First of all many thanks to Fixtures Secretary and 1st XV Manager Martyn Jackson for this brief match report, and once again to Simon Watson for his pics from Saturday - please click here.

With the league season over and the cup season on pause, what could we do on Easter Saturday afternoon - play a touring side of course! And so on Saturday 8th April, 64 Dutch rugby players from Groningen in Northern Holland turned up in the biggest coach that's ever been seen on Holt's car park and proceeded to attempt to drink the bar dry, with a couple of games of rugby thrown in just to make it look good!

It was agreed with the guys from Groningen beforehand that we would play 2 matches - one, a reasonably serious affair, and the other a more socially based offering which Duncan has already reported on.

The more serious side consisted of several regular first team players, several regular second team players and several Colts who next season it's hoped will be featuring in the senior sides, plus two payers who have played often for Holt, but not for a year or two. The 1st team was led by Tom Jackson and Ben Perowne was in command of the social side of anyone else who fancied a run about. Rolling subs and converting your own tries were the 2 differences to a normal game.

Ben's boys ran out winners by 7 tries to 2 in a highly entertaining game, thoroughly enjoyed by both sets of players, with the final score unimportant.

Tom's lads came in as winners after another entertaining game; Groningen played some excellent rugby at times but as was to be expected didn't have the quality to beat Holt, although they did manage to score 5 tries to Holts 8. With games such as these, the score didn't really matter, it was the spirit of the game that was important.

Scorers: Blake Collins, Nico Allen, Tom Goose, Nico Allen, Harry Papworth, Tom Jackson, Will Bristoe, Ollie Woodrow.
Drop Goal: Tom Jackson

Special mention must go to the Man of the Match Geoff Flather who played his first game in 3 years - in fact the last time he played was against Groningen in Holland when we toured there in 2020, and also to Will Briscoe playing his first game of the season - better late than never! A special mention needs also to go to the youngsters who all played really well - they're going to be a great addition to our Senior squads next season.

Finally thank you to Graham Ilsley our Senior Physio for putting in a much appreciated shift in the kitchen, and to Alistair Meake for his earlier than expected bar shift start!

Both games were played in great spirit. 100 odd players were used between the two games all of whom enjoyed the afternoons fun, a sterling effort was made in the clubhouse afterwards to uphold all the traditions of the spirit of rugby! The Dutch lads gave their versions of some well known serenades in Dutch (superb voices I must say) with English versions performed by the Holt boys. As befits a tour, there was a fair bit of post-match fun!

Next weekend.

Saturday 15th April - the 2nd team are back on duty at home entertaining Fakenham in the Norfolk Cup; currently there are no first or third team matches. Kick off 3pm. This will be the last Senior home game of this season so it would be great to see all our fantastic supporters for one last time this season cheering on the boys for what will be a good game against our local rivals Fakenham; afterwards the players are holding their Awards night .

Sunday 16th April - the 2nd date of the Kingswood Festival - if you haven't experienced volunteering for this event, or witnessed the joy on hundreds of kids faces at this event before, then I suggest you make a date in your diary to join us.