Steve wonders how it all went wrong
Thursday, 1st November 2001.
CENTRE Steve Power planted a penalty over the posts for Haverhill on Saturday at Lakenham-Hewett in Eastern Counties League Division Two North.
But Power’s effort was to be Haverhill’s only points of a miserable afternoon in a 51-3 stuffing during which they had three men sent off.
The visitors were in contention until the latter stages of the second half, when Steve Bowak and Lee Hopkins were sin-binned for what coach Shaun McLeod-Jones labelled “minor offences.”
And while the visitors were reduced to 13 men, Lakenham-Hewett ran in five tries to add some gloss to the scoreline.
“The score did not really reflect the game at all,” said McLeod-Jones.
They got three breakaway tries. It’s still a mystery how the referee awarded them because on each occasion there was a blatant forward pass.
“We were mystified, they were mystified but referring decisions did not go with us this week. We made a rod for our own backs by protesting, and we ended up with three players yellow carded.”
Prop Paul Rodwell voiced his disapproval of a forward pass in the first half and was given a cooling-off period by the official.
“We didn’t see to be there mentally this week,” said the coach.
“we had six changes this week and I think that’s taken its toll on the players. We have got no real continuity.
“We are desperately short of front-row forwards and the two (Freddie Green and Chirs Spencer) we had playing on Saturday are both veterans.”
Haverhill hope to show some better form when they tackle Sawston in a friendly encounter this weekend.
But Power’s effort was to be Haverhill’s only points of a miserable afternoon in a 51-3 stuffing during which they had three men sent off.
The visitors were in contention until the latter stages of the second half, when Steve Bowak and Lee Hopkins were sin-binned for what coach Shaun McLeod-Jones labelled “minor offences.”
And while the visitors were reduced to 13 men, Lakenham-Hewett ran in five tries to add some gloss to the scoreline.
“The score did not really reflect the game at all,” said McLeod-Jones.
They got three breakaway tries. It’s still a mystery how the referee awarded them because on each occasion there was a blatant forward pass.
“We were mystified, they were mystified but referring decisions did not go with us this week. We made a rod for our own backs by protesting, and we ended up with three players yellow carded.”
Prop Paul Rodwell voiced his disapproval of a forward pass in the first half and was given a cooling-off period by the official.
“We didn’t see to be there mentally this week,” said the coach.
“we had six changes this week and I think that’s taken its toll on the players. We have got no real continuity.
“We are desperately short of front-row forwards and the two (Freddie Green and Chirs Spencer) we had playing on Saturday are both veterans.”
Haverhill hope to show some better form when they tackle Sawston in a friendly encounter this weekend.
