Haverhill prove too strong for Colchester
By Jim Morgan at Castle Playing Fields on Monday, 5th March 2012.
With the first 3pm kick-off delayed ten minutes due to the late-arriving opposition, life was never going to be easy for Colchester and the only question being asked was why the scoreline was not greater.
Haverhill, fielding probably their strongest line-up possible, destroyed Colchester in every facet of the game.
Crossing the line on three minutes, only to be told the score had been held up, the resultant scrum for Colchester was turned over and quick ball from Simon Potter at number eight to the educated hands of veteran Mark Jury saw the fly half crash over for 7-0 after Adam Hunt converted.
On ten minutes, a fantastic move and pass from Jury released Hunt at full tilt, breaking through the defence, only to be called back for a forward pass, much to the amazement of all watching.
The Carl Anderson/Harry Marsh pair in the line was unbeatable, turning over most line-out ball, making Colchester’s life difficult in the extreme.
Paul Bergin, ever-present in the play, scored on 21 minutes to make the score 12-0 and on 29 minutes, Mike Woods scored an amazing solo try from a nice release from Hunt to place under the posts for Hunt to convert and 19-0.
Colchester finally broke into the Haverhill half and good defence kept them from scoring, but the penalty count was slightly higher than would be hoped for and would be punished in the Eastern Counties level of the game.
There was concern on 35 minutes when Dave Quinney picked up a stud to the eye, bleeding profusely allowing Ben Jackson on for the five minutes of the half as blood replacement and Haverhill's great first responder Dave Halsey to patch the tight head prop up - making him look like Pudsey Bear by the time the injury was fixed.
On the stroke of half-time Potter scored his second try for Hunt to convert for 26-0.
With Quinney returning for the start of the second half, Haverhill continued where they had left off, with the backs working well and the centre combination of Stuart Newman and Adam Hunt looking better every time they play and wingers Joe Brown and Brodie Patrick letting nothing pass and adding great pace on the outside.
With the intelligent use of full back Mike Woods in the line, Colchester had no answer for this attacking and defending line. On 45 minutes, George Foley replaced Micky Lansdowne in the lock position.
The score reached 31-0 on 49 minutes when a lovely release pass from Jury saw Quinney cross the line and a minute later, the huge speed and agility of Joe Brown on the wing saw him cross the line and head under the posts.
The Colchester inside centre was lucky not to receive a red card, trying to trip Brown as he passed, but escaped any sanction except for a penalty restart for Haverhill. Hunt converted for 38-0.
On 60 minutes, George Foley cleared up bad ball from a Colchester line-out to score in the corner for 43-0 and as the team headed back for the restart, Quinney was substituted by Jackson.
Three minutes later, with Woods running amok, a huge gap appeared, through which he chose to score for 48–0.
Alex Hieatt at loose head flanker and Chris Flannery at lock showed power in set and loose play that impressed the large crowd.
On 67 minutes Hunt scored and converted for 55-0 and Potter made his hat-trick try on 70 minutes which Hunt converted for 62-0.
(This score differs from the official score, as the referee only had 58-0 on his card and to be honest, when the game stops early and the scores differ I was not going to argue).
Haverhill have a great run coming up, with the mighty Diss Saracens away next week and then hosting Clacton the following week at the Castle Ground in the quarter-final of the Suffolk Plate (2.30pm kick-off to allow for extra time if needed). On this performance, these games are well worth supporting.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)