Eastern Counties Cup U17s semi final  January 24^th 2010

North Walsham 28   Cambridge 0

For those of you who were witness to the rusty skills on show at Thursday`s training at Grantchester Road, after what has been a long break for many, this result was only a logical follow up. The drive was long & early, the other side of  Norwich. Our first visit to their home ground in North Norfolk since January 2007.

 “Warm your minds as well as your bodies” bellowed the Norfolk coach to his players before the off as our sleepy stop outs were attempted to be woken in vain by Coach Baxter. The Camfolk families stood in silence as their boys, so often the Kings of the Fens, were quickly put to the sword by a purposeful, quick, well drilled Walsham Side. 7-0 before they were awake. 14-0 before they had had an effort in their half.

Cambridge hauled themselves out of bed and began to hold the scrum, line and attack before the break, but the omens were not good. This is a good team we were playing, but not that good: Start playing to our strength, we could turn it around!

Early in the second half loose handling, missed tackles, poor kicks and we were another try down. 0-18.  An amazing passage of play saw our players running around like headless chickens with the ball uncontested on the ground. A Norfolk player approaches from an offside position, picks up the ball & runs off with it – no penalty – no ruck. It was comical if a little sad.

The referee dishes a few sin bin Yellows for handling on the ground, having warned repeatedly all players. Our ever-dependable scrum seemed to give up the game. “Wait” called a Walsham player as the ball was thrown in. Our players obeyed and they collected. Thanks very much.  Swift passing and missed tackles lead to another try: 0-25 with a conversion.

The final quarter saw a late rally on their line but it was not to be, and more loose play lead to a kicked penalty 0-28.

The consensus on the side was that this was their poorest performance for more than a season against a decent side. We have done well this season: the soonest this is put behind us the better. A short report, not wanting to dwell. Move on. 

Tim Ritchie