Lead changes four times at Holt

Holt 23, Crusaders 13

HOLT completed a league double against opponents one place below them who had won on their previous three visits to High Kelling.

The lead changed hands four times but this win consolidated Holt's fourth position ahead of a difficult visit to Cantabrigians.

Holt again took the opening exchanges to their opponents and after 10 minutes earned a five-metre scrum, from which Child broke to score a try.

Holt still maintained the pressure without further success, although two penalty chances within two minutes went begging.

Crusaders tested Holt's defence, which held firm, and with six minutes of the half remaining Holt increased their lead to 8-0 with an Allen penalty.

A minute later a Crusader player was sent off, which seemed to inspire them. Running the ball from their half, they scythed through to score a converted try for 8-7 Holt at half-time.

Seven minutes into the second half the visitors kicked a penalty to gain the lead at 10-8.

Holt respoinded and Allen converted a penalty to regain the lead 11-10 six minutes later. Holt's discipline then went slightly awry when two players were sin-binned within a minute midway through the half.

This gave Crusaders a one-player advantage for 10 minutes. They made inroads into Holt's half, were off-target with a penalty after 23 minutes but a minute later converted another chance to regain the lead 13-11.

With time running out Holt had to dominate once their miscreants came back onto the pitch. From two driving mauls following line-outs in the Crusaders' 22 in the last 10 minutes Child completed his hat-trick of tries. Allen added one conversion.

With the last try, Holt were safe with a 10-point lead at 23-13.

Credit went to both sides for keeping a large after-lunch crowd well entertained.

Holt's third team recorded yet another win in their merit table, 58-19 at Fakenham.

The second team at North Walsham, lost to their third team 10-30.