Win for Holbrook in 1st game of the season

Holbrook 25 Pulborough 18

Holbrook commenced the new season on a positive note with a hard fought victory over perennial bogey team Pulborough. With the influx of a few new faces over the summer and the return of some from university, the home side had a freshness about them from the start.

The visitors who in previous encounters have had the upper hand in the scrum seemed surprised by the strength of the Holbrook pack and this led to the first score early in the game. A Holbrook attacking 5 metre scrum led to the obliteration of the Pulborough pack and number eight Greg Holt touched down for a straight forward push over try. Pulborough seemed content in the first quarter with kicking away a lot of possession to gain territory but with a youthful backline & some exuberant offloading by the home side, this bore little fruit. Although Holbrooks’ counter attacking suffered due to the wet conditions

Both teams exchanged penalties due to infringements in front of the posts and Pulburough towards the end of the half began to impose some authority on the game but wasted a number of chances when a try seemed likely. With the final play of the half the away side spun the ball wide and a lack of cover in the Holbrook defence resulted in a try in the corner to even the scores at half time 8 a piece.

After some stern words at half time Holbrook came out the sharper and bombarded the Pulborough defence in the early second half. The home side back line always seemed to have the edge with some cutting lines and more powerful runs, thus creating the next score. Marc Cashman used some of his Rugby League experience to shoulder his way through a couple of tackles and seemingly carry defenders over the line with him to score under the posts, a try that was converted by Nick Holt. This gave the home side a boost in confidence and they started to create gaps in the Pulborough defence, gaining large yards despite the slippery & wet conditions. Holbrook’s next try came when the forwards go in on the act off an attacking line out, with a drive brought down just before the line giving Phil Morgan Jones the easiest of tries when he picked up from the back of a ruck to place the ball over the try line.

Pulborough were never going to lie down and give up, as Holbrook were given a rude awakening, when they responded immediately. A large gap near the fringes was an easy opportunity for the Pulborough forwards as they waltzed in for a quick repost. Things were made worse for the home side when with 8 minutes remaining influential hooker Peter Downes was sin binned for alleged stamping offence. The Holbrook back line stepped up to the plate, with a carving run from full back Nick Holt releasing Rich ard Brooker for Holbrook’s fourth try of the game and a bonus point. Again a hash of a restart from the home side gave Pulborough field advantage and after a number of phases they scored a further try in the corner.

Holbrook survived the final couple of minutes but they should have really killed the game off earlier and they need to be more clinical & in better conditions probably would have done , if they want to improve on previous campaigns they need to capitalize on chances they have earned . Holbrook move on this weekend and renew an old rivalry with an away game at St Francis in Crawley .