Broadland-GY 45 Dereham 22

Broadland-Great Yarmouth were in good form when they hosted Dereham in a second pre-season friendly.

The match kicked off, but on the second phase of play Marcus Lekerman went down injured, with Jake Sewell coming on somewhat earlier than expected.

After play restarted, Jay Webster blocked a kick at the halfway line and managed to collect the loose ball and offload to captain Phil Buckley who broke clear into open space to race half the pitch to score under the posts (converted by Murray).

Dereham evened the score as a defensive lapse allowed them in to the corner,

This was followed by a break from Dereham to score which gave them the lead. Some good work in midfield from Simon Ruddick, saw Ant Payne break free. He was dragged down at the five but managed to pop the ball up to Asa Morrison, who crashed through defenders to score (converted Murray).

The Great Yarmouth side were playing at pace and some great work from Martin Greenwood and Ryan Gallie got the ball close, scrum-half Ben Collings got caught short of the line, but Buckley was up quickly to spin the ball wide to Jake Sewell. Sewell cut back inside to score under the posts (converted Murray) to give the home side a 21-12 lead at the half.

Broadland made two changes at the half with Stuart Brown and Richard Bristo coming on in the front row. Early pressure from the home side paid off and from a lineout the pack drove forward and hooker Phil Buckley broke from the back into some space to score in corner.

Dereham were far from beaten as they moved steadily down the pitch and a yellow card saw Richard Bristo sent off for 10 minutes. Dereham pressure continued and they were rewarded with a score, and a further try for the visitors put them back in the game.

Broadlands’s expansive play continued and a clever kick from Stuart Murray saw Jake Sewell collect and score his second. Adam Towfighi and George Wilson both had good runs and with the ball being passed through a number of hands, it was Kieran Wilkes who broke to score. A yellow card for George Wilson saw Broadland again reduced to 14. Matt Scott came on at hooker, good work from Stacey Ledgerwood and Richard Ruddick opened up the defence and it was prop Stuart Brown who arrived on the wing to take a pass 30 metres out. With a dummy pass, Brown broke clear to score. Broadland made one final change with Luke Moorehouse joining the pack. Broadland continued with an attacking mentality but were could not unlock the Dereham defence.

Tomorrow is an East Norfolk v East Suffolk double header as the first team host Lowestoft firsts in a final pre-season friendly and the second XV host Lowestoft II. Both matches kick off at 3pm.

Tries: P Buckley 2, J Sewell 2, A Morrison, K Wilkes, Stu Brown

Con: S Murray 5 of 7

Team: M Greenwood, P Buckley (captain), R Gallie, A Morrison, K Wilkes, G Wilson, R Ruddick, Towfighi, Collings, S Murray, Lekerman, S Ruddick, A Payne, J Webster, S.Ledgerwood. Replacements: J Sewell (2) R Bristo (40), S Brown (40), M Scott (57), L Moorehouse.

Youth and mini registration day takes place at Cobholm playing field, from 10.30am on Sunday.