A game Holt side were comprehensively beaten by West Norfolk 2nds. The scoreline suggests a walkover but in fact the home side stuck bravely to the uphill task until the bitter end. In scoring two second half tries they showed that any complacency or lack of concentration by West Norfolk would be punished.
The day however belonged to the visitors who fielded a side which welcomed back Rimmer brothers Joby and Barnaby, the latter appearing in the second half for veteran Nimmo.
The West Norfolk forward pack with youngsters O Sullivan, Hart, Courtney and Blackmuir blending well with experienced campaigners Dawson, Martin and Nimmo, gave the visitors a solid platform in the tight exchanges which meant it would always be difficult for Holt to compete.
The visitors opened the scoring in the first minute when Dawson caught cleanly from the kick allowing Courtney and Martin to drive deep into the Holt half where the home side were penalised. Calow kicked the penalty the start of a personal haul of 27 points.
The belligerent Andy Saunders was next on the scoreboard as he drove over for a try after good work by scrum half Ali Smith.
A continual supply of possession enabled Waterfield and Saunders to set up wings Ralph Jones and Connor Tuck for some penetrating runs which were defended only by plucky tackles deep in the Holt half. Jones in particular was always threatening and was soon rewarded with an excellent try as he outpaced the Holt cover.
Ali Smith completed the first half scoring with a clever break down the blindside and the home side cover unable to match his acceleration.
With West Norfolk down to 14 men following a tackle transgression by Saunders, Holt came back into the game and punished the visitors with a try following good work by their forwards.
Rimmer senior replaced Nimmo and after an inauspicious start proceeded to remind what a useful forward he had been before a 4 year lay off. Meanwhile the younger Rimmer Joby, now a much bigger version of the promising colt of a few years ago gave a great account of himself in the second row.
Craig Blackmuir continued to show much promise with some very good line catches and much industrious work in the loose. Along with George Hart and Rory O’Sullivan they promise a successful continuity for this team next season. Tom Courtney too has great promise but his commitments will be elsewhere in the armed forces where he is certain to do well.
With West Norfolk back to full complement, Calow went over for a cheeky try following a chip over the close Holt defence and the added to this with another almost carbon copy apart from a clash over the line with a Holt defender and a ‘swim’ along the ground to touchdown after the home side failed to beat Calow in the Front Crawl on the ground.
Joby Rimmer set up a try for the ever present Coutney and Barney Rimmer scored under the posts after a great runs by Connor Tuck then Ralph Jones.
This was a very good afternoon for West Norfolk seconds, and as has been the case for the whole season much credit goes to the good humoured but committed joint leadership of Waterfield and Nimmo. It seems that Hart and Ali Smith are in the frame for similar roles next season and if that proves to be the case then this team is in very good hands.

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