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| Hastings & Bexhill 2 |
| League, Home |
| 13th September 2008 |
| Won 32-8 |
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| Starting 15 |
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| 1 |
Porty |
| 2 |
Debs |
| 3 |
Monkey |
| 4 |
Big Ga Al (capt) |
| 5 |
Horse |
| 6 |
Matty Hodson |
| 7 |
Charlie Campbell |
| 8 |
Matty Laker |
| 9 |
Jez |
| 10 |
ChiChi |
| 11 |
Wilko |
| 12 |
Rowen |
| 13 |
Bosh |
| 14 |
Tim Laker |
| 15 |
Yids |
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| Impact Players |
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| 16 |
Scrabble |
| 17 |
Bavers |
| 18 |
Aaron |
| 19 |
Chemist |
| 20 |
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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There was a degree of trepidation greeting the day as we
prepared for our first league game of the season and as always facing a new
opposition proved difficult to prepare for. Although had started well again
this year with two wins, everyone was well aware that the team had not yet
peaked and needed to do so to compete in Sussex Intermediate. All talk was of
simple things done well and playing to the Norfolk's abrasive style while
improving on our poor handling and discipline from the previous week.
The pre-match talk seemed to work as from the kick off the ball was gathered
and passed to Matt Laker who put his ample boot to ball and got the match
straight back into the opposition half of the pitch. It was not long before
Rowan Witch made his presence known with some direct running in the midfield
and the Norfolk was awarded a penalty, McMichael predictably converted and then
added a second only minutes later. The referee had been clear pre-match about
players talking too much and he was true to his word penalising both teams when
they tried to influence decisions. Both teams learned the lesson quickly and
the game settled down with the Norfolk dominating set piece and mid field
collisions. Early pressure failed to convert when two breaks were stopped by
handling errors, but then good hands led to Mike Wilkinson going in the corner.
McMichael missed the conversion but the Norfolk took a lineout from the next
penalty and a forwards move gave the backs space to release Wilkinson again,
this time going in under the posts with Hodson providing the killer pass.
A healthy 18-0 lead at half time was protected thanks to some good defence
although a momentary lapse in concentration and discipline shifted the pressure
onto the Norfolk for a brief period. After a quick half time parliament the
Norfolk sprang back into action and put the foot back on the accelerator nearly
scoring several times before Iain White got the ball within sight of the posts
for Charlie Cambell to bust his way over from short range. White was replaced
moments later to unleash a true impact player in Mike Slator who quickly added
his mark on the game with two penalties and a knock on conceded. The opposition
scored a penalty and a try in a brief spell of dominance before the Norfolk
finished the game in style. Coach Dave Wells was sent from the touchline after
a difference in opinion with the referee after he penalised the Norfolk for
diving over a ruck, he opted to direct traffic rather than return to the
technical area. The Norfolk scored again through McMichael following good
passing from the backs and straight running to open up the space, he converted
to add the final points of the afternoon although the Norfolk were only
narrowly denied a late score following another forwards move as Czrjec was held
up over the line, the score remaining 32-8.
Everyone involved was very happy with a much more complete performance this
week and already looking forward to Newick next weekend at home. Let's keep the
numbers up at training to continue this feel good factor. Thank you to the
referee without whom a game can't happen, to Aaron McGloughlin who ran touch
and didn't get on this week, and to our sponsors 'Wealden' and 'Acars' for the
beautiful new kit. |
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