EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 20.10.07.

LONDON LEAGUE 3SE : OLD ELTHAMIANS 37 EASTBOURNE 8.

Eastbourne lost its fifth successive league match in a disappointing game where the pack once again flourished and provided a good share of possession, but missed first up tackles cost the Blue & Golds dearly in the last half hour of the game when Old Es exploited a fragile Eastbourne right flank in defence to run in four tries, two converted. Yet despite again having influential players unavailable from last week’s selection ( Coulthard and Varney), Eastbourne had remained in the game for the first 50 minutes. After spending the first ten minutes on the back foot, Eastbourne gradually worked back into the game with some strong drives up the centre of the pitch ; both centre Henry Stafford and lock Toby Spires were stopped just a couple of metres from the Old Es try line after penetrating runs. During this period Old Es conceded two penalties and Nathan Ring, returning at blindside flanker, slotted over the second to give Eastbourne a 3 – 0 lead after 22 minutes. Old Es responded just 3 minutes later with a successful conversion of a penalty awarded for holding on , and then straight from the resulting kick off, went ahead with a good try scored from a depth of 70 meters, starting with a drive down the pitch by the hosts back row which then led to the ball being whipped along the back line, culminating in an unconverted try to secure an 3 – 8 lead. Just before half time, Old Es increased their lead by exploiting the blind side to good effect to run in a second unconverted try, so the teams changed round with the score 3 – 13 in Old Es favour.

Eastbourne started brightly in the second half, attacking with some zest. A good catch and drive from a lineout led to the ball being passed to the right giving centre Paul Newell possession, he delivered a well timed pass to full back Neil Pysden coming into the line and the latter ran in to score a well deserved try, Nathan Ring’s conversion attempt went just wide, however, with the margin reduced to 8 – 13, Eastbourne appeared back in the game. Unfortunately Eastbourne flattered to deceive, defensive kicks were comfortably fielded by Old Es talented full back Andrew Moleshead to set the hosts back on attack and timorous tackling on the Eastbourne right wing let Old Es in for two tries within a few minutes, the first was converted, so the score quickly extended to 8 – 25. Old Es continued to mount further attacks and two further tries resulted, one converted, to give the hosts a convincing final score line of  8 – 37.

MOM: Jointly to hooker Jon Oakey for a sound display in attack and defence, and  Neil Pysden, two try-saving tackles and good following up of his own kicks ahead in a second successive good effort at full back.

Team: Baldwin, Oakey, Price, Spires, Groenen, Ring, Redmond, Tobin, Pysden M.(c), Bremer, Crane, Stafford, Newell, Keen, Pysden N., Barron and Monkhouse.