Holt’s penultimate game of the 24/25 league season saw Brentwood travel to Bridge Road. Currently sitting in 4th place in the table, Brentwood have had a very different season to Holt,

Brentwood kicked off, Gill fielded and returned the ball straight down the middle of the pitch where it was gleefully seized upon by the Brentwood backs who ran it straight back at Holts defence. Only a forward pass on Holt’s 22 stopped them. Brentwood attacked the slow ball from the scrum, earning a line out some 15 metres out but they infringed again giving Holt some respite. Arthur Loose playing at 10 cleared Holt’s lines up to halfway with the penalty kick.

This settled Holt. From the line out. Freddy Carter charged through the line getting 10m then setting up 2nd phase ball that was spun wide, the move was illegally stopped on the Brentwood 22. Jackson kicked into the corner. Brentwood won possession on the line and cleared down field where Gill ran the ball back at the Brentwood defence. From a line out on the Brentwood 22, they kicked down field. The kick back was fielded and spun wide, the Brentwood attack out flanking the Holt defence to score. The conversion was good.

11 mins Holt 0 Brentwood 7

Brentwood attacked from the kick off forcing Holt back to their 22. Will Allen went for an intercept but failed to gather and was judged to have knocked on deliberately. A Brentwood penalty on Holt’s 22 and a 10 minutes rest for Allen! Brentwood went for the posts successfully.

15mins Holt 0 Brentwood 10

The kick off went straight into touch. From the scrum on halfway, Brentwood attacked but a foot in touch gave Holt a line out some 20m from their own line. Holt ran the ball and got as far as halfway. Another scrum saw Holt try to run the ball again, but the ball was spilled and Brentwood grabbed the opportunity to counter attack and ran in from 50m. The conversion was successful.

19m Holt 0 Brentwood 17

Once more the cross wind played nasty tricks with the kick off taking the ball straight into touch. Brentwood then attacked from the scrum on half way. The ball was turned over by Holt on the Holt 22 where Tom Goose and Jackson linked up to break out. A Brentwood scrum on their 5m line saw them clear up to halfway. Gill took a quick line out and Holt once more poured forwards, earning a penalty on the Brentwood 22. They chose to tap and go, the move broke down again on the Brentwood 5m line and once more they were able to clear their lines to 30m out. The line out throw wasn't straight giving Brentwood a scrum. The ball went into touch on the Brentwood 22. Holt won the line out, once more trying to run at the Brentwood defence but they were stopped illegally, Loose put the penalty into the corner, Holt spread the ball from the line out finding Tom Goose with a gap to power through to score. Loose missed the conversion.

37 mins Holt 5 Brentwood 17

Holt attacked from the kickoff, Gill and Jackson taking the ball forward to the Brentwood 22. A knock on gave Brentwood the scrum where they cleared their lines but Gill and Gilmour ran the ball back, earning a penalty on half way. Loose kicked up to 30m out. Harisson and Yarboo pulled a set move at the front of the line and charged through deep into the Brentwood 22, the ball was lost in the tackle . The ref decided it was half time.

Half Time Holt 5 Brentwood 17

Holt kicked off but Brentwood hoofed the ball back down the pitch, a good chase saw the Holt defence caught in possession, a Brentwood penalty on the 22 was taken quickly, the ball spread wide and Brentwood went over for their 3rd try. The conversion was good.

2 mins Holt 5 Brentwood 24

A penalty from the kick off saw Loose drill a kick up to the Brentwood 5m line. Brentwood however regained possession and kicked back into Holt territory. Brentwood infringed once more at the breakdown where Holt ran the penalty from inside their own half, Goose broke free but dropped the ball on the Brentwood 10m line, with only one defender to beat!. Brentwood kicked ahead from the scrum, Gill ran the ball back but Brentwood once more stopped the attack illegally. Loose kicked up to 10m out, Holt spread the ball from the line out, again finding Goose the room to go over for his and Holt’s 2nd try. The conversion missed.

8 mins Holt 10 Brentwood 24

A Brentwood penalty on Holt’s 22 saw them kick to 10m out. The throw wasn't straight, Holt broke out from the scrum, getting to 30m from the Brentwood line, Brentwood cleared to 25m out, Holt ran from the line out Pete Medler selling the most outrageous dummy to stroll past the Brentwood full back and score Holt’s 3rd try. Loose nailed the conversion.

12 mins Holt 17 Brentwood 24

Brentwood charged forward from the kick off earning a penalty 30m out, electing once more to go for the posts where they extended their lead.

15 mins Holt 17 Brentwood 27

From a line out on half way Brentwood hands and phases drove them deep into Holt’s half. A penalty 10m out from Holt’s line saw, for once of the very few times this season, Holt’s pack driven backwards, by the very much larger Brentwood scrum. It was an easy stroll over for Brentwood 4th try. The conversion was good.

20 mins Holt 17 Brentwood 34

From a scrum on half way, Holt fed the ball through the hands, once more finding Tom Goose in space he out sprinted the Brentwood defence to score his 3rd and Holts 4th, bonus point try. Loose got the conversion.

25 mins Holt 24 Brentwood 34

Another shot at goal from Brentwood 5 mins later saw them once more creep ahead.

30 mins Holt 24 Brentwood 37

Arthur broke ahead from a loose maul on the Brentwood 10m line, he linked up with Jackson who took it further before offloading to Cowling who went over in the corner for Holts 5th try. The conversion missed.

35 mins Holt 29 Brentwood 37

Brentwood bounced straight back scoring their 5th try of the day straight from the kick off. The conversion was good.

38 mins Holt 29 Brentwood 44

Holt charged forward once more driving deep into territory, Brentwood grabbed a loose ball on their 22 and hoofed it into touch to bring the game to an end.

Final Score Holt 29 Brentwood 44

Holt continue to improve and rediscover their confidence. Only 3 penalties and 3 conversions formed the difference between the two teams. The try count was even. Holt can rue several missed chances, with only one more league game to go it’s a unfortunately perhaps a bit late this season, but if the spirit and up beat demeanour of the team can be maintained and perhaps increased during the off season there is no need to fear next season. Holt have proved time again this season, even with things as bad as they have been, they are not outclassed in this league. With a little more confidence they can, and will be very competitive!

Holt 2nds were away to Thetford 1sts where they were beaten 66/15

Congratulations to our Moongazer man of the match Tom Goose sponsored by Larking Gowan due to panic stations in Brentwood numbers whenever he went anywhere near the ball. 3 tries, what more can be said!

DOTD Arthur Loose. The young fly half gets better every game, growing in confidence with every game. His turn !

The only game next week is the 3rds away to Crusaders 1st XV team. The following week, 22 March the 1st XV are back on the road for their last league game of the season versus Woodford. The 2nds will be at home hosting Lakenham Union, and the 3rds at home versus Lowestoft and Yarmouth.