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| Plumpton |
| League, Home |
| 4th Octoberber 2008 |
| Won 15-13 |
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| Starting 15 |
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| 1 |
Monkey |
| 2 |
Debs |
| 3 |
Porty |
| 4 |
Big Ga Al (capt) |
| 5 |
Horse |
| 6 |
Nutter |
| 7 |
Charlie Campbell |
| 8 |
Matty Laker |
| 9 |
Jez |
| 10 |
ChiChi |
| 11 |
Soap |
| 12 |
Rowen |
| 13 |
Aaron |
| 14 |
Tunde |
| 15 |
Timbo |
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| Impact Players |
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| 16 |
Scrabble |
| 17 |
Bosh |
| 18 |
Dan |
| 19 |
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| 20 |
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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When the rugby is at times as atrocious as the weather, the
value of an ever-present, ever-cheerful band of supporters is truly
appreciated. A kit which does not absorb an entire reservoir of rain water is
also valued pretty highly.
The game started with the first kick-off allowed to bounce into touch and
nobody around claiming or calling, and that is how the game progressed for much
of the first half and most of the second. Sixes and sevens would be an
understatement with ten and elevens probably more appropriate. However, all is
not to be negative as for a team who have not yet hit their full stride and
have only one real performance to be proud of, to be five games from six and
unbeaten at home or in the league so far is an achievement which truly reflects
the character of the squad be built around the Norfolk this year. Genuine hopes
of a second team surfacing any day now as well as consistent number at training
have given the squad a competitive edge which is possibly responsible for the
get out of jail played on Saturday. Plumpton deserve credit also for not
allowing our pack to dominate as we are accustomed to doing and not allowing
the backs to hit their pace game, the opposition fly half in particular was
adept at finding gaps with the boot and putting the Norfolk under pressure. He
was somewhat aided in this by swirling winds which our tactics did not use so
well and a shaky game from stand in full back Tim Laker.
It was Plumpton who had the first opportunity with a penalty which went wide,
they also attempted a drop goal to get points on the board but apart from a
five metre scrum did not threaten to break out in the first half. The Norfolk
squandered the few chances earned by brief periods of continuity, whilst
frustration built and turned into indiscipline. Our first 0-0 half time of the
season was met with the confusion of a team seemingly superior but unable to
exert this on a determined opposition. The deadlock broke early in the second
half when Robotham seemed to have knocked on but reacted quickly when the
referee waved play on, kicking the ball on beyond the defender eventually to
pick up and pass to Jez Stewart to score under the posts. Laker converted but
this did nothing to calm the collective jitters suffered for an unknown reason.
Plumpton pressured everything and eventually this payed off when their forwards
mounted a siege on the line and went over in the corner. They scored again when
a miss-field led to an attacking lineout and another forward drive. Misery then
turned to despair when a penalty in front of the post gave them a further
opportunity to extend their lead to six points. This is a good squad though and
self belief is something which has come out of success and adversity, from that
moment the home crowd had something to cheer for and watch with interest. Man
of the match Rich Addy gave the team a boost with a surging run through the
heart of the opposition pack and Iain White made an immediate impact from the
bench with his strong lines of running and aggression in the contact. In the
best move of the day and the only multi phased period the Norfolk put together,
White made inroads in the centre with the pack providing quick ruck ball and
good hands followed. Jez Stewart fashioned a two on one to fix the last
defender and send Captain Ali Hoare over for a try and a roar from the crowd.
The drama was not finished yet; Laker missed the conversion to leave a one
point game with only minutes remaining. Addy again took the kick-off and
powered his way through several tacklers, Robotham looked like getting away but
having beaten 3 defenders got caught by the last man. The pack and backline
finally combined to gain territory and protect the ball making way into the
opposition 22. A moment of madness from the Plumton defence saw them penalised
for fringing and Laker had the chance to kick the lead with only one minute
left. One could be forgiven for not wanting to look as confidence can be a
tricky thing, but Laker slotted the penalty without a care in the world to
leave one last play for victory. The final restart was gathered correctly and
Plumton again infringed at the ruck to leave a very easy kick for touch, along
with the knowledge the game was won. In a very tough afternoon where nothing
clicked the opposition remained determined throughout and never gave up the
hunt.
Having a squad that on paper is as good as any we have had and yet is not quite
functioning, is very frustrating for all concerned. The general feeling though
is more excitement at the prospect of everything coming together at the same
time and realising our full potential. Well done to everyone for a guts and
grit performance and never say die attitude, thanks as ever to our support who
never let us doubt our superiority even if they were. |
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