Holt 1st XV 82: 7 Ipswich YM (Home league win)
Holt 2nd XV 47: 15 Great Yarmouth & Broadland (Home league win)
North Walsham Warriors 8: 14 Holt Tertians (Away league win awarded: away friendly win)

Once again it was AMAZING to see all three teams taking to the field for Holt. THANK YOU to Walsham Viking Warriers for being able to step in to make this happen after both our club league games were cancelled.

The long & detailed match report of the 1st XV game will follow at the end from 1st team Manager Martyn Jackson, with huge thanks as always for his time & effort.

Following last weeks below par performances, the post comment feedback from Head Coach Phil, and Director of Rugby Pete make very different reading today. On behalf of all the Holt supporters looking forward to yesterday's games, the players did not disappoint - it was a fantastically entertaining afternoon of rugby from all 3 teams; and thank you also to Julie & her kitchen staff, and Alistair & his bar staff - thank you to everyone involved - what a great afternoon of great food, great beer, great company & great rugby. What a great atmosphere! Thank you also to Birketts for being our pre-match sponsors. After the game, Chairman Rob Hughes commented:"We are so proud of the way the teams performed and for all 3 to win in such exemplary fashion was just great!"

Congratulations to our 1st XV Moongazerale Man of the Match Taylor Gowing for his outstanding ball carrying all game, his great set piece and leading powerful display in the forwards. Congratulations to our 2nds MotM, young Colt Nico Allen for great running and scoring, and to our 3rds MotM Nate Gregory for leading the team by example.

With thanks to Simon Watson, our Club photographer, for his superb action shots; please click here for the 1st XV and click here for the 2nds.

Head Coach, Phil Sharpe: "Another great weekend of rugby for Holts senior section. We were pleased that the 1sts managed to get out of the blocks early and that they have addressed the aggression levels required to be competitive in this league. The team know that there is still much work to be done and that this performance, whilst vastly improved, was still short of what they are capable of. Credit is due to Ipswich YM for playing hard until the final whistle and to the ref, Andy Dixon for confident and clear refereeing.
The 2nds played with renewed desire and heart, their attention to using what has been covered in training was evident in the way they played. They have coped with personnel changes well and shown the depth of player base we have.
Finally, the 3rds claimed a great result away; we are grateful to North Walsham for the game after ours was called off. Good to see the return of Club Captain Duncan Ayres and his positive influence alongside captain Ben Perowne; training again making the difference here, led by DoR Pete D’Amery and club stalwart & 1st Team Manager Martyn Jackson."

DoR Pete D'Amery: "After a week of reflection, analysis and hard work on and off the training pitch, it was very satisfying to achieve the results all three senior teams realised. The coaching team developed plans for individuals as well as a whole. Every member of the squad put these into practice during the week and on Saturday. We have a way to go on consistency of execution, but they now know the difference between what happens when the plans are executed and when they aren’t.
Although I wasn’t at North Walsham the reports of our Tertians putting into practice with great effect what was worked on during the week proves the theory works. With the 2nds and 1st XV back to winning ways, the work starts again for next week's fixtures - but
the ambition as ever is to enjoy the whole rugby experience."

Next weekend Saturday 5th November, the 2nds play AWAY against Wymondham 2s, while the 1st XV play AWAY at Bury St Edmunds 2s. The weekend afterwards on Saturday 12th November the 3rds are due to be playing at HOME against Broadland 2s, while the 1sts are AWAY at Saffron Waldon, and the 2s are AWAY against Norwich 2s. The 19th is a rest weekend.

Saturday 26th is our next HOME PRE-MATCH LUNCH, when the 1st XV entertain Cantabrigans, and the 2nds also play at HOME against Southwold 2s. Thank you to StuLee for being our next pre-match sponsors. Please book your pre-match lunch with Mike Bush in the usual way by emailing him - click here to book now!

Martyn's 1st XV match report is now in ....
Could Holt bounce back from a dismal performance away to Ely in the latest round of their league fixtures v Ipswich YM? 14 tries suggests that they could!
Holt had a lot to prove this week after 3 or 4 fairly lackluster performances culminating in the awful show at Ely last week. Coach Phil Sharpe wielded the axe in selection, and a vastly changed 15 took the field. Some slapped wrists, some enforced changes, some positional, but changes a plenty there were.
Ipswich kicked off, the ball was taken by Mel GIlmour, moved from full back to outside centre, 3 phases through the forwards and the ball went out to Ben Brooke, moved from outside centre to outside half, a chip over the defence was gathered by Brooke, he got as far as the Ipswich 22, the ball was recycled, went through the hands to Ollie Woodrow who crossed for the 1st try. Ben Brooke converted. 1 min Holt 7 Ipswich YM 0.

Holt infringed from the KO giving Ipswich a penalty 30m out in front of the posts, Ipswich chose to kick for the points but missed. Holt cleared up to half way and won a penalty of their own. Brooke kicked up to the Ipswich 22. From the line out Holt ran a couple of forward phases, Pete Medler broke and went for the line, was pulled up short, Tim Allen took over and with the help of Ollie Denton crashed over for the try. Brooke nailed the kick.6 mins Holt 14 Ipswich YM 0.

An exchange of kicks from the restart saw Mel Gilmour force Ipswich back to their 22. A Holt penalty enabled Brooke to push Ipswich further back into their 22. Another penalty to Holt was ran the ball going quickly through several pairs of hands to Ollie Woodrow, who flicked it back inside to Tom Jackson who went over for the 3rd try. Brooke missed the kick. 11 mins Holt 19 Ipswich YM 0.

From the KO Brooke kicked up to the Ipswich try line, a good chase forced Ipswich to infringe on their 22 giving Holt a penalty, again choosing to run the ball Holt sent Robbie Freeman playing at full back, rather than his usual wing position in for the 4th and bonus point point try. Brooke missed the kick.15 mins Holt 24 Ipswich YM 0.

From the KO Ipswich threw everything at Holt, a huge defensive effort kept them out. Holt through a series of good tactical kicking and a superb chase from Jacob Coe playing on the right wing forced Ipswich back into their own 22. A Holt line out was won, the ball went out to Jackson who slung a huge 20m pass out to his centre partner Mel Gilmour who crossed for a try. The kick was missed. 27 mins Holt29 Ipswich YM 0.

From the KO Robbie Freeman went on a mazy 50m run through most of the Ipswich defence only to get hauled down 5m from the Ipswich line, Pete Medler latched onto the loose ball from the break down to score. Brooke nailed the kick.
30 mins Holt 36 Ipswich 0.

Holt forced Ipswich back into their own half again from the KO. A Holt scrum led to a break from Medler, the ball was taken on by Coe who was bought down on the line, Toby Renwick, backing up, crashed over for the try. Brooke was successful with the kick.38 mins Holt 43 Ipswich YM 0. Halt time.

Ipswich caught Holt napping at the start of the 2nd half, breaking out from their own half and scoring a superb try which they converted. 43 mins Holt 43 Ipswich YM 7.

Holt woke up again and started where they had left off . A line break by Tim Allen, Tom Jackson Mel Gilmour and Ollie Woodrow, drove Ipswich deep into their 22. Holt gaining a penalty which Medler took quickly feeding Ollie Woodrow for his 2nd try. The kick missed. 50 mins Holt 48 Ipswich YM 7.

Holt ran the KO straight back at the Ipswich defence earning a penalty on the Ipswich 22. Brooke kicked into the corner, Tim Allen going over for his 2nd try. The kick missed. 60 mins Holt 53 Ipswich YM 7.

A Mel Gilmour break from the KO saw the ball spread across the pitch to Coe who made yards before off loading to Woodrow to score his hat trick. The kick was good. 63 mins Holt 60 Ipswich YM 7.

A Holt penalty from the KO saw Brooke force Ipswich back to their 22. The throw was not straight giving Ipswich a scrum. Ipswich attempted to run out of defence, going through several phases before spreading the ball wide. Jimmy Goodliffe appeared in the outside centre position and intercepted a pass gleefully galloping over from 20m to score. The kick missed. 68 mins Holt 65 Ipswich YM 7.

Robbie Grey took the KO and charged forwards, off loading to Jackson who made ground, he in turn off loaded to Chris Hill who set Goodliffe away to score his 2nd try. The kick missed. 70 mins Holt 70 IPYM 7.

Jackson sent Freeman on his way from the KO. Freeman made good ground being bought up some 10m from the Ipswich line. Ipswich cleared their lines up to half way. A high tackle on the Ipswich 10m line saw a penalty to Holt and a yellow card to Ipswich. Holt ran the penalty Jackson, Grey & Goodliffe all making ground before setting Taylor Gowing free for a try. The kick went over! 75 mins Holt 77 Ipswich YM 7.

Holt tried to run the KO back at Ipswich once more but knocked on giving Ipswich a scrum on half way. A kick ahead by Ipswich was fielded by Jacob Coe. He was taken out by a high tackle, again earning Holt a penalty and Ipswich a yellow card. The penalty was kicked up to 15 out from the Ipswich line, the line out wasn't straight giving Ipswich a scrum. Ipswich kicked forward but only as far as half way. Holt secured the ball and Ipswich infringed at the breakdown giving Holt a penalty on half way. Holt ran the penalty, the ball travelling from Medler to Brooke to Jackson then back again from Medler to Jackson who put Brooke in for a try. The kick missed. 80 mins Holt 82 Ipswich YM 7.

A much improved performance from Holt who, unlike last week, appeared enthusiastic and happy to play the kind of rugby they excel at. Ipswich never gave up but were out classed.
Next week at Bury St Edmonds will be an interesting game , and eminently winnable if Holt can reproduce this sort of form.

Scorers......Tries:
Ollie Woodrow 3, Tim Allen & Jimmy Goodliffe 2 each, Tom Jackson, Mel Gilmour, Robbie Freeman, Peter Medler, Taylor Gowing, Toby Renwick & Ben Brooke 1 each.

Conversions: Ben Brooke 6.