EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCT REPORT - 09.02.08.

LONDON LEAGUE 3SE: OLD DUNSTONIANS 43 EASTBOURNE 32.

Eastbourne came away without league points, having had the lesser share of a 75 point try feist; to score 32 points and score four tries away from home seems a pattern for success, unfortunately an insipid first half and defensive frailties at crucial times dictated otherwise. With 6 games left and the next two games facing league leaders Gravesend and Dover these frailties must be rectified. As Lewes beat Tonbridge Juddians it has reduced the league points gap on Eastbourne.
Eastbourne welcomed back Dom Groenen, Matt Thompson and Danny Craven whilst Matt Finney replaced Dick Barron in the front row and ex-Worthing player Alistair Coombes made his debut at full back.

Old Duns. gained an early lead with a penalty goal conversion but Eastbourne went ahead 3 – 5 when its pack forced play down its left flank, Old Duns. conceded a line out and a fine catch and drive by the Blue & Golds pack took the ball over the try line where it was touched down by hooker Dan Mills for his first 1st XV try. Old Duns then had a purple patch maintaining possession by recycling the ball well at pace – aided by some indecisive tackling by Eastbourne. In 20 minutes Old Duns. exploited this advantage by scoring a penalty goal when Eastbourne was penalised for tripping, then dropping a neat goal and finally by penetrative moves to score two tries close to the posts, both of which were converted, thus amassing a 5 – 28 points lead. Following good work by full back Alistair Coombs, impressing in his first game, and skipper Matt Pysden, who surged forward from a tap penalty, Eastbourne was awarded a penalty and wing Neil Pysden kicked the conversion on the stroke of half time to produce an 8 – 28 score line as the teams changed round.

Wing Mark Ashworth had picked up a leg injury and was replaced by Adrian Platt, lock Gavin Farley was also injured and was replaced by Dom Groenen whilst Matt Thompson came into the back row to replace Jon Oakey. The second half provoked a considerable change in the balance of the game as Eastbourne out scored Old Duns by 24 points to 15. However, each time the Blue and Golds were in a position to gain a lead Old Duns struck back to sustain the lead. At the start of the half Eastbourne won a scrum against the head on the Old Duns. 22, passes were interchanged by Sam Gower and Matt Thompson culminating in a touch down by Thompson, with Neil Pysden converting the lead was reduced to 15 – 28. Neil Pysden and Alistair Coombes then combined to create an opportunity for Damon Varney to force his way over for Eastbourne’s third try, another fine conversion by Neil Pysden narrowed the gap further to 22 – 28. Not for the first time Dom Groenen was yellow carded at a crucial point in a game. Just as the momentum seemed to be with Eastbourne, Old Duns. mounted a counter attack and two woeful missed tackles enabled the hosts to score under the posts, the ensuing conversion took the score out to 22 – 35. Back came Eastbourne, first a great penalty goal kick by Neil Pysden this was answered by an equivalent kick by the Old Duns. no. 10, and then, following a tap penalty, the ball was driven forward by Thompson, Joe Tobin and Sam Gower for centre Steve Clark to make the touch down and Neil Pysden to convert to effect a 32 – 38 score. Eastbourne was to be finally denied when , in the last few minutes, the ball was palmed into the hands of an advancing Old Duns. player who scored his teams fifth try for a final result of 32 – 43 in the hosts favour.

MOM : Scrum half and skipper Matt Pysden deserves the award for constantly leading by example.

Team: Finney, Mills, Price, Farley, Tobin, Oakey, Gower, Varney, Pysden M., Craven, Crane, Clark, Ashworth, Pysden N., Coombes, Thompson, Groenen and Platt.

Peter Lloyd/10/02/08.