Tough trip to Norfolk yields another win for rugby club
By by Jim Morgan at Cobholm Playing Fields, Great Yarmouth on Monday, 22nd February 2010.
Haverhill travelled the 80 miles to Yarmouth, to play the tough side of Broadlands. Norfolk is often a bad trip for the town side, so the large travelling band of supporters from Haverhill was under no illusion that this would be an easy day.
Often when travelling, Haverhill forget to play for the first 20 minutes, but not this time. The first Broadlands scrum was demolished by Haverhill and from the resultant play, Adam Hunt crossed the line in the corner to make the score 0-5 on three minutes. The conversion was missed.
Haverhill's short work was particularly good with the forwards working exceptionally well together with Kevin Carr showing great tenacity in punching holes in the Broadlands line and Adrian Cooper putting in tackle after tackle to ensure Broadlands were kept on the back foot.
On 20 minutes, one of many inexplicable refereeing decisions led to Raffell picking up a yellow card.
The new Haverhill, with Paul Bergin taking the captaincy during the bin, kept the pressure on Broadlands and on 27 minutes, a clever grub kick by Jake Plumridge saw Brodie Patrick put pressure on the defence, allowing the kicker to collect and score, unconverted, making the score 0-10.
From the off, Broadlands showed what a dangerous side they could be by breaking through the Haverhill line and moving 60 metres up field.
Some excellent covering play by Simon Lester and Brodie Patrick saw the Broadlands attack break down.
Haverhill won the resulting scrum, and came back 70 metres up the park where a high tackle led to a penalty for Haverhill.
The kick just missed, but Haverhill won the ball from the 22m drop out. A Haverhill knock-on allowed skipper Raffell back on from his card before the Broadlands scrum.
The Haverhill pack won the ball against the head, and Raffell broke from the back of the line, running 30m and crossed the line with three Broadlands players in tow, to make the score 0-15 on 39 minutes.
From the restart Martin Ransome collected and clears the ball for the half-time whistle.
The second half started badly, with Matt Stephenson, who had been inspirational in his play during the first half, being stretchered off after a concussive injury.
Haverhill continued to apply pressure and on 50 minutes, a five-metre scrum was beautifully controlled by the pack, with Raffell controlling the ball at the back and scoring when the ball crosseed the line, classical play to make the score 0-20. The conversion was missed.
From the restart Hunt broke straight back with a 40m run and sets up the ruck for the forwards, where Plumridge accepted the drop goal on offer and made the score 0-23 on 52 minutes.
Haverhill were storming now, and a lovely rolling maul saw them gain 30m to the halfway line, when suddenly Broadlands ripped the ball and broke across field to the far corner to make the score 5-23 on 58 minutes.
Haverhill came back at Broadlands and a lovely piece of back play saw the ball swiftly to outside centre with an overlap for the winger to score.
However, the resultant pass was intercepted and Broadlands ran a full 90 metres to score a converted try under the posts to make it 12-23 on 64 minutes.
This try gave Broadlands belief, and an interesting yellow card for Hunt for coming in at the side, when he was the tackler, added to that belief.
Haverhill held Broadlands off for the ten minute card, and Hunt returned, but on 75 minutes, Broadlands again crossed the line in the corner to make the score 17-23.
Nerves were a bit jittery on the touchline at this stage, but superb pressure from the restart by Hunt and Carl Anderson saw Broadlands penalised in front of the posts. Raffell took the kick to make the score 17-26 and the game was safe.
Next Saturday Haverhill host Harwich and Dovercourt, who are level on points, but are ahead in the league on points scored, having played an extra game.
Haverhill beat Harwich away, and a win this weekend would see Haverhill top of the league again.
Kick off is 2.30pm and all welcome. A good turnout to support your '12 wins from 12 played' club would be good for the side.
There is no charge for attendance and England play Ireland on the club's big screen at 4pm as the game ends.
* Our picture shows Ryan Raffell breaking out before scoring a 30m run try.
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