Lakenham-Hewett II 35, Broadland-Gt Yarmouth Tigers 12

Broadland-Great Yarmouth Tigers travelled to Lakenham Hewett for their first game of the season.

Call-offs and holiday commitments meant that the Yarmouth side began the game with only 14 men, however George Jarvis joined the game early in the first quarter making a full compliment, even though he was recovering from illness.

Despite a number of players playing out of position, the Tigers began the game strongly, competing well in the line-out and at the scrummage.

The game was finely balanced with both sides having their attacks thwarted by good defensive play. However, the home side were first to score through a misjudged kick, which ended up in the hands of the Lakenham right wing, who showing both power and speed and evaded the Tigers defence to score in the corner.

The home side made the most of their youthful backs, despite being denied ball by the Tigers pack and were again on the scoreboard.

Second-row Cammock suffered an injury and was replaced by Gibbs a re-shuffle of the pack saw Hawkes move to the flank, Bensley into the second row and Calnon to number eight, allowing Gibbs to take up his favoured position at prop.

Whilst missing Cammock’s mobility around the park the pack solidified around Gibbs, with much cleaner scrum ball being the result.

This allowed the Tigers to spin the ball wide, with the experienced midfield of R Clarke, Pywell and Moorhouse generating clean ball for winger Webster. Only tenacious and last-gasp tackling denied Webster a brace of tries.

Full-back Pollard, in a fine piece of individual skill, killed a Lakenham move by charging down and simultaneously catching a clearance kick before skirting round the defence to score in the corner (unconverted).

In the final stages of the game the Tigers began to dominate open play, nullifying any Lakenham attack with some ferocious tackling, in particular from J Clarke. Gibbs, Fogg and Bensley who all made strong, runs to setup-field position allowing veteran fly-half R Clarke to set up good ruck ball from a quick tap, allowing J Clarke to spin the ball quickly to Fogg who barrelled over under the post for the last score of the game (converted by Pywell). Overall a performance to take a lot from, with plenty to build on for the season.

Tries: Pollard, Fogg. Conversion: Pywell.

This Saturday is Broadland Great Yarmouth’s Annual Player Reunion, all players old and new as well as friends of the club are invited (bar opens 1pm). The first XV play Norwich second XV (3pm). The Tigers next host Watton II on September 18 (3pm).