The Broadland pack dominated the first 15 minutes of the
game but couldn't convert possession into points.
Mistley managed to absorb the pressure and came back into
the game with a gifted try to their loose-head.
This was the start of some very poor defensive play from
Broadland and a second try toMistley, due to indecision at the base of
the scrum, capped off a dismal first half.
The only relief came from O'connor with a superb interception
from 60 yards out, followed by the classic up-and-under to go over in
the corner. So the half-time score was 14-5 to the visitors.
Pyewell had to leave the field due to inury causing a re-shuffle
resulting in Durrant at full-back. Miller started to put pressure on the
Mistley defence with probing kicks deep into their half.
Durrant kept linking into the attack line and it was only
a matter of time before he went over for Broadland's next points (unconverted).
Further tries from O'connor (converted by Pywell K) and
Lacock sealed the game.
A superb second half from the entire 15 but special mention
to Durrant and Miller for their tactical play in attack.
BROADLAND recorded a very good result against a team propping
up the league.
Broadland played with the wind in the first half and two
penalties by Mackintosh opened the scoring. After Braza pressure the tactical
kicking of scrum half Miller regained control.
Simon Ruddick ran in a deserved try and Broadland scored
twice more before the interval. Smithdale and Able scored the points but
once again the whole team had been involved.
In the second half Broadland ran at every opportunity. March
could do little to contain the strong running of back rows Calnon, Morrison
and Mackintosh and that they had no answer to the strength and commitment
of prop and pack leader Bilyard.
The Broadland pack were dominant in the scrummage, with
hooker Smith taking a number of balls against the head, and in the lineout
with captain Durrant taking excellent ball in very difficult conditions.
Broadland scored three more tries in the second half through
Able and Mackintosh and replacement Pywell who completed the scoring.
In a game that was full of incident and action from start
to finish, Broadland ground out one of their most satisfying results of
the season.
Having travelled to Cambridgeshire to face Sawston, Broadland
had to start the game with several key players missing due to car problems
during the journey, most notably both first choice props.
For the first 10 minutes of the game the Broadland players
defended against wave after wave of attacks from the home side.
The 13 players on the pitch made tackle after tackle and
managed to contain the visitors preventing them from breaching the Broadland
line.
The breakthrough for Sawston came shortly after Broadland
returned to full strength. As Broadland tried to reorganise their side
the Sawston forwards took full advantage of the lack of organisation and
crashed over under the posts for a try that was easily converted.
Trailing 7-0 but back to full strength broaldnad started
to take the game to Sawston.
The arrival of bilyard and beckett inthe front row stabilised
the scrummage and Broadland were soon showing that they were dominant
in this area of play.
The free flowing game that Broadland have tried to play
this season soon opened gaps in the defence of the home side.
After good strong forward play Biolyard received the ball
ten metres form the goal line and he finished convincingly brushing off
the desperate tackles of the Sawston backs as he touched don inthe corner.
The try was converted by Mackintosh to level the scores.
From the kick-off Broadland resumed their attacking play.
From a deep kick off Broadland returned the ball but in
their efforts to keep the ball alive and maintian pressure on Sawston
a pass was intercepted and the Sawston winger ran 40 metres to score under
the posts. The try was easily converted.
In the second half the conditions deteriorated significantly.
A heavy downpour turned the otherwise excellent playing
surface into a swamp and the light started to fade.
Both teams tried to play good rugby but time after time
handling errors occurred. Broadland dominated their opponents in the scrummage
throughout the second half with hooker Smith taking almost all the ball
regardless of the put in.
The Broadland forwards made significant progress down field
with phase after phase of well controlled driving moves and Broadland
spent much of the half inside the Sawston 22.
Sawston defended well and prevented Broadland scoring for
30 minutes of the second half.
Broadland equalised after several phases of play when number
8, Mackintosh picked up from the base of a ruck and burst through to score
under the posts, he converted the try himself.
As the clock counted down Broadland maintained their pressure
being stopped several times just inches from the line.
In the dying seconds Broadland secured the victory when
hooker Smith picked up from a ruck and battled over the line to score.
The try was unconverted.
On a windswept day and with both teams needing the points
in the new Norfolk merit table this was always going to be a tight game.
Trailing 14-12 at half-time with tries from Phil Crane and
Tim Panter with a conversion by Wayne Gibbs, Broadland's hard work and
gritty determination paid off with a final try by Jay Pollard.
Match ball sponsor Mike Butcher voted Neil Blizzard man
of the match. Darren Debbage was outstanding when on for Jim Gray.
Broadland traveled to Cambridgeshire in search of another
win to increase their chances of promotion, knowing that despite being
bottom of the table, March had proved a difficult team to beat at home.
From the kickoff both teams pressed for early possession
with Broadland having the slightly upper hand. Scrum-half Millar used
his boot early on to gain territorial advantage although the March fullback
dealt with this with some skill.
Eventually Broadland were able to gain a foothold in the
March 22 and a crash ball off the back of the scrum saw Travis Ward bounce
off his opposing defender and force his way over the line.
March hit back and, when a Broadland player was adjudged
to have been offside, took the three points through their talented kicker.
March continued to pin Broadland's defense back and another
error saw yet another three points from a 40-yard penalty kick.
In the second-half Broadland were able to regain some composure
and began to exercise control in the scrum and lineout. With March attempting
to run the ball out of trouble, Murray was able to intercept a pass and
spring unopposed to score, again unconverted.
The visitors continued to turn the game around in the second
half with man of the match Jason Prescott taking the ball on at pace,
albeit alone at times. It was from one of these runs that Morrison was
able to take the ball and dance his way over the line for the score, converted
by Murray.
Broadland made three substitutions at this point with Pywell,
Riches and Browne coming on. Straight away the impact of the 19-stone
Riches was apparent as Broadland powered their way forward and Pywell
delivered the try.
March continued to press and were rewarded with a try from
a back row move. However this was too little too late and the whistle
sounded following the conversion.
Another victory leaves Broadland in third place following
an undefeated three months in the league. The team is aware that this
must be kept up with crunch games against first and second-placed Haverhill
and Stowmarket in the new year.
For now though, a well-earned rest with friendly club games
over Christmas.
With the sidesd evenly matched, this game was always going
to be close. Good solid tackling by Tyrone bradford stopped Lakenham comng
in three of four times.
But perseverance paid off for Broadland, just before half-time,
taking a quick penalty and bursting through the Lakenham defence, Andy
Ruddick scored under the posts. This was converted by Mickey Pywell.
the second half was tightly fought by both sides but good
defensiv eplay didn;t allow any more tries.
Broadland opened the scoring after five minutes but Fakenham
kept in touch with a try from Duncan Jury. During a scrappy first half
Mark House converted two penalties but Fakenham still finished the half
trailing 19 - 13.
In the second half, Fakenham came out much stronger scoring
two tries by Andy Mclaren and J Corrigan which were converted by man of
the match Mark House.
"Seeing as you're the first one here Tosh, would
you mind removing the broom-handle once I've made the pass..."
Broadland made the journey into Essex seeking a boost following
their hard-fought defeat against Stowmarket a fortnight earlier.
Mistley, second form bottom in the league, were also in
need of a win and they must have thought that their luck was in when their
winger crossed the line following a lackluster start by the visitors.
Broadland appeared to lack focus and discipline in the first
10 minutes and were panicky to say the least. They did begin to exert
some control over the match however, and were rewarded with a settling
score from Elliot Benham, making a welcoming return in the center following
injury.
Broadland had started to play with more confidence and in
contrast to the majority of the season, their backs exerted most of the
pressure upon the Mistley defense with Benham and Ward, working hard in
the midfield. Broadland followed up this pressure with a try from No.
8 Mackintosh, who peeled off the back of the scrum and burst through to
score under the posts.
Broadland were now in control and forced a defensive kick
from Mistley, this went across field and winger Scott Bird marked a good
performance with a catch and try in the corner. Continued pressure enabled
Benham to score his second as the visitors dominated.
Following half time, Mistley began to creep back. They pressurised,
often close to being offside, and stemmed the flow of tries that was threatened.
They were awarded a series of penalties and forced Broadland to defend
their own line for around 10 minutes without a score, to the credit of
the visitors' defense
Broadland regained their momentum with a superb try as fly-half
Si Ruddick started a move on the Broadland 10 meter line, linking with
Bould the ball went back via Ruddick to Janisch to score in the corner.
He was then rewarded with a try of his own close to the final whistle.
Special mention goes to Khan Bilyard who played 80 minutes
following the onset of a sudden illness. Another strong performance leaves
Broadland close to the top of the table.
Tomorrow they face Fakenham in a friendly, before facing
an unbeaten Haverhill at Cobholm the following week.
Broadland avenged their recent cup defeat at the hands of Fakenham.
With many changes, a mixture of first and second team regulars took
to the field.
Fakenham turned pressure into points with an unconverted try from a
break on the wing.
Broadland's backs worked particularly hard and scrum-half Millar, enjoying
a return to first team action, made much of the early territorial gain,
He set up Morrison to cross the line under the posts for an converted
try.
On the Fakenham five-yard line, Broadland set the ball - taken on at
pace by Durrant. This pulled in the home defense and Millar was able
to ship the ball out for Travis Ward to score.
Fakenham quickly replied with a further converted try before half-time.
In the second half, Fakenham brought on a clearly first-rate scrum-half.
They then sent in the big runners, crossed the line to take the score
to 19-14. They piled on the pressure for the next 20 minutes. But, to
Broadland's credit, were unable to score.
Broadland got out of their danger zone with some good lineout work
by Morrison. A ruck was set up in midfield, Durrant took the ball on
and was able to get it to Ruddick on the switch who ran in unopposed
to score, converted.
In the dying seconds, Fakenham missed a match wirining penalty. A
solid performance in defense from Broadland which will be needed against
undefeated Haverhill in the league on Saturday.
Haverhill travelled to Great Yarmouth having conceded
only 20 points in 12 league games this season.
In their previous encounter this season, Broadland were
defeated 30-5.
However, since that time Broadland have become a more
resilient and well-drilled side and this match would put that to the
test.
Haverhill begun the game well with some excellent kicking
to pin the Yarmouth side back into their 22.
From the initial scrum it was clear that they had superiority
and the home pack were pushed back, unable to defend their put in.
Haverhill spread the ball wide and with one of their players receiving
treatment directly in front of the line, they crossed for an unopposed
try in the corner, unconverted.
This pressure continued and Haverhill were rewarded
with a penalty, taking the score to 8-0.
Despite having a tough time in the scrum, Broadland
dominated the lineout forcing Haverhill to opt for the long throw,
the home side were able to steal obsession from this and began to
exert their presence on the match with Clarke narrowly missing a penalty.
Broadland continued to pile on the pressure and with
Haverhill camped on their goal line the ball was fed to scrum-half
Clarke who forced his way over from five yards.
Haverhill, not used to conceding tries, were clearly
rattled by this and cracks began to appear.
To their credit, they immediately upped their game and
were quicker to react to a tap from the lineout, enabling their fly-half
to crash over for the score, converted.
As half-time approached Broadland used their lineout
to good effect and Durrant put Ruddick through for a clear run into
the 22. A resultant offside by Haverhill enabled Clarke to make the
easy penalty as the whistle sounded.
The second half started 15-8 to Haverhill and the home
side knew that if they asked more questions Haverhill could become
more disrupted. Winger Andy Bould was put away for some superb runs.
Dipping his shoulder he put his man off the park through injury.This
continued as Broadland forced Haverhill to use all three subs.
The home team again found themselves only five yards
short. With time at the back of the ruck Beckett took the ball on
at pace for a rare but crucial try converted by Clarke.
The game continued to ebb and flow with full-back Lacock
making some excellent yardage for Broadland.
However, Haverhill kicked a penalty to put the match
within their grasp.
An injury to Janisch forced Broadland to bring on manager
and club talisman Kevan Pywell with only minutes to go.
With a scrum in their 22, Broadland looked to just get
the ball out. Clarke set up the ruck ball, was shipped to the wing
and Durrant fed Pywell who kicked the grubber. Haverhill looked on
as the ball came in-field leaving Pywell to touch down. With the conversion
missed, the final whistle blew leaving Broadland jubilant and Haverhill
despondent.
This result will please Stowmarket and opens up the
title race as the League approaches the end of the season. Credit
for Broadland for a never-say-die performance especially Bould, Clarke
and Smith who stood out for Broadland.
Broadland face an uphill struggle to gain promotion this season but
were well aware that an impressive win was needed on Saturday to maintain
pressure on the two teams above them, They had convincingly beaten the
opponents from the US Airforce in the away fixture, but were determined
to take nothing for granted.
Broadland were able to turn possession into points when Macintosh picked
up from the back of the scrum and fought his way over the line for the
try, was unconverted.
The home side began to settle into plying their game; they began to
attack the middle of the park with some superb runs by the twenty-and-a-half
stone Riches, Calnon and Prescott particularly. With an overlap on the
wing, the ball was shipped out to Andy Bould to crash over in the corner.
Broadland were now very much in control and won a lineout on the halfway
line.
With the call for a well-practised move, hooker Stuart Ruddick (debuting
at first-team level) threw the ball in and took it again from Durrant
on the run, he then put Mackintosh away with a perfect pass. The ruck
was set up on the 22 and Smithdale fed Durrant who found space to run
in the try, converted by Mackintosh.
Further tries came from Scott Bird and Pywell before the break.
The second half was much the pressure on the two same as the first,
however with Exiles' fitness clearly of a higher standard, the threat
of a counter- attack was always present.
This came to fruition when they were able to put the ball through
several pairs of hands to score in the corner, converted.
Broadland, sensing a rejuvenated spirit in their opponents were keen
to nullify this and Mackintosh again set the standard with a penalty
move try, shortly followed by a converted penalty kick.
Durrant added to his tally with a second try and the twenty-one stone
lock, Andy Riches steamed over from five yards following another well-worked
penalty, converted by Pywell.
Mackintosh then made it a hat trick and took his personal points haul
to 22 to close the match.
This was an excellent team performance against the crunching defence
of the Americans.
Broadland face Swaffham this weekend in the league.
'Tigers Pounce
to Take Game off their Coastal Rivals'
Tigers 26 v 5 L&Y III
WITH the first team taking three key players, Tigers had to make positional
for this merit table game.
In a closely contested first 20 minutes, with both teams taking their
own set-piece ball, it was L&Y who made the first mistake by killing
the ball, Patterson kicking the penalty.
This seemed to spur Broadland on and from a scrum Collings took one
against the head enabling Blizzard to barge over.
This was converted by Patterson a score of 10-0 at half time.
With Tigers using the backs at every opportunity and stretching the
L&Y defence, they were awarded three more kickable penalties all converted
by Patterson.
Lowestoft pulled a try back through missed tackles which woke up Broadland
and Patterson broke through the centre, chipping the full-back to score
and convert.
Tigers kept the pressure on but neither side could break the other's
defence for the last 20 minutes.
Tigers continued with their good form with a hard-fought
win in the Norfolk merit table. Commitment and tackling from all the
squad wonthis game for Broadland.
From a crunching tackle by Able, the ball spilled and
young Raven scored under the posts, converted by pollard. Fakenham managed
to reply for 7 - 7 at the turnaround.
The ball was spun wide for debutant Evans to sprint down
the tramlines and score, again converted by pollard. Then the ever-improving
Tyrone went over in the corner.
THE home side struck first, running in a try, which was
converted.
Then Swaffham again unlocked the away defence and outnumbered
full back Micky Pywell to make the easy score, again converted.
Towards the half-time break Broadland finally woke up
and were awarded a penalty on the 22-yard line, which was missed.
The Great Yarmouth side began the second half with a
renewed spirit, and almost immediately Prescott broke two tackles to
score, but the conversion was missed.
Broadland continued to work hard and eventually they
were given a penalty only yards short and Mackintosh burst through following
a well-worked penalty move, which was converted.
Swaffham suffered as a result of Prescott's and Millar's
pressure on their scrum half and they were unable to put the game out
of reach.
With five minutes to go Swaffham gave away a penalty about
40 yards in front of the posts and Mackintosh duly rescued his team
with an excellent kick. All in all, a lacklustre performance from Broadland.
With 10 of the previous week's squad missing, Tigers fielded 11 vets.
Watton are a league above, so it was always going to be a hard game.
Tigers were first to score from a quick penalty taken by Crane.
Keeping up the pressure from a set move from the line-out metres out,
Broadland crashed over for another try. Watton then woke up and pulled
back with two converted tries to go in 14-12 at the break.
Tigers started the better and following more pressure against a heavier
pack, the ball was spilt by the Watton nine for Able to steal and score.
With the Watton pack being given the run-around, Broadland scored a
try in the corner before Watton again came back and from a break in
their 22 managed to go the length of the field to score under the posts,
which converted. Tigers then lost three players through injury and endured
a torrid last 10 minutes.
With another score the visitors thought they had won the game. But
Tigers were awarded a penalty 10 metres out, which was taken quickly
and spun wide for Raven to get the final score and secure the game.
MoM: Dave Evans.
This week sees the last league game away at Southwold, meet 12.30 at
clubhouse.
Broadland lost this unofficial third and fourth place
play-off.
With no hope of promotion for either, the match was played
for pride and certainly it did not fail to deliver a hard-fought game.
Sawston immediately put the home team under pressure,
forcing Justin Millar to play a defensive role at scrum half.
Sawston gained the lead with a try in the corner but from
the restart, Broadland were able to maintain possession although Lacock
and Benham, usually devastating in the midfield, were unable to unlock
the resolute Sawston defence.
The Yarmouth side opted to kick for territory but with
the wind continuing to hamper their attack, Broadland conceded a second
try. This was almost immediately followed by a third try after some
abysmal tackling.
The second half started with Broadland optimistic that
with the wind they would enjoy more possession and territory. Sawston,
however, attacked the home side and only a last-gasp tackle from Pywell
saved Broadland from packing their kit there and then.
With lock-forward Asa Morrison injured, Andy Riches came
on and made an immediate impact in the scrum. The Yarmouth side began
to play with more belief and finally scored a try with half an hour
to play.
Sensing a comeback, they continued to press with hooker
Stu Ruddick finding Durrant and Calnon every time with his line-out
throw. Following continuous offside by Sawston, Broadland were awarded
a penalty try.
With the score at 17-10, the home side continued to dominate
but unfortunately it was too late as time ran out.
With the season over, Broadland will reflect that they
achieved their best run - unbeaten in the league between October and
March - when they had a consistent squad.
They must aim to reproduce this consistency for a whole
season in order to achieve promotion next time round.
Tigers travelled to this last league game a player short
but after the commitment shown in the last few weeks were fairly confident.
It wasn't long before Tyrone outstripped his opposite
number but the score was unconverted.
Keeping up the pressure, Debbage burst through the centre
to score.
Tigers then went to sleep and through missed tackles Southwold
ran in three scores. Pollard pulled back a penalty and entered the break
a point down.
From a set line-out move Collings and Panter interchanged
down the tramlines with Panter getting the try.
From the restart Tigers retained possession and from a
series of quick rucks released lee Raven to run in unopposed.
Southwold again took up the challenge with their skipper
leading by example and were soon back i the game with another score.
Tigers then took control of the match with man-of-the-match Rye billyard
finishing off another fine move, Pollard converting.
The last score came from stolen ruck ball, spun wide for
Pollard to touch down and convert himself.
