Haverhill book a place in Plate final
By JimMorgan at Castle Playing Fields on Tuesday, 18th October 2011.
Playing the Eastern Counties Two side Hadleigh, unbeaten this season, this was always going to be a test for a Haverhill side that had something to prove, having been thrown out of the Eastern Counties set-up last season and playing in the Suffolk league below.
Welcoming back some players from yesteryear, Dave Quinney was in the mix from the off, catching and running a full 35 metres up the park from the off. Martin Ransome, gazelle-like in the chase, carried a further 20 metres into the Hadleigh 22, only to knock on in the set phase.
Hadleigh looked slightly rattled, clearing to halfway for Mike Woods to gather, advance and then chip-kick the defence, pressure the full back and score under the posts for Kieran Ewens to convert and 7-0 on two minutes.
We did not have to wait long for the next score. Ewens gathered inside the Haverhill half on five minutes and punched a hole 60 metres up field where Bergin brings it a further 20 meters to 15 metres out.
Hadleigh infringed to stop the Haverhill pressure. Instead of going for the posts, they did the aggressive thing and Ewens kicked to five metres. A catch and lay-off for a Bergin drive laid the foundation for Gavin Hope to set Ewens up for the score under the posts on seven minutes.
This unfortunately was Ewens' last input into the game as he was stretchered off with a twisted ankle. Adam Hunt stepped up to convert and make the score 14-0.
The ever-youthful Mark Jury joined the fray when a quick penalty from Hope saw a good gather by Hunt to drive to five metres, but the knock-on allowed Hadleigh to regroup.
The masterful front row of Quinney, Bergin and Lee Eagle, with the powerhouse of Ransome and Flannery in the lock positions could not be held by Hadleigh and a superb Potter lay-off to Hope saw Hope across for 19-0 on 15 minutes, the Hunt conversion drifting wide.
Two scores in a minute saw clever play from Hope’s boot cleared up by Ricky Brown for 24-0 on 19 minutes and then another Quinney catch from the restart set a great move for Flannery, Jury, Hunt and finally Joe Brown to score on 20 minutes and 29-0.
A repeat move involving Hope, Jury, new signing Cameron Beaton and finally Hunt saw Hunt scoring for 34-0 on 24 minutes.
At this stage, the game was over as a contest, but Hadleigh finally woke up and managed to get the ball into the Haverhill half, stringing some ball together and scoring in the corner for 34-5 on 30 minutes.
A great move saw Haverhill overturn the Hadleigh line ball and Berin and Quinney laid the foundation. Jury received, laid off to Gibson, who returned to Jury and under the posts for a Hunt conversion and 41-5 on 32 minutes.
Some good Hadleigh pressure in the last eight minutes sees Haverhill infringe and on the third offence, Gibson was shown the yellow for a ten-minute break. Despite being 14 men, they adsorbed the pressure and went to the turn without conceding any more points.
From the restart, Hadleigh applied pressure and finally crossed in the corner for 41-10 on 43 minutes.
Despite the hindrance of being 14 men, Haverhill regrouped and a nice Bergin-Jury move saw Jury score his second try and 46-10. Haverhill lost Beaton in this play, with Patrick replacing him and Gibson returning to make the numbers equal.
Hadleigh got a score in the corner on 50 minutes for 46-15, but it is not long before a superb Hunt clearing kick saw the Haverhill pressure clearing the ball and Gibson crashing over for 51-15 on 52 minutes.
Haverhill were dominating every facet of the game and another turnover ball saw Potter, playing aggressive, domineering and commanding rugby in his new No8 position run a full 40 metres to the line and pop the ball up for Jury to gather his hat-trick and Hunt to slot the conversion for 58-15 on 61 minutes.
On 73 minutes, a Gibson break of 40 metres was laid off the Jury, Joe Brown, Woods and then Hunt to score his second and convert for 65-15.
A consolation try in the corner for Hadleigh on the whistle saw the final score of 65-20 and a very satisfactory day in the office for coach Jake Plumridge, enjoying the fruits of having the commitment required to perform at the level Haverhill deserve.
Haverhill have a provisional final date of November 26 at the Castle Fields ground. Let’s hope the opposition underestimate the Haverhill resurgence again.
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