LAST Friday a group of 40 players, family members and spectators from Broadland-Great Yarmouth Rugby Club travelled to Twickenham as winners of the beach rugby grand draw from the beach rugby event held in Great Yarmouth in July.

LAST Friday a group of 40 players, family members and spectators from Broadland-Great Yarmouth Rugby Club travelled to Twickenham as winners of the beach rugby grand draw from the beach rugby event held in Great Yarmouth in July. The players had the chance to play in the O2 Beach Rugby finals.

They were met by former England star Austin Healey who briefed the players over breakfast. It was then down to the England changing rooms.

On the Twickenham turf Healey took the players through a warm-up and stretching session.

The two Broadland sides delighted the crowd with a fine demonstration of running and passing rugby.

The two Broadland teams found themselves playing for first or second place in their group, the youth team losing out to the more

senior despite having England's Paul Sackey on their team.

At the prize giving the senior team came away with a signed and framed shirt of the current England players which Andy Martins dedicated to the memory of his late brother Richard Martins, a Broadland player who epitomised the friendly, family nature of the club.

O2 and the RFU organised a brilliant day and Broadland-Great Yarmouth were honoured to be part of it.

Swaffham 15, Broadland-Great Yarmouth 10

IN another close league match the Yarmouth side could not quite cross the try line, despite a valiant late surge.

Injuries again forced a number of changes, but it was still an experienced side that took the field at Swaffham.

Good territory from Swaffham was used to good effect and despite an excellent last-ditch tackle from full-back Jake Sewell, Swaffham recycled quickly and score (unconverted).

Broadland readjusted there line-out and immediately reaped the reward with hooker Rye Bilyard connecting with Asa Morrison at the back with ease. Swaffham broke and scored to lead 10-0 at the break.

Broadland captain Matt Beckett was forced to leave the match at half-time with an injury and was replaced by Steve Watson.

Centre Stacey Ledgerwood put Broadland on the score sheet with a well-taken long-range penalty. Swaffham put over another unconverted try. Broadland saw excellent work from Mark White, which created space for fly- half James Doggett to cut through the defence and score following a dazzling run down the middle (converted Lightfoot).

Scrum-half Simon Ruddick came on, marking his 250 First XV appearance, and immediately got to work bossing the forwards around the park. Broadland came so close to a score when Ash Lightfoot put in a cross-field kick, Wing Joe Payne took the ball at pace and weaved down toward the goal line only to be dragged down short. No 8 Adam Towfighi covered well over three-quarters of the pitch, but was not able to take clean control of the ball. With Broadland in possession 10 meters from Swaffham's goal line the referee blew the final whistle, much to the relief of the home side.

Tries: Doggett, cons: Lightfoot one out of one, pen: Ledgerwood.

Broadland-Great Yarmouth: J Sewell, J Payne, A Lightfoot, S Ledgerwood, M Scott, J Doggett, P Buckley, M Beckett (capt), R Bilyard, R Gallie, S French, J Fogg, A Morrison, E Dixon, A Towfighi. Replacements: S Watson (40 mins), M White (40 mins), S Ruddick (55 mins).

The Broadland-Great Yarmouth annual ex-players' reunion will take place on October 10 at the clubhouse at Cobholm Playing Fields, Great Yarmouth, the bar open from 1pm with the first XV playing Mistley RFC at 3pm. For details contact Pug on 01493 850340.