Broadland – GY 55 Norwich Union 0

Broadland – GY continued their unbeaten run, dating back to early October, with another great all- round performance, as they made easy work of third-placed Norwich Union in the league. With only three league games remaining the league title could come down to a head to head fixture with Swaffham in April.

Broadland got off to the most spectacular of starts as Ryan Gallie took the kick off, the ball went through the hands of Adam Towfighi and Sean Howley before Mossie Abeysecera took a clean pass and broke through to score, for the home side to take the lead after 35 seconds.

Broadland did not let up as Stacey Ledgerwood found some space to break, offloading to Tom Weston who cut inside to score, with less than 5 minutes played Broadland were very much on the front foot. To Norwich Union’s credit they did come back at Broadland and a sustained period of pressure from the Norwich side was well defended. Broadland pushed hard at the line with pick and drives from Simon Coleman, Kieran Wilkes and Jimmy Dwyer with a ruck set close to the Norwich line. Scrum half Simon Ruddick snuck in from close range and before the half concluded Fly Half Stuart Murray broke to score.

Broadland took an early penalty at the start of the half, through the boot of Stuart Murray.

It was then some great effort from Phil Buckley and Chris Hewitt that got the ball in close for Ryan Gallie to crash over to score. Wing Ben Collings took a cross field kick and weaved his way in on the corner for a try and the Great Yarmouth side were in total control. Wing Jonno Stanhope-Smith had a great run down the wing, with Beckett and Morrison clearing out in the ruck, Scrum Half Ruddick spun the ball wide to Murray, Centre Abeysecera and Howley both split outwards pulling defenders with them, to allow fullback Tom Weston to take an inch perfect pass to score under the posts.

Broadland’s final score came from a lineout, Coleman took a clean ball, popped it to hooker Phil Buckley, Buckley passed long to Mason Jerome, who cut outside to brush off a tackle and score.

Tries: T Weston 2, M Abeysecera, S Ruddick, ,S Murray, B Collings, R Gallie, M Jerome

Con: Murray 6 of 8

Pen: Murray 1 of 1

Comm-Tech Man of the Match: Ryan Gallie

Squad: M Beckett, P Buckely (capt), M Jerome, K Wilkes, S Coleman R Gallie, C Hewitt, A Towfighi, S Ruddick, S Murray, S Ledgerwood, S Howley, M Abeseycera, B Collings, T Weston. Replacements: A Morrison, J Dwyer, J Stanhope-Smith

Norwich III 20 Broadland - GY II 76

Norwich only had 10 players available, but to their credit were willing to fulfil the fixture and Broadland were in a position to loan them three players, which meant that, under league rules Broadland could only start with 14.

Norwich started brightly competing well up front in the loose however the Tigers were able to use the extra man to great effect and ran in a series of tries. One of the highlights was Luke Moorehouse taking clean ball from the restart and passing to Peter Gilbey who broke clear to score from his own half, with his first touch of the game after coming off the bench. An injury to a Norwich player saw Jamie Williams pull on the Norwich shirt.

Broadland changed things about in the second half changing players that had started for Norwich Liam Lovick, James Chaplin-Madden and Tom Kinnear-Swift, for Gav Thompson, Luke Moorehouse and Paul Able.

This changed things and Norwich were able to score four tries with Broadland player Jamie Williams scoring and Luke Moorehouse scoring for both sides.

Broadland were still able to put points on the board even though it was at a slower rate.

Try scorers included P Gilbey scoring another two for his hat-trick , J Sewell 2, M Leckerman, M Stanhope-Smith, L Lovick, A Riches Jnr, N Bensley.

2nd XV: W Gibbs, P Finney(capt), G Thompson, N Bensley, A Riches Snr, P Able, L Moorehouse, A Bensley, M Stanhope-Smith, M Leckerman, A Riches Jnr, D Moorehouse, N Rose, J Sewell. Replacements, P Gilbey and J Williams, L.Lovick,,J. Chaplin Madden

n Club member Andrew Riches Jnr was honoured by Norfolk RFU for his work as a club volunteer at a presentation at the vice-presidents’ lunch last Saturday.

The award sponsored by APB Decoration was in recognition for the many years of help and support Andrew has given to the club despite being only 17 years old.

Andrew has been a club member since the day he was born.

His father, former 1st XV captain Andrew Riches snr, completed his membership forms on the day of his birth.

Having played minis and youth for the club Andrew is now playing his first season of senior rugby.