Lakenham Hewett 1st XV 2007 / 2008 Match reports
15th September 2007 - Lakenham Hewett 11- 5 Haverhill
Lakenham Hewett began their home campaign with a well deserved victory over visitors Haverhill, albeit it one they should have had much more comfortably. With Haverhill winning the toss and opting to play with the sun and wind behind them, they started the game strongly but had no answer for some bone crunching defense and the big hits that were being put in across the field by the lakenham forward and backs. Haverhill eventually managed to engineer an opening around the fringes of a ruck a couple of metres from the Lakenham line and seemed certain to score when the clean through runner was hit on the try line, when all he had to do was fall forward to score, by a highlight reel tackle from behind from lakenham blindside Scott Squires that not only stopped him in his tracks but caused a knock on.
With the Haverhill player down receiveing treatment for a couple of minutes, before being taken off, Lakenham regrouped from this near miss and began to dominate proceedings, gradually winning back territory with some strong forward drives and some powerful, running through the backs that Haverhill could not deal with. A half break by fly half Rob Dixon on the edge of the Haverhill 22 was followed up by a neat offload to centre Dorian Squires who rode some weak tackling before being hauled down a couple of yards short of the line, with Haverhill penalising in the process. Squires kicked the penalty to put lakenham 3-0 up from their first incursion into Haverhill territory.
This pattern continued with Haverhill being continually smashed back in the tackle and driven back in the forwards. Lakenham were unlucky no to have been awarded a penalty try towards the end off the first half when indecision in the Haverhill back line again saw a bone crunching hit on a Haverhill centre who spilled the ball on half way, allowing Rob Dixon to fly hack the ball through. In a foot race he was clearly winning the haverhill full back attempted a trip on the edge of the 22, before managing to trip Dixon on the try line. For some reason the referee gave a penalty for the first attempted trip as opposed to a penalty try when it was a certainty one would have been scored were it not for the second trip. Squires again kicked the penalty to give the home side a 6-0 advantage.
Disappointed that defense was winning the day and that several try scoring opportunities and over laps that had been created were not utilised, Lakenham began the second half strongly continuing to dominate proceedings physically. With the Lakenham forwards comtinually driving through the Haverhill pack and the Lakenham backs often breaking through the Haverhill backline it was only a matter of time before the domination paid off and a well executed driving maul saw hooker Andy Concannon score in the corner for his first try in 9 seasons. the conversion drifted narrowly wide.
Haverhill gradually worked themselves back in lakenham territory but had no answer for the strong lakenham defence that continually knocked them back in the tackle and caused several turnovers. They finally made some of their pressure tell through a well taken score fromt he haverhill fly half who scored under the posts before missing the conversion from right in front. The game finished much as it started with Haverhill trying desparately trying to score but finding no answer fro some committed defense that caused turnover after turnover and lakenham gradually working their way back up field for a strong finish. The game ended after yet another big hit in the midfield and centre Squires scooping up the loose ball before again being hauled down just short of the line, with Gav Willoughby supporting well Squires popped up the ball and Willoughby passed to prop Martin Bumstead who was held up over the line. From the resulting scrum another overlap was worked on the blindside but a poor pass went into to touch to signal the end of the game.
That final passage of play perfectly summed up lakenhams afternoon. Strong defense and missed opportunity. Pleased with the win, but very much aware that they should have put Haverhill away much earlier, with several overlaps being squandered, Lakenham, and their new found team spririt, continues to grow.
8th September 2007 - Newmarket 62 - 0 Lakenham Hewett.
After a long Summer lay off and no preseason games Lakenham Hewett went into the first game of the season keen to not let the lack of match practice affect them. Due to a number of last minute call offs the 17 man squad was reduced to 14 men. The decision was taken to play with 14 men and see what happened. Not the best way to kick start your season but the 14 men who went were determined to make up for the missing man. The game started well with Lakenham entrenched in the Newmarket half for the first ten minutes of the game. The only thing missing was a line breaking run to score. Then a unfortunate breakdown caused the ball to be spilled and a break away try scored by Newmarket which was not deserved on the merits of Lakenhams play. As the first half wore on more tries were scored due to Lakenham missing the 15th man and a few missed tackles.
But come half time captain Dorian Squires was happy with the effort and performances that both forwards and backs were making. The second half was much the same from Lakenham, some good forward drives from 2nd row players Ollie Harris and Richard wells and some breaks from hooker Steve Tricky could not get that elusive first try. The ball was then spun wide to the backs with some probing runs by centres Gav W and and Gav M made ground. Tom Hough increasing under the high ball at full back made some good runs from deep,but with wing ball a little sparse wingers Dave Lund and Steve Peart had to look increasing inside for the ball, with some big tackles being made by the latter as the game wore on. But with tiredness creeping in, the lack of a 15th man began to show and some tough tackles by forwards and backs alike prevented the final score being a lot higher in the closing stages.
Team 1- Richard Wells 2- Steve Tricky 3 - Martin Bumstead 4 - Ollie Harris 5 - Ed Miles 6 - Richard Culling 7 - no player 8 - Mark Walton 9 - Mark Butcher 10 - Dorian Squires 11 - Steve Peart 12 - Gav Willoughby 13 - Gav MacCallum 14 - Dave Lund 15 - Tom Hough
Lakenham go into their next game against Haverhill with their heads held high knowing that another team performance like that with 15 men and replacements a win is well within their capabilities.
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