EASTERN COUNTIES 2: Haverhill 19 Norwich Medics 24

FIVE minutes in, a lovely move involving Haverhill’s Adam Hunt saw the skipper gain 40 metres up the park and release Simon Potter who was taken out ten metres from the line.

The Medics started to apply a little pressure on Haverhill and a quick penalty and massively quick ball opened the hosts’ defence, the visitors scoring a converted try. On 16 minutes a Medics back row player broke from the back and timed the perfect pass to his No8 to cover the hard yards and to score under the posts for a converted try and 14-0 scoreline.

Haverhill finally started to play some rugby and camp on the Medics’ five-metre line.

Being totally dominant in the scrum, Haverhill chose to push the opposition over, only to see the galling action of No8 and scrum half both trying to put the ball down, causing a knock on and no try.

On 22 minutes, a driving ruck saw Mickey Lansdowne cross the line for 14-5, Martyn Hughes converting the kick.

Haverhill then spent another ten minutes camped on the opposition’s five-metre line, but it was to no avail.

A Hughes penalty attempt fell short and with two minutes remaining of the first half, Haverhill were guilty in allowing the Medics to spin the ball wide and the well-drilled side crossed the line for 19-7.

On 50 minutes an horrendous two-footed slide took out Dan Harris. Haverhill were given the penalty on the restart, but there was no card for this dangerous play on the opposition player.

Haverhill’s Brad Gibson reduced the arrears on 54 minutes with Hughes adding the extras and two minutes later, Joe Brown sped away for a certain try but his final pass was intercepted by the Medics winger, who ran a full 80 metres to score a try of his own for 24-14.

Gibson was involved in the next Haverhill score on 63 minutes when he released Joe Brown for a score in the corner, but it was to no avail.