Sat saw Holt take the long trip south to Rochford for the eight round of this season league fixtures. Both Holt and Rochford have found wins difficult to come by so far, with just one win each they were equal on 7 points struggling to get their seasons going.

Holt kicked off and immediately put Rochford under pressure. A deep kick into the R Rochford 22 was returned to halfway where Rochford gave away a penalty. Gill kicked to the Rochford 22. Holt won the line out but knocked on. Rochford cleared their lines only to be penalised once more around half way. Jackson this time booted Holt into the Rochford 22. Again Holt lost possession which again Rochford cleared their lines. A penalty saw Jackson return them into the 22. Holt laid siege to the Rochford line in this manner for 25 mins but failed to convert the pressure into points. Frantic defence and poor finishing defying Holt time and again. On 25 mins Rochford had a rare attack up to the half way line, a speculative kick ahead was fumbled in the Holt 22. From the scrum Rochford spread the ball wide to score from their first real attack. The conversion missed.

26 mins: Rochford [100] 5 Holt 0

Normal service was resumed from the restart, Jackson cleared a penalty as far as Holts 10m line but the throw didn't go 5m. From the free kick Rochford went wide quickly but were stopped on Holts 5m line, the ref awarded Rochford a scrum so they went blind and crashed over for a second try. The conversion was good.

32 mins: Rochford [100] 12 Holt 0

Again Holt besieged the conversion half where Charlie Roberts, Jackson and MOTM Harry Yarbo all making good breaks but unable to get away the scoring pass every time.

Half Time: Rochford [100] 12 Holt 0

The second half was slightly more evenly matched than the first, which Holt had dominated. Rochford scored in the 25th, 40th and 45th minutes of this half

Final score: Rochford [100] 12 Holt 0

Holt will be feeling slightly aggrieved. This was a game they could have, and probably should have won. They did all the right things but failed to capitalise on possession and territorial domination. They must find a way to convert pressure into points. Several times this season prolonged visits to the oppositions 22 have resulted in no joy and the inevitable counterattack that the more seasoned teams at this level almost invariably convert into points.
However it must be said that with yet another long away trip and several injury issues resulting in mass unavailability’s, credit must be given to the players that faced up, especially the youngsters making their debuts, Leo Kemp, Charlie Roberts, and Ewan Bryson who all had good games and are players to look out for. Logan Price, another player this year seizing the opportunity to establish himself in the first team.
Phill and his team will no doubt be working on the players over the next couple weeks before the next round of fixtures on 30th Nov, a big game away to Brentwood, a game Holt won last year, with one of their best performances of last season.

MOTM Harry Yarbo. Big Harry this season is turning into a seriously good valuable asset to the team, had a great game, all over the pitch, made yards with some big carries.

The 2nd XV lost away to Gt Yarmouth and Broadland 1st XV. 32:14 but continue to improve, several late call offs and losing players to the 1st didn’t help their cause!

The 3rds had a great win over Wymondham 3rds 38/24