Newman’s conversion books place in semi-final
By Jim Morgan on Monday, 19th March 2012.
A good crowd gathered to watch Haverhill play opposition in a much higher league in the Suffolk Plate quarter-final.
With a strong Haverhill side on display, but the lack of a kicker due to the Adam Hunt ligament injury the week before, Haverhill needed to play well to assuage the Essex One League opposition.
Clacton started well and Haverhill were 0-5 down on five minutes. From the restart, Haverhill attacked and an excellent chip kick from outside centre Jack Wilkinson was almost touched down, but led to a 22-metre drop-out for Clacton.
On ten minutes, a speculative kick from Clacton was not gathered by Joe Brown and this was seized on and Clacton scored again, making the score 0-10.
The new Haverhill do not let this type of start affect their play and in many ways it galvanises their efforts to deliver.
At 13 minutes a great break from the back of the scrum by Potter led to a 30-metre incursion into the opposition half and the superbly-timed pass for a certain try was spilled in the wet conditions.
From the scrum, Haverhill got a free kick and then a penalty in front of the posts which was taken quickly and quick hands through the line released Mike Woods in the corner for 5-10 on 15 minutes. The Stuart Newman kick was wide of the mark.
On 20 minutes, Dom Farnell limped off injured. This resulted in some juggling of the side, with Brad Gibson moving to the wing, Mickey Lansdowne moving into the inside centre position and replacement Darren Carew dropping into the second row with Chris Flannery.
Haverhill were performing well in the scrum with the strong front row of Alex Hieatt, Paul Bergin and Dave Quinney overturning ball on a regular basis.
Harry Marsh and the ever-young Carl Anderson were causing problems for Clacton in their line-out, winning ball against the throw at will.
On 26 minutes, Marsh caught and set line-out ball leading to a superb rolling maul from Haverhill 40 metres up field, only to break down ten metres from the Clacton line.
As Haverhill continued to camp in the Clacton half, desperate measures were required by Clacton to stop further scoring and their loose head prop got yellow carded on 38 minutes for a dangerously high tackle on the advancing Haverhill player.
Haverhill chose the scrum and Potter slipped out the back and crossed the line for 10-10. The Lansdowne conversion hit the post and the whistle for half-time sounded.
Haverhill started strongly in the second half and overturned a scrum, but tried to be too clever and got caught 25 metres out for a kick in front of the posts.
The good news for Haverhill was that Clacton had left their kicker at home and the attempt was closer to the flag than the posts, but it served as a warning to Haverhill to keep their discipline.
On 50 minutes Clacton broke through the Haverhill line and a certain score looked on, but another superb tackle from man of match full back Woods halted the move dead and Haverhill cleared.
Clacton were showing frustration and had penalties for them reversed and another advanced 20 metres due to back chat.
On 55 minutes, there was a great opportunity to take three points by Haverhill, but they chose the scrum 25 metres out.
This was met with confusion on the sidelines, but there was some good crossfield play, with Hieatt, Potter and Flannery all making hard yards until the ball was spun to the storming Lansdowne who crasheed over the line for 15-10.
He failed to get up immediately, so Newman took the kick and stroked the ball between the posts for 17-10 - two very important points that proved decisive in the game.
Clacton pushed hard and finally crossed into the Haverhill half. Sustained pressure finally saw the Haverhill line break and the big Clacton prop score in the corner for 17-15 on 67 minutes.
Clacton continued to spoil Haverhill ball with professional fouls which, with four minutes on the clock, led to a yellow card for the Clacton number eight. His response to the referee earned him a red card as he left the field.
Haverhill used this to their advantage and played time down, keeping Clacton in their half for the final minutes. In the last play, Clacton crossed into the Haverhill half, but gave the penalty and allowed Newman to kick to touch and Haverhill to celebrate a great win.
Haverhill play at home next week to Ipswich – 3pm kick-off.
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