On Saturday 1st April, Holt entertained local rivals North Walsham at Bridge Road in the Norfolk senior cup. Games between theses two sides are always closely and passionately contested. This was no exception, tight, hard, fast, skill full and most of all great entertainment!

Many thanks as always to Fixture Secretary and 1st XV Manager Martyn Jackson for this match report, and also to Club Photographer Simon Watson for his super images - please click here.

Holt had a few selection problems, especially in the backs where Tom Jackson found himself without any of his usual partners in crime. Mel Gilmour, Ollie Woodrow, Jake Mermagen, Chilli Simmons, Ali Hughes and Robbie Freeman were all unavailable or injured. Colts Nico Allen and Harry Papworth stepped up to make their first, first team starts, and James Spratt left the comfort of his usual back row position to patrol the wide open spaces at outside centre!

Holt kicked off into a quite fresh breeze. NW immediately hammered the ball deep into Holt's 22, fielded by Harry Papworth Holt ran the ball back at NW, unfortunately getting bundled into touch on half way. NW won the line out but knocked on giving Holt a scrum on the NW 10m line. Clean ball from the scrum saw Holt advance up to NW 22 where they were awarded a penalty for a NW offence at the break down. Holt chose to tap and go, driving NW back to their 5m line and winning another penalty. Holt chose to scrum it this time; another good scrum saw clean ball once more gained. Holt fed it wide and Tom Jackson went over for the try. Charlie Gill missed the kick. 5 mins Holt 5 North Walsham 0.

Holt secured possession from the kick off and, through a succession of kicks and attacking phases, steadily pushed NW back into their own half. Holt offended at a line out around 30m out from the NW line. The NW 10, who kicked brilliantly all day, pushed Holt right back into their own 22. A forward pass from the line out on Holt's 5m line gave Holt a scrum which they won and Jackson was able to clear Holt's lines back up 25m out. Another penalty to Holt saw Jackson push them further down the pitch and another enabled Holt to kick their way into the NW 22. Holt tried to force their way over the line but NW turned the ball over at the breakdown and NW cleared their lines deep into Holt territory. Holt won the line and once more, putting the ball through the hands and attacked the NW defence. The move broke down on the Holt 10m line and NW surged forward, Holt giving away a penalty about 30m out. The kick was converted. 20mins Holt 5 NW 3.

Within five mins of the kick-off NW forced themselves into a similar pitch position. Holt obligingly gave them another penalty which once more the NW no10 converted. 25mins Holt 5 NW 6.

Yet again Holt allowed NW to push them back from the kick-off, once again giving a penalty away about 30m out, and once again the NW 10 converted. 30mins Holt 5 NW 9.

Holt charged at NW from the kick-off, winning a scrum on the 22 but NW infringed gifting Holt a penalty. A quick tap was taken and the ball put through the hands to Taylor Gowing who crashed over for a try. Gill converted. 32 mins Holt 12 NW 9.

From the kick both sides attacked and counter attacked, but neither could force a way through the superb defence from both sides. NW however gradually drove H backwards; Tom Gosden tackled a NW player from an offside position and was yellow carded. The NW 10 kicked the goal from 25m out. 44 mins Holt 12 North Walsham 12.

From the kick off a NW player was judged to have taken a Holt player out with a high tackle and received a yellow card; both sides were now with 14 players. The game continued to go non stop from end to end, James Spratt having a good break snuffed out, but winning a penalty which Jackson, with the help of a favourable breeze, punched into the corner. Another Holt penalty saw them tap and drive over the NW line but the referee decided that the ball was held, giving NW a goal line drop out. Jackson fielded the drop out and attempted a drop goal, but missed.

Gowing was replaced with Sam Goose who, on making his 1st team debut, became the latest in a long line of brothers who have played in Holt's first team ( the Goose`s, the Woodrow`s and the Gill`s, to name just a few!). Clean ball from a scrum on Holt's 10m line saw Jackson kick for territory; unfortunately the favourable breeze from a few minutes before became unfavourable and the ball sailed over the dead ball line, giving NW a scrum back where the ball was kicked from. Both sides again threw everything at each other trying to find the next score. Holt eventually managed to force NW back into their own half. From a scrum 30m out from the NW line a NW player received a yellow card, and Holt received a penalty. Holt lost possession on the line though, and from the ensuing scrum NW got possession and cleared their lines to the 22. Holt spread the ball from the line out, Jackson off loading the centre partner James Spratt who evaded the NW defence and sprinted in from 30m. The kick was missed. 35min Holt 17 NW 12.

NW flew at Holt from the line forcing a penalty which they put into the corner. A catch and drive from the line forced the ball over the line for a try. The kick was missed. 38mins Holt 17 North Walsham 17.

Holt in turn charged at NW from the kick off. Charlie Cowling however was judged to have swung a punch in the ensuing ruck on the NW 22 and was red carded. NW kicked the penalty to half way, and another penalty saw them in Holt's 22. A Holt scrum however saw Holt manage to get the ball back into the NW half and win a penalty on the NW 10m line. To everyone's horror (on the side lines anyway!) and, given Holt's kicking stats over the season, the Holt faithful were justified in not thinking it was a good idea for Jackson to decide to go for the posts. Gill had been subbed off 5 mins before so he was left with only himself to take the kick. Tom Jackson hit it beautifully and the ball sailed over from 53m.
45 mins Holt 20 NW 17.

The referee decided there was time to restart so NW kicked off deep into Holt territory. NW gained a scrum on Holts 22 but infringed giving Holt a penalty which they happily booted in to touch, to end the game. Final score Holt 20 North Walsham 17.

This was a wonderful afternoons entertainment; all credit to both teams. Well done to the Holt boys from the 2nds who stepped up, Charlie Gill, Sam Goose, Matty Woodrow, Harry Yarbo, George Loades and Chris Hill - they all had great games.

Scorers Jackson: Spratt, Gowing tries
Gill conversion
Jackson Penalty

Congratulations to the Moongazerale Man of the Match James Spratt - he had a great game playing out of position, running hard lines and scored with an outstanding solo effort.

DOTD Charlie Cowling ........ enough said!