Defeat fails to dampen rugby club revival
By Jim Morgan at Henham, Hertfordshire on Monday, 4th April 2011.
Haverhill travelled out to Henham for the first time in many years to play a Saffron Walden side keen to avenge their loss to Haverhill earlier in the year.
A lack of a front row for Walden meant scrums were uncontested and due to a cup game for the first team, a 1.20pm kick-off with 35 minutes per half was the order of the day.
Ben Jackson was impressive from the off and throughout, getting into the mix with clever aggressive rugby. Youngsters Nathan Craig (hooker), Harry Marsh (blind side flanker) and Don Farnel (open side winger) were again impressive for the town and the fearless jumping of Marsh in the line won ball continually for Haverhill throughout the game.
Due to the friendly status of the game, penalties are rarely kicked, but Walden infringed at a rate of one a minute for the first ten minutes, many capable of picking up a yellow card, although the referee never went to his pocket.
On 12 minutes, Simon Potter decided to kick for Haverhill when again the referee penalised Walden, and his impressive kicking made the score 0-3.
On 23 minutes, Haverhill defended a line-out on their 22m line, but stupidly had seven players to Walden’s six, resulting in a penalty, taken quickly.
Heavy pressure was applied and huge tackles from Joe Brown and Mike Woods were to no avail as Walden crossed the line in the corner for 5-3.
The second half started with the Haverhill restart being kicked far too deep. The Walden outside centre needed no further invitation and ran 70 metres into the Haverhill 22m.
Again Patrick stopped the advance with a great tap tackle on the wing, but in the resultant play Haverhill were penalised. A missed tackle proved expensive as Walden again crossed in the corner for 10-3 in the 37th minute.
Haverhill came back at Walden and some super sustained pressure saw Ransome, Anderson, Cooper and Bergin driving at the Walden line.
A dropped ball was cleared by Walden straight to Woods on the half way, who ran straight back at the Walden line.
A penalty five metres out was called as a scrum and again drives from Anderson and Cooper finally resulted in Bergin punching the hole in the defence for the score. Potter converted to make the score ten each on 50 minutes.
On 55 minutes another missed tackle proved expensive as Walden crossed in the corner for 15–10 and four minutes later, a very clever run and kick forward by the Walden outside centre allowed the winger to score in the corner for 20-10.
Haverhill came back and a super 60-metre break by Potter allowed the inside centre to score under the posts and convert, taking his points tally to 12 and Haverhill within three points on 20–17.
Haverhill continued to pressure and, in the final five minutes, were all over Walden, but unable to break the defence.
The final play saw Haverhill attacking the line, but a penalty call against, much to the surprise of all supporters, away and home, allowed Walden to kick to touch for the final whistle.
Haverhill hope to play at home this Saturday at 3pm. Details will be on the website.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)