BackSat 23 Sep 2017 ·  London 3 Eastern Counties
Thetford
Holt RFC 1st XV
Tries: (2)Penalties: (2)
16
22
Tries: H Flower, A Tagg, O Woodrow, W BriscoeConversions: I YoungYellow Carded: A Woods
Last year's Colts earn their stripes in the Senior section.
Stuart Young24 Sep 2017 - 18:09
Thetford 16 Holt 22
Match report by Iain MacBrayne:
An impressive three try display by Holt in the first half was enough for them to hold out against a well organised Thetford side who came back strongly in the second half.
Holt started nervously but soon gained in confidence when, five minutes into the game, slick handling by the back line put away Henry Flower to score in the corner. Thetford replied with a successful penalty kick by Adam Harper to make the score 3-5.
Holt's hooker, Jimmy Goodliffe, showed his versatility by deceiving the home defence and feeding Aaron Tagg who touched down for a try converted by Iain Young to make the score 12-3. Holt maintained their grip on the game with a typical darting break by Bruce van Poortvliet supported by Ollie Woodward on the wing who outpaced the Thetford defence to score. The first half ended with Holt leading 3-17 and all three tries scored by players who last year played for Holt's successful Colts side.
Thetford, who had won both of their previous games, raised their game in the second half with a particularly strong performance by their large pack. A try by Joe Richards reduced the deficit to 8-17. A penalty kick by Jason Post made it 11-17 and he quickly followed this with a try to close the gap to 16-17.Holt managed to protect their line for the rest of the game and completed their scoring with a try by second row, Will Briscoe.
All round it was a successful day for Holt. Despite 24 players being unavailable, Holt fielded three senior sides with the second team beating Lowestoft and Yarmouth seconds 77-5 and the third team beating Norwich Medics seconds 50-24. Ben Harvey, returning from injury, converted all 11 tries for Holt 2 XV.
An impressive three try display by Holt in the first half was enough for them to hold out against a well organised Thetford side who came back strongly in the second half.
Holt started nervously but soon gained in confidence when, five minutes into the game, slick handling by the back line put away Henry Flower to score in the corner. Thetford replied with a successful penalty kick by Adam Harper to make the score 3-5.
Holt's hooker, Jimmy Goodliffe, showed his versatility by deceiving the home defence and feeding Aaron Tagg who touched down for a try converted by Iain Young to make the score 12-3. Holt maintained their grip on the game with a typical darting break by Bruce van Poortvliet supported by Ollie Woodward on the wing who outpaced the Thetford defence to score. The first half ended with Holt leading 3-17 and all three tries scored by players who last year played for Holt's successful Colts side.
Thetford, who had won both of their previous games, raised their game in the second half with a particularly strong performance by their large pack. A try by Joe Richards reduced the deficit to 8-17. A penalty kick by Jason Post made it 11-17 and he quickly followed this with a try to close the gap to 16-17.Holt managed to protect their line for the rest of the game and completed their scoring with a try by second row, Will Briscoe.
All round it was a successful day for Holt. Despite 24 players being unavailable, Holt fielded three senior sides with the second team beating Lowestoft and Yarmouth seconds 77-5 and the third team beating Norwich Medics seconds 50-24. Ben Harvey, returning from injury, converted all 11 tries for Holt 2 XV.
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