Lowestoft and Yarmouth opened the scoring early on. An innovative trick play from a penalty saw Owen Rudd crash the ball to five metres out. Harry Norman then took the ball in himself, bringing L&Y within inches of scoring before Owen Rudd took the ball once again, forcing his way over the try-line to score.

5-0

L&Y continued to pressure Holt. From within his own 22, Harry Crannage produced a perfect chip over the Holt defence to Frankie Stockman. The winger caught the ball in stride and used his blistering pace to breeze away from the defenders. He carried the ball over the halfway line and evaded a diving tackle before he was completely free to score beneath the posts. Harry Crannage then converted for an additional two points.

12-0

Following a scrum 22 metres out from Holt’s try-line, L&Y played the ball out left where Josh Allard burst onto a pass. He used his pace and power to cruise his way down the pitch to score L&Y’s third try of the day.

17-0

Holt soon began to grow into the game however. After winning a lineout in L&Y’s half, they began to chip away at L&Y’s defence, edging ever closer before they eventually scored in the corner.

17-5

L&Y responded well to the deficit and soon found themselves on the score sheet again. Following a successful scrum deep in Holt territory, L&Y spun the ball out right, Josh Allard caught the ball and showed tremendous strength to ride a tackle and power through to score his second try of the game. Harry Crannage then converted once again to extend the score by a further two points.

24-5

L&Y once again found themselves knocking on the door of Holt’s try-line. The ball was quickly played out right before Alex Marshall produced a spectacular grubber kick to split the Holt defence, allowing fullback Louis Smedley to race onto it and score.

Half-time 29-5

L&Y continued to apply the pressure to Hot throughout the early stages of the second half and their persistence was finally rewarded after winning lineout on halfway. The ball was played out left and L&Y quickly worked their way up the pitch suddenly finding themselves metres out from Holt’s try-line. The ball was then played to a pod of forwards where Owen Rudd sold the defender with a dummy pass opening up a gap for him to score beneath the posts. Darren Wilson then converted for another two points.

36-5

L&Y quickly scored again. Holt attempted to kick over L&Y’s defence however Alex Marshall caught the ball on the 22 metre line. He then popped it to the onrushing Louis Smedley who carried it to the halfway line before passing to Dougie Archer who had the pace to take the ball the rest of the way and score, further extending L&Y’s lead. Darren Wilson once again slotted the subsequent conversion.

43-5

L&Y continued to be ruthless in attack. After winning a penalty on the half-way line, scrum-half Thomas Huggins took the penalty quickly to set the attack in motion before popping it to Dougie Archer who carried it further up the pitch. The ball was then sprayed out right to Louis Smedley who produced a delightful step to skip away from the defender and score his second of the game.

48-5

Once again, L&Y quickly found themselves in a scoring position. Almost straight from kick-off, the ball was played out left where Louis Smedley injected his pace onto the ball, taking him past Holt’s defensive line. He then passed it to Alex Marshall who drew in the final defender, opening the space for him to pass to Josh Allard who was free to score.

53-5

Holt found themselves with some attacking momentum and used a plethora of phases to gradually work their way closer to L&Y’s try-line. They were then awarded a penalty and opted for a quick tap which resulted in them scoring on the left hand side.

53-10

Holt continued with their late surge and soon found themselves in another good position. After winning a scrum deep in L&Y’s half, they played the ball left where a very nice one handed offload allowed them to break through the defensive line and score beneath the posts. The try was converted to lower the deficit even more.

53-17

It was L&Y who scored the final try of the day however. After a series of quick passes, L&Y were inches away from Holt’s try-line and after being awarded a penalty they played the ball through the hands out left where Frankie Stockman was free to score the final try of the day.

Full-time 58-17

It was another delightful display from L&Y to cap off an absolutely incredible season. Man of the match was awarded to Owen Rudd.

We would also like to express that our thoughts and wishes are with first team captain Rei Haare who sustained a nasty injury during the game which required surgery. The team have put together a go fund me page should you wish to donate to help support Rei and his family, please click the following link: https://gofund.me/21b91471

Written by Harry Postill
Photos by Simon Hamstead