U15 Sharks away at Holt 11/12/2016

A trip to Holt means an early start for everyone, Wold certainly looked a little travel-weary in the first half!
Holt started strongly, their coach having confided that they had been looking forward to a testing game against a team that they see as a real challenge after recent results. They played with real intent and intensity, leading to a score inside five minutes as their left winger stepped through tackles and over the line close to the touchline. A good kick to convert from that far out saw the hosts leading by seven in no time at all. The obvious difference in size between the two packs manifested itself as Holt went on to rack up three more tries in quick succession and Wold were looking ragged at 0-24. However, they picked themselves up and worked back into the game to the point where they had established parity by the time the first half ended.
Whatever was said at half time seemed to work and Wold came out in more positive mood in the second period, Renee and Waldo combining to take play within a few yards of the Holt line before the Holt forwards turned over possession and they were able to clear the ball to touch. The mood was then dampened slightly by another try for Holt caused by missed tackles and a ball lost in contact (0-31), before Southwold came to the party.
Holt conceded a penalty in the Southwold 22 and the quick tap set Josh away with some space in which to work for the first time in the match. Holt's best efforts to stop him came to nothing and the resulting try was converted by Jack to open the Wold scoring. (7-31)
Play ebbed and flowed in midfield as Southwold started to get to grips with the breakdown and secure some ball, but Holt managed to break away again and score though their rapid left wing.(7-36)
Wold had the last say in the game, executing a move around the front of a line-out before recycling the ball and kicking into the opponents' 22, with Renee and Josh catching the receiver and creating a ruck just short of the line. Joe picked up at the base of the ruck and drove over from five yards out. The conversion left the final tally at 14-36, which doesn't look great at first sight, but Wold can take some consolation from the way in which they competed in the second half, outscoring their hosts and restoring some pride in their performance.
The game hinged on a first half in which Holt's forwards proved too powerful at the breakdown and secured most of the possession. Once Southwold realised they could compete, they came back into the game and looked more threatening, but the points difference was already beyond them.

Next game: Colchester (h)