Thetford 11 Beccles 15

Beccles Bulls won their first away league game for more than a year to continue their unbeaten start to the season. The Bulls put in a scrappy performance but scraped through to win 11-15.
With Mare added to the growing injury list Holtzer was brought in at flanker. Hall replaced Hadridge at scrum half, Harris and Cracknell returned in the back three.
Thetford started a lot more strongly than their bottom of the table position suggested. After a period of pressure they won a penalty that was converted by their fly-half. Beccles began to improve after this and were next on the score sheet. A good running line by Cracknell was picked out by Payne and a try was scored under the posts. The conversion was made by Arnold.
The Bulls switched off after this and Thetford were able to pull in front. They scored a try and a penalty before the break making the halftime score 11-7.
Beccles improved in the second half. A superb display at flanker by Holtzer helped to keep Thetford from adding to their score. This was added by some good cover tackling and runs out of defence by Harris, for this he was made the White Horse man of the match.
It took a while for the Bulls to break down a stubborn Thetford defence. Eventually they managed a try when a sweeping move was finished in the corner by Cracknell with his second try of the game. This nudged the Bulls in to the lead. Thetford came back strongly at them but Beccles managed to stretch their lead through an Arnold penalty. This was the end of the scoring and Beccles held on for an 11-15 victory.
This win kept the Bulls at the top of Eastern Counties Division 1. They entertain Newmarket on Saturday and will be hoping to continue their superb start to the season.
The club have received their allocation of autumn international tickets. Any club members who want to enter the draw for the tickets for the Australia, New Zealand and Western Samoa (some children’s tickets) should contact Paddy.

Keith Johnstone Beccles Press Officer