St Ives Roosters went down to their first defeat of the season in a very controversial fixture at Norwich Saxons. Norwich are rumoured to be struggling off the pitch which resulted in a late Friday afternoon confirmation that the game would be played the following day. The Saxons had problems finding a venue for the game due to their newly ordered rugby posts not arriving at their new home ground. As an alternative they hired a 3g artificial pitch to host the game. This resulted in a bit of early morning shopping for the Roosters squad to find the appropriate footwear.
The Roosters situation was further hampered by the Norwich club failing to provide directions to the venue and quoting an incorrect postcode for sat nav’s. Combined with traffic delays the Roosters side arrived at the 2.30pm kick off time to be informed by the referee that they had 15 minutes to get ready before he started the game. The French referee Monsieur Lezy took an obvious dislike to the Roosters with some very controversial decisions around the play the ball area and also allowing some of the Saxons players to grab the Roosters player’s testicles at free will. There was only going to be one outcome when this happened and the “hand bags” came out which resulted in the Roosters captain David Sykes and the Norwich scrum half being sin binned. This was quite an amazing decision as Sykes, for once in his career, did not throw a punch.
The lack of an adequate warm up and some of the Roosters players still being on the bus provided the Saxons with a massive advantage as they raced into an 18 – 0 lead in the first half. There was also the issue of no rugby markings on the pitch which led to the Roosters being taken back 15 metres in defence. Eventually in the teaming rain they got back into the game with a try by Michael Drake. Strong runs up the middle of the pitch from James Shearman and Sam Peel gave Drake the opportunity to chip over the Saxons defence to score. This boosted the St Ives side as this was quickly followed up with a barnstorming try from Tim Lumley Good. As the Roosters pressed the Norwich line, Lumley-Good, crashed over the line with a powerful run. Matt Dear converted the try to make the score 18 – 10.
Crucially after getting themselves back into the game a lapse in concentration let the Saxons extend their lead from deep in their own half. It was a poor try to concede and gave the Saxons a half time lead of 24 – 10.
With the rain increasing a number of handling errors slowed the game down. Roosters pressed the Saxons defence and Lumley Good crossed the line and appeared to have scored only for the referee to, unsurprisingly, disallow the try. The Saxons hit back in very controversial style and led to the incident that changed the game. As they pressed the Roosters line, Michael Drake was pushed back at the play the ball, which allowed Saxons to score. What should have been an obvious penalty to the Roosters was ignored and the protests of their players led to Sykes being sent off for dissent. Even then the crowd didn’t know what had happened as the referee did not brandish a card. This extended the Norwich lead and the Roosters heads went down. This led to them conceding another try direct from the lick off to make the score 34 – 10.
To their credit the 12 man Roosters regrouped and hit back with an excellent try from Stefan Galluchi. Driving forward runs from the Roosters new Aussie veteran Fittler, Peel, Throne and Shearman gave the Roosters field position. Galluchi combined with Jack Blackley to score a very well worked try in the corner, which, Dear converted. Unfortunately in the lead up to the try Blackley injured himself and had to leave the field with a gluteus injury. The lack of a warm up also led to Christopher Sykes and Lumley- Good taking no further part in the game through muscular strains.
The Roosters then reduced the Saxons lead even further when Drake fed Peel the ball on half way. He crashed through the attempted tackles to score under the posts for Dear to add his third goal of the day. With the score at 34 – 22 the Roosters had a chance to get back into the game. With the Roosters injury hit side tiring Norwich pressed the Roosters line but some fine tackles from Dear and Stephen Judge held them at bay. Unfortunately they could not keep up this fine work as Norwich broke deep in their own half to score the match winning converted try to clinch the game. The Roosters did not give up as Drake set up Shearman to score a try which was identical to their previous one. Matt Dear converted it but the Saxons had the final say as the scored in the last minute to make the final score 44 – 28. They could have increased their lead with the conversion under the posts but the Saxons player decided it would be funny to pretend he was taking a football penalty instead. To finish off the day Norwich also failed any after match food and refreshments for the Roosters players which is a statutory competition rule.
Roosters Coach, Ian Hill, commented “Fair play to Norwich they scored more points than us but in different circumstances the game could have been a lot closer. The Rugby Football League got the result they wanted today but as we are classed as a small town club that’s not a surprise. Obviously we will welcome Norwich to St Ives for the return fixture and manage it in the appropriate way. Likewise our players will be investing in some cricket boxes before the game”.