Relieved Holt snatch last minute win

Thank you to Martyn Sloman for this match report & photo

Holt had won their last seven games and started this match as the clear favourites against a team enjoying a mixed season. In fact the home side were mightily relieved to snatch a narrow victory, and one that was achieved with the last play of the game.

Immediately after the kick-off it was evident that Holt would have a game on their hands. A blindside break by the Crusaders’ backs was followed by an accurate kick infield; centre Greg Thurston caught the ball to cross the try line with Rob Loone converting. Ten minutes later Holt replied with a Geoff Flather try that James Wyatt converted and it looked set for an exciting contest of free-flowing rugby. However the pattern changed immediately when Crusaders lost a key forward following a red card from an incident in an off-the ball scuffle.

Handling errors on a sunny but cold day meant that Holt failed to establish fluent distribution out wide; the Crusaders pack played a narrow but effective game round the rucks and were the next to score. Number 8 Callum Widdington scored following some crisp inter-passing with Rob Loone again converting. James Wyatt and Rob Loone then exchanged penalties taking the score to 10-17. Next a Holt player was given a yellow card. Crusaders took short tap penalties when given the opportunity and on the stroke of half-time Greg Thurston added a second try. Holt were now 12 points down having played with the wind behind them.

Holt’s half-time team talk appeared to have some effect. They began to distribute to the wider channels to stretch the Crusader’s defence and were rewarded with a fine try: wing Ollie Woodrow scoring in the corner. Holt then began to take control but, against the run of play, the excellent Greg Thurston intercepted a pass and ran 75 metres to score under the posts with Rob Loone again converting. Holt are far more resilient this season and two quick tries clawed back some of the deficit: the first by James Wyatt and a second by substitute Robbie Batley, Neither were converted and Holt remained four points behind at 25-29 with time running out.

The game was marred throughout by a high penalty count: 24 in total with 10 of then given in the last quarter. A tired Crusaders team, who had played valiantly with 14 men, were on the receiving end of most these late penalties and Holt were running the ball on every occasion and from every position. They were rewarded when vice-captain Robbie Gray powered over from short range giving James Wyatt his easiest conversion of the day. Holt were ahead for the first time and the referee immediately blew his whistle. All but the most die-hard Holt supporter would give most credit to a plucky Crusaders side who will be a threat to any opposing team for the rest of the season. However, with a win and a bonus point, the home side have consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Ollie Woodrow was Holt’s Norfolk Brewhouse Man of the Match. Sadly for Holt this will be the young wing-threequarter’s last game for the club for a year as he is about to depart to Australia on a rugby scholarship.