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THE seemingly invincible proved vunerable when Haverhill suffered their first defeat in 25 league games when losing 20-18 at Broadland.
It was a loss that suddenly leaves their Eastern Counties Division Three North promotion dreams on a knife edge after table-topping Stowmarket won 23-5 at Sawston. "It was clear they were going to beat us one way or another," said Haverhill coach Sean McLeod-Jones. "I felt we were let down by the referee, but we cannot gripe and will just have to make sure we do not lose any more games."
Haverhill experienced problems in the line out and generally failed to match the commitment of the home side.
Skipper Pete Young scored a try and kicked a conversion and two penalties, while Daniel Jennings also scored a try for a Haverhill side who still have to travel to Stowmarket, whose high scoring exploits were brought to an end by a brave Sawston side.
"They are a good side, the best in the league," said Sawston coach Cameron Glanville. "We gave them a good game with a gutsy performance, but they were too strong for us."
Dave Nichols gave Sawston an early lead but they lapsed and Stowmarket pulled clear before the home team regrouped to play a highly competitive second half, allowing their visitors only one more score.
Cantabrigian scored their first Eastern Counties first division victory of the year when winning 27-15 at bottom club Bancroft.
But the Cambridge side made hard work of it allowing their standard to drop to that of their hosts, particularly in the second half.
By then two close-range tries by Gavin Dodge and a third by scrum-half Steve Roberts, plus conversion from Haydn Voakes gave them a 17-3 lead.
In the second half they made the mistakes that allowed Bancroft to close to 17-15 before Barnaby Rix and Lewis Walker scored the tries that secured Cantabs victory.