Sat 10 Sep 2022
Norwich Union 1st XV suffered an away loss as they make the long trip to Sudbury in their opening game of the season. The match was a contrast of styles with Union’s pack out muscling their opponents, and Sudbury’s fleet of foot backs dominating in the open spaces out wide.
Union started well with keeping the ball for long periods in the opening exchanges, however it was the home team who opened the scoring, moving the ball wide quickly from a tap penalty and scoring an unconverted try after 8 minutes to take a 5-0 lead.
They extended the lead with a simple delayed pass from their 10 to their 12 who raced in to score another unconverted try as the game entered the second quarter.
Union’s defences were then caught napping as Sudbury shopped another tapped penalty wide to the left flank rounding the scrambling defence to increase their score to 15-0 after 26mins.
As the half time whistle approached Union’s man-of-the match Lloyd Davis pushed the ball deep into the Sudbury 22 with a lovely 50/22 kick and following a catch and drive which was brought down illegally close to the Sudbury line captain Matt Spenceley opted for a 5m scrum. The pack easily pushed their opponents back, allowing number 8 Jon Spicker to score his first of a brace, this was duly converted by Lloyd Davis narrowing the score to 15-7.
The home side weren’t done scoring in the half and just before the break turned over the ball in midfield when Union took contact and countered with a simple hands move scoring a converted try to take the half time score to 22-7.
Shortly after the break Sudbury scored again in a repeat of their previous score turning the ball over in midfield and racing to the line scoring under the posts to stretch their lead to 29-7.
They then further extended their lead through their lively scrum half who sniped then weaved his way to the line, scoring under the posts, which he then duly converted to take the score to 36-7.
As the game entered the final quarter Union rallied and began to use their forwards to great effect, steadily working their way down field, their efforts being rewarded with a penalty at the breakdown close to the Sudbury line, which they opted for a scrum and again easily pushed their opponents over the line number 8 Spicker again scoring and bagging his second, which Davis slotted reducing the deficit to 36-14 with 15mins of the game remaining.
Unions best try came from some patient approach play as Union went for a driven lineout, which was repelled, but they kept their heads and re-grouped recycling the ball well and soaking up defenders, which allowed fly half Jay O’Brien the time and space to dab the ball over the on-coming defenders, allowing outside centre Ryan Day to gather and score under the posts. The conversion from Davis brining the score to 36-21 as the game entered the final minutes.
It was however the visitors who had the last laugh scoring an unconverted try as the Union side tired, the final score being recorded as 41-21.
Team: Martyn Webb, Joe Morrell, Simon Pitcher, Jordan Read, Jonathan Short, Matt McLaughlin, Matt Spenceley (C), Jon Spicker, Lloyd Davis, Jonathan O’Brien, Jomba Duma, Matt Cook, Ryan Day, Shaun Lohan, Graham Hunt Replacements: Chris Puttock, Charlie Williams, Richard Bracewell
Scorers: Jon Spicker 2T, Ryan Day 1T, Lloyd Davis 3C from 3 attempts
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