EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 04.11.07
LONDON LEAGUE 3SE: LEWES 14 EASTBOURNE 6
League points again eluded the Blue & Golds when the forwards from both lowly placed clubs put in a strong performance but both sets of backs failed to penetrate defences with any consistency. There were a few exceptions, the second Lewes try and two searing breaks by Eastbourne’s fly-half James Coulthard in the second half but all too often the ball was lost in contact or failed to reach the intended receiver. The Blue & Golds couldn’t be faulted for effort but need a boost to confidence, and the odd slice of luck wouldn’t go amiss. Eastbourne was strengthened by the return of Andy Price (Prop), Toby Spires(Lock) and Adam Lawrence(centre), but Henry Stafford was unavailable playing for Denmark in Sweden.
Lewes gained an early 0 – 7 lead, when, just 6 minutes into the game its forwards exploited the stream side slope to score a push over try and a good touch line kick added the conversion points. Eastbourne quickly responded with some strong driving mauls together with pick ups and surges from rucks down the centre of the pitch in which Oakey, Varney, Flude and Groenen were prominent. Skipper Mat Pysden also made several sniping runs from the base of the scrums and rucks. The consequence of this pressure was a string of infringements by the Lewes defence which were penalised by two excellent penalty kick conversions by James Coulthard whilst a third, which would have given Eastbourne a half time lead just missed. Lewes forwards then returned to the attack and Eastbourne had to hang on with some determined covering tackles keeping the score at 6 – 7 as the teams changed round.
Attacking positions early in the second half by the Blue & Golds were not exploited and from one such effort the ball was lost in contact within the Lewes 22, the hosts gained possession and worked the ball quickly to their left wing speed man who ran 70 metres to outpace the Eastbourne defence and touch down under the posts, the conversion increased Lewes’ lead to 6 – 14.Eastbourne remained on the back foot for the middle part of the half but came back strongly in the final quarter, exemplified by two fine line breaks by James Coulthard, aided by quicker ball, he scorched through the mid-field Lewes into the home 22, unfortunately good covering tackles, aided by lack of supporting runners meant this threat came to nothing. Mat Pysden also made good metres in determined fashion but passes had to be delayed until support arrived and momentum was lost. Pressure on Lewes increased when its hooker was sin binned but Eastbourne couldn’t take advantage of this disparity in numbers nor the fresh legs of Dick Barron, Alex Bailey and Nathan Ring who replaced Adam Flude, Mat Crane and Neil Pysden respectively and Lewes ran out narrow winners.
MOM: Skipper Mat Pysden led by example and Joe Tobin had a strong game at No. 8 but man of the match was hooker Jon Oakey for a great effort in both attack and defence.
Team: Price, Oakey, Flude, Spires, Groenen, Varney, Light, Tobin, Pysden M.(C), Coulthard, Crane, Bremer, Lawrence, Clark, Pysden N., Barron, Ring and Bailey.
PBL/04/11/07. |
