Lowestoft & Yarmouth Rugby Football Club

                         Lowestoft & Yarmouth   6    Wisbech    17

 

With L&Y enjoying 80% possession and 70% territory for the 80 minutes of this match the score line stunned the home crowd.

 

From the kick off the L&Y Pack dominance was obvious and in the first 30 minutes 4 scrums has been taken against the head. Danny Simmons being the pick of the front row but very well supported by Wayne Nixon and Chris Howe.. Simon Coleman was dictating play from the L&Y lineouts and he was spoiling the Wisbech lineouts.

 

Unfortunately it was a day for L&Y to have the white line fever and despite having over a dozen chances to score they could not cross the line for a try.

 

The L&Y back row did not perform  to their potential and the backs received slow service from base of the scrums and lineouts. Even when quick efficient service was provided the home threes could not break down an excellent Wisbech defence.

 

Russ Chapman at full back provided the only real bright spot for L&Y with his willingness to run the ball back at Wisbech gaining yards every time.

 

The visitors made 2 chances to score tries and on both occassions they succeeded with scores under the posts. The first was a well taken effort involving the Wisbech back row taking the ball 60 yards downfield interpassing before touching down and the second was a breakaway from inside centre and he won the foot race to score. They were also successful with a penalty.

 

L&Y's only points came from the boot of Scott Nelson with a penalty and a drop goal.

                             Lowestoft & Yarmouth     75     Ely   7

 

L&Y eventually clicked as a team and ran in 13 tries with 5 conversations against a plucky but well outplayed Ely.

 

The initial signs were excellent as the ever improving Simon Coleman and young  Ollie Curtis dominated the early line outs with Wayne Nixon and Dan Simmons  leading the pack to dominate the scrums both with and against the head..

 

Josh Fewkes started at scrum half with Byron Clarke moving to stand off and they received excellent ball all afternoon from the rampaging forwards.

 

It took L&Y 10 minutes to get into scoring mode and when Coleman took clean lineout ball the pack drove over from 15 out and Ben McElroy was at the back to touch down.

 

It was then the turn of the three quarters to take centre stage as the ball moved all the way across field left to right through the hands of Fewkes,Neil Langley, Tom Smith and Matt Howell with Nixon on the end of the line to take the ball over.

 

The L&Y back row were also on fire with skipper Matt Sole and No 8 John Mills making excellent breaks from the back of the scrum and McElroy as usual working tirelessly around the park.

 

It was Mills next to score  when from a scrum 12 yards out he picked up and used his strength to power over.

 

Soon after a kick ahead was was chased downfield by James Gee and he fed to Russ Chapman who took it one and then realeased to Tom Smith  who quickly put 

away Fewkes to score in the corner. Clarke converted.

 

Another scintillating break from Mills allowed him to feed to Fewkes who put in a nicely weighted kick for James Gee to chase and win the race for the touch down.

 

From the re start Curtis took the catch ( unusual as hooker Chris Howe had been claiming the kick offs all day ) and sent Mills away from the half way line and he fended off 4 would be tacklers before scoring. Clarke converted.

 

The last score of the first half came as Fewkes fed to Langley who drew his man and sent Chapman away through the centre. Clarke converted.

 

Ely muscled up at half time and gave L&Y a much sterner test at the start of the second half and the half was 14 minutes old before Mills made another ground making run before giving to Fewkes who put Gee away to score from 22 yards.

 

Chapman then gave a glimpse of his skills as he made a mazy run and the ball eventually reached Matt Howell who went on to score. Clarke converted..

 

Clarke and Chapman then combined to take the ball on and it found its way to skipper Sole who brushed off the defence and ran through to touch down.

 

A 22yard forward drive then took the ball on up the left flank and when the ball wasa released Smith was there to score.

 

A lapse in defensive concentration then allowed the visitors to score a converted try under the posts.

 

Gee, Chapman and Sole then took the ball upfield with clever interpassing and eventually Langley was on the end to take over and score. Clarke converted.

 

The final score came as replacement Jonathan Pitts made a 30 yard break down the right flank and then  fed inside to McElroy who added the last try to his first.

 

Graeme Newton replaced Nixon after 60 minutes and proved what strength in depth L&Y have in the front row by seamlessly taking over.

                                         Cantabrigians  19  Lowestoft & Yarmouth   18

 

L&Y came away from Cambridge knowing that this was a game that they could and should have won.

At the final whistle Cantabs breathed a huge sigh of relief as they clung on to take their first league points of the season.

 

L&Y were without 4 of the players that started for the side that performed so well the previous week but the lads that came in all played their part in an exciting but disappointing game. Russ Wilkinson played his first 1st XV game for many years in the second row. Graeme Newton started at prop with Johnathan Pitts starting in the back row. Skipper Matt Sole started in the centre but at half time he moved his usual position on the flank and Zak Baxter came into the centre.

 

L&Y started brightly with Simon Coleman again excelling in the lineouts and it was from a lineout that Coleman soared above everyone toi claim the ball and the pack drove him towards the line and as the ball came to the back Pitts was on hand to touch down. Byron Clarke converted.

 

With L&Y not protecting the ball well enough and with some loose kicking it wasn't long before the home side scored a try to reduce the deficit to 2 points.

 

Cantabs then took the lead when another loose kick was gathered on their own 22 and they ran a full 70 yards for their outside centre to score under the posts. This was converted. Both sides then swapped missed penalties but no further scores came before half time. The bright spot being a solo 30 yard run from veteran Wilkinson.

 

Soon after the re start L&Y were awarded a penalty that Clarke put over to cut  the lead to only  2 points.

 

This was short lived as Cantabs came straight back with a converted try.

 

Matters were not helped when L&Y lost Coleman to an injury and the guaranteed front ball from the lineout was lost.

 

Hope then returned to L&Y when from a quick tapped penalty Clarke fed to Matt Howell who scampered over to score.

 

Clarke then put L&Y to within 1 point from another penalty.

 

With the minutes ticking away it was all L&Y but they could not get the final breakthrough.

 

Coach Scott Nelson was not happy with the result or the on pitch decison making but he also appreciated that L&Y had 6 players under the age of 19 and certain areas are improving each week.  

 

This week L&Y play host to Stowmarket and a pre match luncheon will take place sponsored by PSL Energy services.

 

Kick off 3.00 PM.

 

                 Lowestoft & Yarmouth    56     Stowmarket   14

 

L&Y treated the home support to another excellent first half as they ran in 39 points and totally dominated all aspects of play. The second half was competent but lacked the first half sparkle. A late call off saw Mark Pack return to the second row with Russ Wilkinson drafted onto the bench. Scott Nelson also returned after  3 weeks out and orchestrated the three quarters.

 

L&Y's first score came after 3 minutes when they were awarded a penalty and Russ Chapman coolly slotted it over 3-0.

 

After 5 minutes Zak Baxter was injured and Jonathan Pitts came on to move to the back row with skipper Matt Sole moving out to the centre slot.

 

L&Ys first try came as scrum half Josh Fewkes broke and fed to Pitts who in turn passed to John Mills who made ground before slipping the ball to Ben McElroy and he gave it to the fast moving Chapman who found Matt Howell free to run in for the try. Chapman converted . 10-0

 

Stowmarket were constantly kept on the back foot by excellent line kicking from hand by Nelson. Another Chapman penalty gave the home side a 13 - 0 lead. Sole then came close as he made a 35 yard break down the cente of the park only to be stopped by the last man in defence.

 

This only served to delay the inevitable as almost immediately Nelson sent away Sole who managed to slip theball to Pitts who gave it back to Nelson so he could again put away Howell for this second try. Chapman converted. 20 - 0.

 

It was then the turn of the rampant L&Y forwards to take over when Simon Coleman

took the line out ball and the pack , again superbly led by Wayne Nixon ,combined together to drive forward 40 yards and Pitts was again at the back to take the ball and crash over, this being a habit that his fellow forwards are beginning to pick up on, 25 -0.

 

Mills then  picked up at the back of the scrum and made a trade mark break down the centre and then drew the defence and fed to Fewkes who sent Chapman away and from 40 yards out he skinned the winger and ran in under the posts can converted his own try. 32- 0.

 

From the resultant Stowmarket kick off Chrsi Howe caught the ball and went forward before passing out to Matt Sole and ran a full 50 yards to score under the posts. Chapman converted. 39 - 0.

 

Asd is the case in these one sided affairs a lapse in defensive concentration allowed the visitors a copnverted try just before half time. 39-7

 

It looked as if the second half was going to follow the first when L&Y were quickly on the scoreboard as again Coleman took clean lineout ball and the pack drove on with Pitts at the back ready to sneak his second try in the corner 44 - 7.

 

This time the visitors responded strongly with another converted try as the defence again lacked concentration.  44 -14.

 

For periods in the second half it all seemed to easy for L&Y and instead of playing a  tight controlled game they tried to force every move to score again and the moves kept breaking down at the final phase.

 

Eventually Nelson again made the break and sent Howell on his way for his hat trick as he ran in from 40 yards.  Man of the match Chapman converted. 51 - 14.

 

Graeme Newton and Russ Wilkinson joined the party from the bench and it was the impressive L&Y forwards who had the last say as Mills drove on with ball before giving to Sole who fed to Danny Simmons to score his first try for L&Y. 56-14

 

Luckless Ben Smith played his first game of the season on the wing and is still wondering what a rugby ball looks like...............

 

 

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