GYBRFC took the long away trip to Swaffham RFC on Saturday but the distance did not stop them fielding a very strong squad, highlighting the depths in the GYBRFC ranks. A later than usually kick off at 15:00 brought in damp conditions under the flood lights as misty weather began to set in. GYBRFC were keen to brush off last weeks defeat to the league leaders and take the fight to todays opposition who were sitting above GYBRFC in the table.

James Doggett got the game underway but the visitors found themselves under pressure from start with Swaffham controlling the territory, however Broadland remained in control and sharp defence from all and an interception by Jay Pollard enabled GYBRFC to start exerting some pressure of their own. Unfortunately, a loose pass dived upon by Jay pollard was his last action suffering an injury from a competing opposition player. Swaffham soon found themselves camped in GYBRFC’s 22 and a deft grubber was pounced upon by the Swaffham winger, giving the home side a 5-0 lead. Broadland were keen to shake off the travel fatigue and the pressure told when captain George Wilson gathered a sloppy goal line drop out and drove over from 5 yards. Tying the scores at 5-5. GYBRFC’s forward pack continued to dominate as it has done against all sides so far this season, with Dan Lawrence & Liam Haylett both causing problems for the opposition. The new look GYBRFC back line looked threatening all game and fly half James Doggett found his way into space, ghosting through defenders, before offloading to Ant Payne to score the next points giving GYBRFC a 10-5 lead going into half time.

Fired up from the restart, GYBRFC started very strongly and a series of forward trundles saw Stu Moore crash over, rewarded for his tremendous work in defence, converted by James Doggett. GYBRFC came close again when Brad Sutherland dummied one, dummied two, threw the ball out to Ant Payne, who popped to Jacob Wells at full back, he ran the ball in to the opposition 22 and tried to return the ball to the tireless Ant Payne, who was tackled off the ball, leading to a sin binning for the home side. Unfortunately, the hard running Brad Sutherland and Lewis Fox, who had won several turnovers at the break down, had to leave the field due to injuries which forced substitutions away from their regular positions. Indiscipline began to creep in and as the penalty count continued to rise Jack Gidney was the unfortunate recipient of a yellow after several warnings from the referee. Swaffham took three points and brought the score to 8-17. After losing one of their main forward presences’ Swaffham continued to press and managed to set up a driving maul from a line out which the referee deemed had been collapsed by George Wilson. The captain was the next recipient of a yellow card and Swaffham were rewarded with a penalty try, an automatic 7 points, bringing the scores to 15-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Down to 13 men, GYBRFC produced one of the greatest defensive sets of the season, forcing back wave after wave from their own try line, eventually relieved after poor handling from the Swaffham side. Keen to shut the game out, GYBRFC came close on 2 further occasions, James Doggett weaved his way through again, but was unfortunately held up, and the ever tireless GYBRFC pack managed to drive a scrum over the opposition try line, but the ball was deemed to have been recovered by the defending side before Dan Lawrence could pounce on it. The ball was booted from play giving GYBRFC a hard fought 15-17 victory over Swaffham.

GYBRFC would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, the fist game of the New Year will be the return fixture with GYBRFC hosting Swaffham on the 15th January 2022.

Great Yarmouth-Broadland Rugby Club

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