SUFFOLK 1: Sudbury 31 Haverhill 21

HAVERHILL faced a team that had only 13 players and therefore could not field a full scrum front row and thus uncontested scrums from the start of the game.

At kick off, Sudbury actually fielded a full 15-player team with two substitutes on the touch line. However, knowing that they were going to refuse to play contested scrums filled the team with running back players, as there was no danger of injury in the set-piece.

On four minutes, super quick ball involving Sudbury’s scrum and backs led to an unconverted try in the corner.

Then, a speculative kick out of their 22 allowed a few fly kicks and their flying pack and backs to score a converted run away try for 12-0.

Gavin Hope hit back for Haverhill, he charged down a clearance and scored to bring the score back to 12-7 on half time.

Haverhill took the lead on 50 minutes after a quick penalty saw Mark Jury release Chris Flannery for a score, converted by Jury for 12-14

On 54 minutes, a quick penalty was swung wide across the extended line for a try in the corner.

Five minutes later another full line move allowed a crossing in the corner but touched down under the posts for 24-14.

Paulo Nash nearly intercepted a flowing Sudbury move on 65 minutes, which would have been interesting to see the 75-metre run to touch down, but the ball went to floor.

Haverhill camped on the Sudbury line for the last 15 minutes, but some unlucky handling and good defending held them out until four minutes from time, when Jury was released by Hope to score.

Haverhill hoped for another score to draw or win the contest, but on the stroke of time a Sudbury scrum saw the ball spun quickly out and a final score and conversion for 31-21.