U13s Holt – Sunday 22nd November 2015
Holt Rugby U13s 22 – 15 Southwold Rugby U13s
We relish a challenge in the U13s and after travelling through the snow and ice to North Norfolk we once again had to try and come back from a three try to nil deficit at half time.
For the first time this season we faced proper winter weather on Sunday with low temperatures and a very wet pitch. Southwold welcomed two new players today in Toby and Jamie Y. The side had an unfamiliar shape to it with eleven players missing through other sporting commitments (including EPDG) and injury. It is testament to the strength in depth that we now have as a squad that we were able to still field a full team with three replacements and travelling injured players Cameron and Max.
Southwold started poorly and soon the large and quick Holt prop was able to find an opening down the right to score. The same player repeated the move but this time touching down on the 5M line only for the referee in pursuit to award the try. Credit where it is due the Wold boys hushed any protest and resumed play. From the kick off Holt gathered the ball and ran clean through the middle without any of our players touching the ball. Suffice to say this was probably the poorest try that we have given away this season. Holt kicked the conversion to make it 17-0 after 20 minutes.
Finally Southwold started to edge their way into the game. The scrum which had been under pressure initially now steadied itself with George, Peter and Toby working hard. For the first time Southwold built pressure in the Holt 22 and won a scrum against the head only for the ball to be knocked on by cold hands in the midfield. Sam C was tackling like a man possessed from No.9 and made a series of three low hard tackles to stop a strong Holt attack. Southwold were now enjoying the contest and managed to release Sam W from outside centre on a long looping run which ended on the Holt 5M line. Wold gained possession from the Holt lineout and Keenan was able to drive over the line only for the Southwold touch judge to indicate a knock on in scoring to the referee – unlucky Keenan.
Half time resulted in the three replacements coming on with Noah making an immediate impact from the kick off with a surging run deep into the Holt half. The Southwold forwards were now in the ascendancy and were taking every opportunity to run at the Holt line. A maul ensued on the Holt 5M line which the Southwold pack were able to drive over for Bruno to score the touchdown. Holt were now unable to get any meaningful territory and little quality possession. However a slight relaxation from the Wold players was taken advantage of by Holt who produced their best rugby of the game to score a nice break out try with good hand work and fast feet making the score 22-5 to Holt.
A series of penalties allowed the Southwold players to demonstrate their power play with surging runs and decent rucking. Keenan was soon over for a score with a typically bullocking run. Southwold now turned up the intensity again strong forward play at the scrummage allowed the Southwold half backs to feed full back Harry for a deep run from his own 22. At full tilt Harry made it past the Holt 10 M line to neatly offload to Finn who was running in support. Finn pressed the throttle down and was able to go round his opposing wing and then ran through the Holt in goal area to touch down under the posts. A beautiful team try that had the travelling Southwold support cheering hard. Sadly the conversion was missed and the referee decided to call time leaving Holt with a 22 -15 victory.
Southwold can feel duly proud of their second half comeback but must work harder at not gifting the opposition such a head start. Anton was Back of the day for a solid display in defence and attack whilst George was Forward and Man of the Match for his strong scrummaging and ball distribution.
Black & Gold Mole.
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