Beccles 23-11 Holt

Eastern Counties 1

Date:6/10/01

The first of the local derby fixtures between these two clubs in Eastern Counties Division One produced a closely fought encounter with the home side running out eventual winners predominantly due to the fact they were more competent finishers than their visitors. In a re-run of last seasons Junior Cup Final , although the final result was very similar, it was in fact Holt who showed great improvement over last season's side and the Bulls showed they still have some way to go to really match the fine form of last season.

Referee John Driver kept strict control throughout the match , monitoring the letter of the law , and it has to be said this did prevent a free flowing match , although no less a spectator spectacle due to the closeness of the score line.

The hosts were first on the score sheet and produced a try within 2 minutes , a forward drive from kick-off produced good second phase for an initial punching run by No8 Warnes to release quick ball to the Bulls three-quarters and Fly-Half Jon Puxley found centre Gareth Hadridge on the crash who crossed near the posts. Puxley added the conversion.

Although you would have expected Beccles to capitalise on this excellent start , in fact the opposite could be said. The Bulls seemed to expect the result to roll their way with little effort after this. Their visitors certainly had other ideas and , using the wind at their backs astutely, the Holt's Fly-Half Dan Blyth , who was the pick of their team produced some excellent out-of-hand kicks continually pushing Beccles back at every opportunity, camping them in their own end of the pitch for most of the first half.

It was in fact from one of Blyth's corner positional kicks that Holt won good lineout ball and Toby crossed to score. Unfortunately Blyth's spot kicking was not able to match his positional kicking all game and the extra points went begging on this opportunity , although he made amends with a well struck penalty ten minutes later to give the visitors a short 2 minute spell in the lead , this was to be the only time during the match this was the case.

The Bulls stung into action by being behind in a home game for as long as 14 months started to get into a pattern. A resultant scrummage , forced by a crunching tackle from Chris Hinsley , produced a scrambled clearance kick from the visitors that was charged down by Bulls skipper Owen Hadridge who himself scooped up the ball to dive in for a try. It was Puxley's turn this time to miss the conversion.

Holt responded , with Blyth's boot to the fore, to march the Bulls back down field. The result of which was a bit of forward 'hand bagging' which produced a stern response from John Driver as he sin-binned a second row a piece from both sides with John Hepton and Carl Knights tacking a much appreciated 10 minute rest behind the posts.

Holt reacted in the same foray into the Beccles half with a close call from their winger who was only prevented from scoring by an excellent tackle from Bulls full-back Turrell. Half time scores 12-8 Bulls.

With the wind in their favour in the second half the Bulls had reason to feel the match was their's for the taking and although game , the Holt three-quarter line failed to really penetrate the Beccles defence which showed a return to the form of last season . Without the added wind advantage the Holt side struggled to come up with options to breach the blockade they were faced with. Beccles on the other hand produced a number of breaks midfield , from Jon Payne on a number of occasions. One such produced a Holt penalty infringement mid-field , which 'wind-assisted' Puxley easily converted on the 51st minute.

Not to be overlooked the Holt forwards were still up to the challenge and on a foray into the Bulls half forced a penalty which Blyth converted to add 3 points and as the game wore on their last score on the 59th minute.

Beccles responded a minute later when Hadridge broke blind-side , Holt infringed in the loose and Puxley stepped up to add 3 points of his own.

A replacement of tight-head Reese Ling for Matt Tate strengthened the Bulls scrummage and the increased possession lead to winger Pete Anderson going close in the corner after a great break by Payne. The Bulls three-quarter play was improving as the match progressed.

The concluding try on the 73rd minute was the best of the match with the Bulls forwards driving on in both the tight and loose play , interconnecting with the backs and producing fully 6 phases of possession which lead to a 5 man overlap on the left hand side of the field. With support on either side it was open-side flanker Chris Hinsley who strolled over unopposed. Puxley failed to convert from wide out.

Holt rallied but it was really too late and even a consolation try in injury time was denied them after winger Pete Anderson forced the Holt centre to drop the ball over the try line and bind side flanker Chris Shales found himself in the unusual position of making a clearance kick from behind his own posts.

Final score on the 82nd minute 23 -11 , with the Bulls happy that although still yet to achieve the exquisite form of last season , they are still winning!

Andy Warnes.

Beccles Press Officer.