Lowestoft & Yarmouth 33, Uckfield 0OLD Lowestoft and Yarmouth stalwart Martin Doyle brought his new club Uckfield from Sussex for a pre-season match.

Lowestoft & Yarmouth 33, Uckfield 0

OLD Lowestoft and Yarmouth stalwart Martin Doyle brought his new club Uckfield from Sussex for a pre-season match.

A very competent showing from L&Y for the second week running gave the local side added hope for a successful season.

Uckfield had a strong squad and some particularly talented young backs raised several questions of the L&Y defence.

With the league fixtures looming, L and Y's goal was to play controlled tight rugby in the opposition's territory, and they set off on exactly the right tone.

From a line-out just outside Uckfield's 22 a move involving Marc Thomas, Byron Clarke, Matt Jary (twice) and Shaun Woodhouse set up Josh Fewkes to dive under the posts for Clarke to slot the first of his four conversions.

L&Y had to scramble quickly to stop some dangerous attacks that had the crowd cheering loudly and fullback Tom Smith covering superbly.

Woodhouse, playing at number eight, began to make his strength tell .L&Y ran blind from a scrum and Thomas barged his way over for the second score.

After a 20 minute delay following a knee dislocation to talented L&Y winger Miles McAlone, the remainder of the half was played out in stalemate, as L and Y altered their defensive strategies to cope with the pace of the visitors three-quarters.

Control resumed once the silly kicks were eliminated, the L&Y midfield of Clarke, Jary and Kris Nelson worked out their best system, and Woodhouse had similarly organised his fellow back row of Thomas and Lewis Davey.

Captain Danny Simmons, Chris Howe and Carl Stephenson were in charge in the front row. Zak Baxter was enjoying his first ever outing at lock alongside Russ Wilkinson.

In the final quarter, L&Y reaped the benefit of their suffocating tactics. Howell caught a poor Uckfield clearance kick and scored under the posts. Woodhouse scored a deserved try. Vice captain Lewis Davey rounded off a fine game by plunging over from close range.

Replacements Lee Protheroe and Ben McElroy showed the depth L&Y is striving for, but the Tredwell Development man of the match award went to Shaun Woodhouse.

They will need all their fire when they take on Norwich 1sts at Beeston Hyrne at 3pm.