Broadland-Great Yarmouth 17, Haverhill 26THERE was a valiant Broadland-Great Yarmouth attempt at a second-half comeback, running in three tries, but they failed to overcome the lead Haverhill had built up in the first half.

Broadland-Great Yarmouth 17, Haverhill 26

THERE was a valiant Broadland-Great Yarmouth attempt at a second-half comeback, running in three tries, but they failed to overcome the lead Haverhill had built up in the first half.

Broadland did not have the best of starts as Haverhill steadily worked up the field, Broadland cleared a couple of times but finally Haverhill broke and scored in the corner.

Broadland had a break from Phil Buckley, flanker Richard Ruddick up in support, but he could not take a difficult catch close to the goal line.

Broadland we making progress but not converting field position into scores. Lock Royce Chiddle had a great run from the back of a line-out but again Broadland failed to score.

Haverhill picked up a second score as a kick and chase fell in their favour. Broadland were firmly on the back foot as Haverhill scored a third.

Broadland were moving the ball but not making the clean breaks, and their situation worsened as hooker Rye Bilyard was shown a yellow card. Haverhill led 15-0 at the half.

The second half saw Haverhill extend their lead with a close-range try, and the match was rapidly falling beyond Broadland.

They rallied quickly and moved the ball well before Rye Bilyard dived over for a score (converted Doggett).

Haverhill continued to push Broadland back, but wing Ben Collings picked off a pass at his own 22m line before going the length of the field to score.

Broadland were beginning to close the margin. Some fantastic work in the tight from Nathan Bensley and Ryan Gallie provided some fast ball, Simon Ruddick spun wide.

Centre Phil Buckley crashed through a tackle and Broadland got behind the Haverhill line with a second quick ruck.

Veteran Wing Mark White was set free and hurtled down the side line, before neatly stepping inside two defenders to score. Haverhill's command of the game was being eroded quickly as the lead was down to three points.

Haverhill struck back with a highly-disputed drop goal, which was considered by many not to have cleared the uprights. However, Haverhill held firm and a late penalty secured their win.

Tries: Bilyard, Collins, White. Con: Doggett one out of one, Ledgerwood nought out of two.

Team: J Sewell, B Collins, S Ledgerwood, P Buckley, J Payne, J Doggett, S Ruddick M Beckett (capt), R Bilyard, S Tubby, S French, R Chidle, A Morrison, R Ruddick, A Towfighi. Replacements R Gallie (48 mins), N Bensley (55 mins), Mark White (60 mins).

Tomorrow Broadland-Great Yarmouth play host to Holt in the Norfolk Cup at Cobholm playing fields (kick-off 2.15pm).

For more information on playing rugby, youth or senior or becoming involved in helping run the only rugby club in Great Yarmouth please visit www.broadlandrfc.com

Broadland-Great Yarmouth Tigers 0, Southwold 31

IN this latest Merit II fixture, Tigers were the first to set up several phases of play which took them to within 10 metres of the Southwold try-line, but they could not break down the Southwold defence.

The game now turned with Southwold setting up phase after phase to try and break down the stout Tigers defence.

The break came for Southwold when they powered to within inches of the Tigers' line and created a gap for their scrum-half to score.

The rest of the first half saw a battle between the attacking Southwold and the defending Tigers with last-ditch tackles from their brave French full-back stopping any breakthrough.

The second half saw changes for Vickerstaff, Hawkes and Crane with the Tigers bringing on Jarvis, Moobs and A Clarke. The second again saw Southwold doing the running and the Tigers the stopping.

With 30 minutes to go the Tigers brought into the fray substitutes Raven for D Moorehouse and P Calnon for the injured L Moorehouse.

With Southwold also bringing on fresh legs, the slogging match continued.

The crack came in the Tigers defence with 20 minutes to go with Southwold setting up a quick break down the blind side.

With the Tigers running out of defenders the Southwold winger crossed the line to score.

The Tigers' stamina started to fade and the cracks started to appear, which led to the avalanche that betrayed how the match had been played with practically all of Southwold's points being scored in these final moments.

Broadland Tigers put in huge effort to stop this classy first team material side.

Man-of-the-match: Le brave Fran�ais.

Tigers: A Riches, M Vickerstaff, G Hawkes, C Calnon, P Crane, P Abel (captain), L Moorehouse, K Wilkes, R Clarke, P Tucker, T Barber, A Payne, D Moorehouse, L Howlett, Le brave Fran�ais. Subs: L Raven, P Calnon, A Clarke, Moobs, G Jarvis, D Beagrie.