After horrendous weather all week, gales, snow, torrential rain and general weather mayhem all week; the weather changed in time to enable Holts first home game of 2026 against top of the table Eton Manor to go ahead in near perfect, although very cold, rugby playing conditions.

Tom Jackson playing his 200th 1st XV team game for Holt kicked off. Eton Manor kicked back but were offside gifting Holt a penalty on halfway. Holt kicked for territory but knocked on at the line out. Eton Manor scrum 30m out. Eton Manor ran from the scrum making ground into the Holt 22 before knocking on. Holt scrum 20m out. Grant McConnell playing at fly half saw a gap in the Eton Manor defence and burst through, he was illegally bought down on the Eton Manor 22, Pete Medler kicked the penalty into the corner, this time there was not mistake at the line out, several phases keeping possession well eventually gave Will Rand the space to crash over for a try. The conversion from out wide was missed.

5 mins Holt 5 Eton Manor 0

An exchange of kicks from the restart saw an Eton Manor kick go straight into touch. Holt line out some 30m out. Good ball from the line out enabled McConnel to once more beat the Eton Manor defence, this time with a chip over, Michael Dolan winning the chase to touch down for Holts second try. The conversion missed.

12 mins Holt 10 Eton Manor 0

Another exchange of kicks from the restart ended with a Eton Manor line out on halfway. Eton Manor moved the ball quickly through the hands moving forward into the Holt 22, setting the ball up once more from a maul, Eton Manor attacked swinging the ball wide. Tom Jackson saw the danger and intercepted on his own 22, then went the full distance to score Holt's 3rd try under the posts. Medler added the points for the conversion.

15 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 0

Yet again an exchange of kicks from the restart finished with a Holt scrum some 15 m inside their own half. An infringement gave Eton Manor a penalty, they kicked into the corner. Good Holt defence kept the catch and drive out but another penalty enabled Eton Manor to re-set. This time the much smaller Holt pack were unable to prevent the Eton Manor pack executing a good catch and drive to score. The conversion missed.

17 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 5

Again, Holt tried to attack but lost possession about 15m out. Eton Manor cleared their lines deep into Holt territory. Winning their line out they advanced once more, eventually getting stopped on the Holt 5m line. McConnell kicked Holt back to the 22. A catch and drive from the line out moved Eton Manor deep into the Holt 22, a penalty enabled them once more to set up their catch and drive from a 5m line out, Holt were unable to hold them out. The conversion was good.

35 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 12

A Holt scrum on the Eton Manor 10m line was turned over by Eton Manor. They kicked ahead, McConnell hefted the ball back deep into the Eton Manor half, The Eton Manor backs ran the ball straight back at the Holt defence, linking with their forwards they advanced eventually going over for a try. The conversion missed.

39 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 17

Eton Manor ran the ball back at Holt and made good ground before being stopped illegally some 20m out. A kick into the corner set up the now predictable catch and drive for Eton Manor’s 4th try. The conversion was good.

44 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 24

Half Time

An exchange of kicks from the kick off saw McConnell and the Holt backs attack, making good ground before stepping into touch on the Eton Manor 10m line. An infringement at the line out gave Eton Manor a penalty which they drilled into the corner. The catch and drive did the rest. The conversion missed

3 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 29

A Holt scrum on the Eton Manor 22 yielded a penalty. Holt chose to tap and go, they were bought down on the 5m line but gained another penalty, once more they tapped and once more were stopped illegally. Once more they tried but this time the tables were turned, Eton Manor gaining the penalty enabling them to clear their lines. Winning a penalty at the line out Eton Manor once more advanced, kicking to Holts 10m line. McConnell was judged to have infringed and was yellow carded. Eton Manor kicked for the corner, but the ball was well kept in. Holt kicked out of defence, Eton Manor ran back. Winning a 5m penalty. Holt defended well and once more broke out winning a scrum some 30m out. Holt again attacked but could find no way through the Eton Manor defence. Another Holt scrum 30m out allowed them once more to try and get through the Eton Manor defence but they were stopped on half way. Eton Manor gaining a penalty. The kicked to just outside the 22, good ball from the line out enabled them to spread the ball wide, keeping possession the eventually spread the Holt Defence to score out wide. The conversion missed.

30 mins Holt 17 Eton Manor 34

A good chase from the kick off saw Holts backs gain possession and attack Eton Manor, a loose ball was seized on by Eton Manor who booted it deep into Holt territory, Eaton Manor won the chase to score. The conversion was good

35 Holt 17 Eton Manor 34

This seemed to knock the wind and confidence out of Holt and Eton Manor ran in 2 more tries in the final 5 mins to finish winners.

Final score Holt 17 Eton Manor 51

Another great enthralling game of rugby at bridge road. Holt proved, once more, that they can compete with the top teams at this level. Special mention must be made of coach Nick Harding who stepped up to play in the front row when late call offs happened. Also the young players who have come through in the last few games and made a massive impact, Will Rands, Jamie Buckingham, George Woodhouse, Theo Crass, Rhys Whiffen and Michael Dolan, players who have improved and earned their 1st XV team positions, George Loades, Matty Woodrow and Dan Ekpe, and those lads home from university for Christmas who put it on the line, Fred and Harry Papworth and Nico Allen, thank you all for your efforts!

Better mention the old stalwarts too, Pete Medler, Grant McConnell, Tom Jackson, and not forgetting Joe Harrisson! Apologies for anyone missed out!

Scorers
Try Jackson, Rand and Dolan
Conversion Medler

MOTM Harry Papworth good solid display at the heart of the backs
DOTD Theo Crass yellow card minutes after coming on

Also on the chairs Tom Jackson on the occasion of his 200 cap. He was also presented with a tankard by club President Jimmy Gray.

The 2nds lost to Lowestoft and Yarmouth 1sts. The 3rds game V Beccles 2nds was called off by Beccles.

Next week the firsts travel to Wymondham whilst at Bridge Road the 2nds take on Thetford 1sts.