Beccles Bulls 54-7 Newmarket

Eastern Counties 1

12/01/02

The Bulls charge for the Eastern Counties Division 1 title was emphatically highlighted with a 9-try demolition of mid-table Newmarket at Beef Meadow on Saturday. The Bull's forwards tight play, improving weekly, combined with an ability to turnover the oppositions possession frequently the Beccles three-quarter line had an embarrassing supply of ball with which to tear their visitors apart at will. The backs produced all 9 tries with remarkably 2 further tries disallowed that could have taken the score well over the 60-point mark.

The 1st try was to set the standard for the rest of the match. After some opening forward exchanges that were quite evenly matched with Newmarket's front jumper working well and their scrum steady the main difference between the 2 sides was the ferocious home defence and second phase rucking. After 10 minutes of midfield forward exchanges, with both sides making simple errors, Newmarket started an attack in the centre of the pitch. Their centre was unceremoniously dumped with at least 3 Bulls forwards in close proximity. A very quick ruck produced the ball for skipper Hadridge to distribute and before the visitors knew what had happened they were watching the Beccles three-quarter line disappearing off towards the try line. Speed merchant Ian Turrell cleanly outstripped the despairing defence as he grabbed the 1st of a brace of tries in a similar manner.

Tries 2 and 3 came in a very similar manner though this time 1 each from Bulls own 1st phase possession and the other through turnover. In the 2nd vice-skipper Jon Payne cut through the desperate home midfield defence to touch down for the 1st of his own brace when full-back Matt Kerry's first attempt to get himself on the score sheet was adjudged to have not been grounded he duly marched straight back to make sure on the 2nd attempt.

Jon Puxley added a penalty during the 1st half proceedings to bring a score of 18-0 at half time.

The 2nd half started in much the same manner but it at times turned into the Pete Anderson road show. The diminutive left-winger had a field day running in a hat trick of tries between the 2nd tries of Turrell and Payne. In fact Turrell himself could have been found guilty of 'jug-avoidance' when chipping ahead over a clear try line for what would have been his hat-trick he contrived to kick the ball dead rather than grounding it.

Hadridge added his own try when the Bulls pack drove their visitors over their own try line from a 5-meter scrummage, the ball was heeled clear of the scrum for the predatory Bulls skipper to pounce.

Puxley added 3 conversions periodically to produce the final 54 point score line.

Newmarket scored a consolation try when the Bulls were reduced to 14 men after a fairly harsh sin binning of 2nd row Dave Kingston. But even during this period the Bulls defied the numbers advantage and marched back up field to score from the restart.

Veteran second row, John Hepton, made a rare appearance this season as a replacement for young Danny Carter mid way through the second half and showed he has not lost his flair for the game even though he managed to drop his 1st two passes. This feat was only eclipsed by Hadridges missed pass to himself from a tapped penalty though which hopefully was caught on camera for later study!

With the league leaders all playing each other over the next 3-4 weeks coupled with some key cup encounters, the Bulls have a crucial period ahead of them. But with some old faces being welcomed back from injury and unavailability its all coming together for the possibility of another record-breaking season for the Bulls.

Andy Warnes.

Beccles Press Officer.