Due to the Rugby World Cup Final Broadland travelled away to play Lakenham on Sunday afternoon. Broadland and Lakenham have both had mixed fortunes in recent league games and this was always going to be close. Broadland made two changes in the backs with Russell Clarke pulling on the number 10 Shirt and Micky Pywell coming in at Fullback. The only change in the pack was Elliot Benham coming in at Number 8.

Lakenham kicked-off in bleak, wet and wintry conditions and immediately the Forwards began to battle it out in some tight forward play (which suited the exceptionally wet conditions).

Lakenham took an early lead with a penalty from just outside the 22-meter line but Broadland soon pulled it back when Full Back Micky Pywell kicked a neatly taken penalty.

Scrum Half Burling made a promising break from the middle and with the ball taken deep inside Lakenham territory by White and LaCock in the centres, Broadland were awarded a second penalty. Success gave the Yarmouth side a 6 -3 lead.

Broadland were not finding their usual platform in the scrum and the lack of clean ball available to the Broadland backs became increasingly scarce.

Lakenham moved the ball deep into Broadland territory and finally went over for the score from close range (unconverted) Broadland got themselves back into decent field position and Burling took a half opportunity for a drop goal attempt which went just wide of the right post. The half time whistle went shortly after with Lakenham commanding an 8 - 5 lead.

Broadland made one substitution at half time with Matt Beckett coming on at Prop for the injured Ross Taylor; the fresh set of legs seemed to make a difference as the Broadland Scum began to stabilise. Broadland began to link some good play together with Wings Raven and Scott probing deep into Lakenham territory.

Lakenham countered and with the Broadland pack spread too thinly, Lakenham powered over the line with a second unconverted try to extend their lead to 13 - 6.

Captain Riches elected to bring on teenage wing Johnny Clay and almost immediately Clarke created an opportunity for Clay to stretch his legs. It was only excellent defensive play from the Lakenham fullback that prevented a breakaway try.

As time began to wind down Broadland piled on the pressure; Prescott and Smith drove the ball deep into Lakenham territory. Lock Jim Gray picked and carried on as the Broadland pack edged closer to the Lakenham line. Morrison retrieved the ball from a Maul and headed towards the Lakenham 5-meter line, Beckett and Bristo cleared over to set a solid ruck. Scrum Half Burling stepped up and popped the ball out to Benham, who dived into the corner to score.

Mickey Pywell then had the unenviable task of a conversion attempt from the left touchline in appalling weather to tie the game. Pywell struck the ball well and Broadland watched as the ball soared though the air, just to the left of the goalposts, Lakenham's arms went up as the final whistle sounded.

Tries: Benham

Penalties: Pywell 2 0f 2

Conversions Pywell 0 of 1

Team: M.Pywell, L.Raven, M.La-Cock, M.White, M.Scott, R.Clarke, R.Burling, R.Taylor, A.Smith, R.Bristo, A.Riches (capt), J.Gray, A.Morrison, J.Prescott, E.Benham

Replacements Used: P.Abel (Blood Replacement 31-40 mins) M.Beckett (40 mins) J.Clay (58 mins)

Asa Morrison

- Fixtures -