Broadland–Great Yarmouth 17, Hadleigh 15

BROADLAND pulled off a close victory last weekend as they held on to a two-point lead when they hosted Hadleigh.

The match did not start as planned for the Yarmouth side as Hadleigh broke from midfield into space and under the post for a converted try with less than two minutes played.

Broadland evened up the score as full-back Tom Weston broke to score (converted Weston).

Broadland pressure was building and a break from scrum-half Phil Buckley created the space for hooker Rye Bilyard to dive over for the score (unconverted).

Hadleigh, however, kept responding quickly as the Broadland defence was stretched wide to allow the Hadleigh wing to score in the corner (unconverted) The half concluded with the score 12-12.

Hadleigh took an early lead in the second half through a penalty.

Broadland worked slowly down inside the Hadleigh five-metre line and hooker Rye Bilyard went over the line twice but was adjudged on both occasions to not to have got the ball down.

However, persistence paid off for Broadland as some good running from captain Stacey Ledgerwood put wing Ben Collings clear. Collings dived over to score in the corner for the lead (unconverted).

Broadland’s defence for the remaining quarter was exemplary and fly-half Simon Ruddick and centre Sam Noon put in a string of tackles, halting Hadleigh advances. Hadleigh never quite got within kicking distance and Broadland added another win to a successful campaign so far.

Comm Tech MoM: Sam Noon.

Tries: T Weston, R Bilyard, B Collings. Con: Weston 1 of 3.

Team: T Weston, B Collings, S Ledgerwood, S Noon J Payne, S Ruddick, P Buckley, W Gibbs, R Bilyard, S Weston, S French K Wilkes, C Hewitt, R Ruddick, A Towfighi.

Replacements: S Tubby (48), J Fogg (52), T Barber (69).