Broadland travelled away last weekend, with the difficult task of overcoming a well-drilled Holt side who are currently playing one league above Broadland.

Broadland Captain Andy Ritches made a number of changes from the previous week with Justin Millar started at scrum half, Johnny Clay starting at left wing, and Elliot Benham and Jay Prescott joined the Back row.

Holt kicked off and immediately used their bigger pack to move the ball into Broadland territory. Broadland soaked up the pressure and some excellent defensive work from Miller and Ruddick put the Yarmouth side out of danger.

Fullback Murray added the first points of the day with a neatly chipped penalty through the uprights for an early Broadland lead but Holt struck back with a text book drop-goal.

The exchange of kicks continued following some good ground gain in the centre from Mark White and Mark LaCock. Another penalty was awarded and again Murray put Broadland in the lead. This was however short-lived as the Holt pack mauled the ball over the Broadland line for the first try of the game (unconverted).

Broadland again moved the ball steadily through midfield with some good running from props Beckett and Bristo and another penalty awarded saw Murray adding another three to the Broadland score sheet.

The Broadland front row of Beckett, Smith and Bristo were in destructive form and were providing a superb platform for Millar to launch attacks from. Broadland were stringing some excellent phase play together and Flanker Paul Abel and Wing Matt Scott were crucial in getting the ball deep into opposition territory. However a well executed Holt counter attack put the home side in decent field position, which yielded a second mauling try (unconverted) This was the final score of the half and Holt led 13 - 9.

Broadland made three changes at the half with Jack Lovett joining the three-quarters and Rye Bilyard and Ross Taylor coming into the pack. The Broadland pack continued to dominate in the scrum and won another ball against the head: Bilyard picked up and drove on; Morrison, Ritches and Prescott all had good runs as Broadland pressed toward the Holt line; finally, it was Centre Mark LaCock who charged over to score and put Broadband in the lead (converted Murray).

The Broadland scrummage was going from strength to strength and Holt struggled to win the ball. Disaster struck for Broadland in a most unusual way when in the midst of a maul, the ball was punched out to - somewhat fortuitously - land in the hands of a surprised Holt forward. The Holt Flanker seized the opportunity and bolted over the Broadland line for a try (converted).

With Holt back in the lead and time beginning to run out, Broadland began to open things up. Fly Half Ruddick took a quick tap inside the Broadland five and went hurtling up the wing. Forwards Jay Prescott, Andy Smith and Asa Morrison were on hand to link up and take the ball into the Holt half. Wing Jack Lovett nearly finished the move with a breakaway score but only stout defensive work from Holt prevented it. As is all too often the case in rugby, Broadland were trying to force a break and with the ball turned over and Broadland committed to the attack the Holt Scum Half secured the game with a try in the corner (converted).

Next Week Broadland return to league rugby as they play host to Harwich and Dovercourt. Broadland 2nd XV are also in action when they take a short hop over the Border to Suffolk to play Lowestoft and Yarmouth 2nd XV

Tries: M.La-Cock

Conversions: S. Murray 1 of 1

Penalties: S.Murray 3 0f 3

Team: S.Murray, J.Clay, M.White, M.La-Cock, M.Scott, Simon Ruddick, Justin Millar, Matt Beckett, A.Smith, R.Bristo, A.Ritches (Capt.), A.Morrison, P.Abel, J.Prescott. E.Benham

Replacements used: R.Taylor, J.Lovett, R.Billyard

Asa Morrison

- Fixtures -