EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 01.03.08

LONDON LEAGUE 3SE: DOVER 19 EASTBOURNE 8.

This was a massive improvement on the heavy defeat conceded to Dover at the start of the season. Eastbourne competed well throughout, and, as usual, the pack was in good form with the welcome return of Club vice-captain Tom Buttle having missed all games up till now with a shoulder injury: the backs showed improved cohesion and the young Canadian David (‘Hamish’) Davidson made a promising debut. The principal reason for the score line was the speed of hand and the counter attacking ability of the Dover backs who showed the advantage of playing together for several years with confidence. That said the Eastbourne performance was very spirited and encouraging at a crucial time in the season. The introduction of Alex Bailey in the back row and Paul Keen on the left wing in the later stages of the game showed the advantage of having pace and quickness to the ball.

After an even first quarter, which included a good break out from fly-half James Bremer, Dover went into the lead with a well constructed try, with typical good handling, with the conversion being kicked the hosts took a 0 – 7 lead. Eastbourne responded and dwelt in the Dover half for much of the second quarter, a good thrust up the right flank involving centre Steve Clark and wing Adrian Platt lead to Dover infringing with a high tackle and hooker Nathan Ring kicked the conversion to reduce the lead to 3 – 7. The teams turned round with the score unchanged.

Despite having the advantage of the conditions Eastbourne was put under considerable pressure for a prolonged period at the start of the second half. Dover’s pack drove forward with a 20metre rolling maul from a line out, this was poorly defended by Eastbourne and a try was conceded near the left corner flag, it went unconverted and Dover’s lead stretched to 3 – 12. Dover then worked the ball well from a winning scrum to score a good try under the posts and the conversion increased the hosts’ lead to 3 – 19. Alex Bailey replaced Joe Tobin in the back row and his speed to the 50:50 ball around the fringes of the scrum and skipper Matt Pysden’s bursts from the scrum base and some good angled runs by centre Hamish Davidson gave the Blue and Golds more parity of possession during the last quarter.

Eastbourne then got back on the score line when under pressure Dover elected to run the ball out of its 22, and the move was halted and the ball kicked out inaccurately, Adrian Platt pouched it in his stride and eluded the home defence to score a try, the conversion went awry but the Blue and Golds were in touch at 8 – 19. Dick Barron came on for Adam Flude, who had a fine game at prop whilst wing Matt Crane was replaced by Paul Keen. However, Eastbourne’s momentum was reduced by the sin binning of lock Dom Groenen, a repeat of other occasions this season. In the last quarter Dover also had a player sin binned and the Blue & Golds exerted great pressure as Dover conceded a string of penalties, both No. 8 Matt Thompson and full back were hauled down just a metre from the Dover try line, but no further score resulted. During the stage a Dover player was badly injured and it is hoped he’ll recover soon.

Team: Flude, Ring, Price, Groenen, Farley, Tobin, Buttle, Thompson, Pysden (c), Bremer, Crane, Clark, Davidson, Platt , Coombe, Barron,, Bailey and Keen.

Peter Lloyd/02/03/08.