Holt 18 Sudbury 50

For the second week running Holt were put to the sword by one of the stronger sides in London Two North East.

Whilst the home side enjoyed a few purple patches Sudbury secured the majority of the possession and used the pace of their backs to good effect in conditions which were ideal for open rugby.

The game started at a cracking pace and within five minutes both sides scored unconverted tries. First Sudbury centre Harry Maule showed his pace to score and then Holt winger James Riley followed his example when he scored in the corner.

For the first 20 minutes the game was evenly balanced, with Sudbury spreading the ball wide for a try which remained unconverted. In reply Holt full-back Graham Ilsley converted a penalty to take the score to 8-10.

At this stage both teams looked well matched but Sudbury had other ideas and began to dominate possession and pull away. After 25 minutes the visitors secured clean ball at a line-out on the Holt 25-metre line and then executed an impressive driving maul which took them over the Holt line for a try. Tom Summers was successful with his conversion kick which put his side 8-17 ahead.

Sudbury increased their lead with two tries before half-time. Holt did not help themselves with some poor tackling and found it difficult to cope with the pace of Maule. The second of the two tries was converted by Chris Lewis. Just before the half-time whistle Ilsley converted a second penalty for Holt, which left them 11-29 behind.

During the early part of the second half Holt secured more possession but were unable to penetrate the visitors' sound defence. As the game entered the final quarter Sudbury pulled further ahead with three well-worked tries which were converted by Lewis, taking the score to 11-50.

Holt did not let their heads drop, remaining encamped on the Sudbury line for the last few minutes, and they were rewarded with a try by their No 8 Ashley Woods, which was converted by Ilsley to make the final score 18-50.

The Woodfordes man of the match for Holt was centre Hal Riley.

Holt will now need to work hard in training before Saturday's difficult test at Norwich, with whom they drew 17-17 earlier in the season.