EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 16.03.08.
SUSSEX TROPHY FINAL : EASTBOURNE 17 BOGNOR 36
The Blue & Golds had to be content with finalists medals in a game in which both sides contended heroically with a pitch covered in surface water and an unremitting gale which blew down the pitch. Despite the conditions eight tries were scored, unfortunately Eastbourne’s share was just three. The tenor of the game reflected the differing league seasons experienced by the two Clubs; Bognor buoyant from an undefeated league campaign which has gained it promotion whilst Eastbourne has had to battle against a massive injury list which has disrupted its league effort, this bad luck stayed with the side on Sunday when influential flanker Sam Gower had to be taken off the pitch with a suspected broken leg. Yet Eastbourne started brightly, playing onto the gale the forwards worked up the right touchline with some driving play, consecutive penalty awards were kicked to touch , taking play into the Bognor 22, No. 8 Matt Thompson and wing Adrian Platt then exchanged passes from the line out and full back Ali Coombe came into the line to surge over for an unconverted try, 5 – 0. However, Bognor soon gained the ascendancy, fly half Rob Parry kicked adroitly with the gale and some good rucking and mauling by the huge Bognor pack, which recycled the ball well, rolled back the Eastbourne eight, an experience it has rarely encountered in its league season. As a result Bognor piled on 24 points by virtue of a converted penalty try, a penalty goal and two converted tries in a matter of 28 minutes to take a substantial lead. In the final minutes of the first half Eastbourne responded with a strong drive up the left touch line but was unable to penetrate the Bognor defence and the score remained 24 -5 as the teams changed round.
Eastbourne had the significant advantage of the gale in the second half and if it was to overtake Bognor’s lead it needed to score quickly and often early on. This looked possible when good scrummaging in the first minute provided quick ball for half backs Matt Pysden and James Bremer to spread the ball, culminating in James Coulthard going over for a try converted by hooker Nathan Ring, 24 – 12. But Bognor immediately responded with a bullocking drive by its forwards to take the ball over the Blue & Golds try line, an excellent conversion restored Bognor’s margin to 31 – 12. Worse was to come, Eastbourne’s injury saga continued when Sam Gower had to leave the pitch, being replaced by Alex Bailey; Matt Thompson was replaced by Joe Tobin and Matt Crane came on for Steve Clark, this did not stem the Bognor effort as it virtually wrapped up the game with a final unconverted try to take the score out to 36 -12. The Blue & Golds did produce the final score of the match when a good passing move led to Joe Tobin, who had impressed since coming on, scoring an unconverted try for the final result of 36 – 17.
A disappointing result for Eastbourne who must now concentrate on a successful completion to its league programme with three game after Easter, all of which it is capable of winning.
Congratulations to Bognor on a well deserved win.
Team: Flude, Ring, Price, Farley, Groenen, Buttle, Gower, Thompson, Pysden M.(c), Bremer, Keen, Coulthard, Clark, Platt, Coombe, Barron, Tobin, Oakey, Baldwin, Bailey, Pysden N., and Crane.
Peter Lloyd/17/03/08. |
