Workmanlike performance sees Haverhill through
By Tony Hope on Monday, 3rd December 2012.
SUFFOLK PLATE: Haverhill 27 Brightlingsea 3. Match report.
On an afternoon where champagne rugby was not to the fore because of the conditions, Haverhill triumphed with a very workmanlike performance to beat Brightlingsea.
From the start it was Haverhill that were on the front foot and this was to continue all afternoon with the visitors trying to spoil as much as possible, but Haverhill stepped up and battled hard in all aspects of the game to take the spoils.
Haverhill started with some positive running lines by both backs and forwards and were awarded with a penalty that Jeffs kicked on five minutes to settle any nerves.
From the restart a good return by the backs and forwards saw Kieron McDonagh take the final pass and dive to the corner with Jeffs adding the conversion.
With the visitors competing well in the line-out it was the Haverhill forwards that totally dominated the scrimmage seeing them push back their opponents at every scrum.
A solid scrum in the visitors' 22 on 27 minutes saw the elusive, strong-running Monty Beaton break the defence and dive over the line for a fine try with Jeffs added the conversion, giving Haverhill a 17-0 lead.
With the home side having the lion’s share of the game and the visitors struggling with any possession that they managed to get, Haverhill got another penalty just before half-time that Jeffs converted to give a 17-0 lead at the break.
From the restart the visitors' only foray into the Haverhill 22 saw them get a penalty and their full back stepped up and converted it to bring the score to 17-3.
Haverhill then laid siege to the visitors' line and, from yet another dominate scrum, McDonagh launched his way over the line for his second try, the conversion just missing for 22-3.
With Haverhill bringing on Flannery and Lester this only endorsed their superiority in all aspects of the game.
Bergin was the next to cross the line but the referee decided that he was held up over the line and from the ensuing scrum it was McDonagh that forced his way over for his third try of the match, with the conversion missing the crowd knew that Haverhill had retained the trophy that they won last year.
The last ten minutes was played out with a lot of mistakes occurring due to the pitch and players trying to force the play too much, the score remained 27-3 at the final whistle.
The next round will see Haverhill travel to Clacton on Dec 21st for a plate match. With Haverhill back in league programme next week (away Swaffham) the availability of this week’s team will be crucial to keep this momentum going forward.
On an afternoon where champagne rugby was not to the fore because of the conditions, Haverhill triumphed with a very workmanlike performance to beat Brightlingsea.
From the start it was Haverhill that were on the front foot and this was to continue all afternoon with the visitors trying to spoil as much as possible, but Haverhill stepped up and battled hard in all aspects of the game to take the spoils.
Haverhill started with some positive running lines by both backs and forwards and were awarded with a penalty that Jeffs kicked on five minutes to settle any nerves.
From the restart a good return by the backs and forwards saw Kieron McDonagh take the final pass and dive to the corner with Jeffs adding the conversion.
With the visitors competing well in the line-out it was the Haverhill forwards that totally dominated the scrimmage seeing them push back their opponents at every scrum.
A solid scrum in the visitors' 22 on 27 minutes saw the elusive, strong-running Monty Beaton break the defence and dive over the line for a fine try with Jeffs added the conversion, giving Haverhill a 17-0 lead.
With the home side having the lion’s share of the game and the visitors struggling with any possession that they managed to get, Haverhill got another penalty just before half-time that Jeffs converted to give a 17-0 lead at the break.
From the restart the visitors' only foray into the Haverhill 22 saw them get a penalty and their full back stepped up and converted it to bring the score to 17-3.
Haverhill then laid siege to the visitors' line and, from yet another dominate scrum, McDonagh launched his way over the line for his second try, the conversion just missing for 22-3.
With Haverhill bringing on Flannery and Lester this only endorsed their superiority in all aspects of the game.
Bergin was the next to cross the line but the referee decided that he was held up over the line and from the ensuing scrum it was McDonagh that forced his way over for his third try of the match, with the conversion missing the crowd knew that Haverhill had retained the trophy that they won last year.
The last ten minutes was played out with a lot of mistakes occurring due to the pitch and players trying to force the play too much, the score remained 27-3 at the final whistle.
The next round will see Haverhill travel to Clacton on Dec 21st for a plate match. With Haverhill back in league programme next week (away Swaffham) the availability of this week’s team will be crucial to keep this momentum going forward.
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