are down to 14 men, but Haverhill was unable to turn this to their advantage, unlike Southwold. A penalty on 15 minutes is missed by Plumbridge. Haverhill continue to play well, but not making the scores, until finally the disciplined flowing rugby of Southwold tells on the Haverhill defence and they score under the posts for 5-28.
Another infringement by Haverhill leads to a great kick to touch from Southwold, who gather the ball from the lineout, and score in the corner, unconverted this time. 5-33. By this stage the large crowd was quiet as the inevitability of the situation became obvious, and a final drive from Southwold led to a try under the posts and the whistle for time as the conversion sailed over. 5-40.
There were many good things to be taken from this performance, particularly in the pack, but indiscipline cost Haverhill dear.
Echo man of the Match – The Haverhill Scrum
Jim Morgan – Castle Fields
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