Newmarket 20, Holt 7HOLT travelled to play newly-promoted Newmarket looking to maintain their good record against them.Newmarket made the early running and showed what an improved side they were since Holt had last played them.

Newmarket 20, Holt 7

HOLT travelled to play newly-promoted Newmarket looking to maintain their good record against them.

Newmarket made the early running and showed what an improved side they were since Holt had last played them.

The early pressure by the home side was coped with but not without one or two alarms. Holt gradually got into the game and were unlucky not to take the lead from a penalty attempt after 14 minutes.

Newmarket then began to dictate matters and after 20 minutes, from a line-out close to the Holt line, drove through to score a try which was converted.

This inspired Holt to show their attacking capabilities, but a knock-on snuffed out the threat. Holt were not to be denied and after 33 minutes, following good work by Gibbs, Self took a scoring pass for a deserved try. Allen was on target with the conversion to level the scores at 7-7.

With half-time approaching Holt were penalised for obstruction and the Newmarket stand-off made no mistake with the kick for 10-7. Although Holt finished the half on the attack, they were unable to alter the score line.

Holt began the second half very much fired up, but lost a scrum against the head when in a good attacking position and then conceded a penalty to lose the initiative.

Newmarket then began a lengthy siege of the Holt line and the visitors defended as though their lives depended on it.

But the pressure eventually took its toll when after 22 minutes a penalty was converted to extend the Newmarket lead to 13-7.

Holt again went back onto the attack but were finding it very difficult to break down a very solid defence.

Following another line-out close to the visitors' line Newmarket made the most of a sloppy Holt tap down to collect the loose ball and go over for a try. The conversion was successful for 20-7 with 10 minutes remaining.

Holt threw everything into the attack and again found a solid line of defence against them, and despite excellent work by Bruce Van Poortvliet and Child were unable to reduce the arrears.

Newmarket were extremely dangerous breaking out of defence and were denied by good cover defence.

On Saturday, Holt are away again, in the third round of the EDF Junior Vase to Runwell Wyverns, who play in Wickford, Essex.

Holt's opponents play in Essex Two and should not be taken lightly.