Norwich Union suffer a second loss in successive weeks in cruel fashion as Beccles come back from behind to firstly draw the scores, then go ahead in the closing stages of the game to win 29-24.

Russ Clarke Beccles first to score fly half bags an intercept try from his own 10m after a poor pass by Union
Beccles were in fact first and last to score in what proved to be a very tight game, with the lead changing hands on three occasions. Their first try came from one of two interceptions both as Union looked to score as they ran the ball through the hands in the backs, however Beccles number 10 Blair Hannam snatched on a loose pass from Union’s outside centre Tom Whitehouse before racing to the line to score with just gone 10 minutes on the clock.

The home team then extended their lead to 10-0 nil with a sweetly struck penalty in front of the post as Union were penalised at the ruck. With 30mins gone Union struck back, Graham Hunt battling his way over the line as a scrum on the 5m line began to break up scoring an unconverted try wide out on the left flank.

Union didn’t take long to score their second try, with captain Simon Pitcher drawing defenders and popping the ball inside to www.osteostasis.com man of the match Louis Ford who ran a great line to score under the posts. Whitehouse added the conversion to take the visitors into a narrow 10-12 lead as the half time whistle blew.

Union continued where they left off and it wasn’t long before they scored a third try and second for Ford who ran a great supporting line off fullback Joe Nicholson’s midfield break. Whitehouse again added the extras to take Union into a 12-19 lead.

Beccles were next to score, in what was the turning point of the game, where Union again looked nailed on to score, however a floated pass in the centres was snatched from the air allowing a second runaway try which the converted to narrow the deficit to 17-19. The home team then went ahead scoring from close quarters after a series of pick and goes by the forwards eventually depleted Union’s defences taking the lead for the second time of the game at 24-19.

Union scored their fourth and bonus point try, number eight Matt Spenceley powering over the line to score an unconverted try from the base
of a 5m scrum to level the scores at 24-24.

The final and decisive score of the game came from the hosts who showed great fortitude to come back into a game they probably thought they’d lost as they ran the ball through the hands firstly stretching then breaching the Union defence scoring an unconverted try to give themselves a 5 point margin at 29-25 retaking the lead with only a few minutes left on the clock.

There was drama in the last play of the game as Beccles attempted a clearance kick only to kick it directly at Union’s left-wing David Sheldon-Smillie, however covering tackles from three Beccles players snuffed out any chance of a dramatic score, the final whistle being blown as Sheldon-Smille was bundled into touch.

Team: Nicholson Joseph, Sheldon-Smillie David, Whitehouse Thomas, Ford Louis, Norgate Daniel, O’Brien Jonathan, Hunt Graham, Shucksmith Michael, Bond-Webster Ben, Pitcher Simon, Gyton Matthew, Read Jordan, Cook Matthew, Rodwell Jake, Spenceley Matthew Replacements: Short Jonathan, Whipps Thomas, Leake Gareth

Scorers: Graham Hunt 1T, Louis Ford 2T, Matt Spenceley 1T, Tom Whitehouse 2C from 4 attempts

www.osteostasis.com man of the match Louis Ford

Norwich Union RFC

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