EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 08.12.07

SUSSEX TROPHY QUARTER FINAL: EASTBOURNE 46 LEWES 0.

Eastbourne earned a semi-final place at home to Chichester in January with this 8 try demolition of Lewes in appalling conditions. There was an atmosphere of déjà vu at Park Avenue as the Blue and Golds battled up the slope and against driving wind and rain ( the post protectors blew off at one stage) to once again demonstrate astute rugby to dominate the match. The forwards retained great possession to recycle the ball accurately while ,marshalled by the half back pair of Mat Pysden and James Coulthard, the backs passed the slippery ball with great aplomb and confidence.

In consequence Eastbourne spent much of the first half encroached in the Lewes 22 with only the occasional counter –attack by a committed Lewes XV. The home pressure told when a typical strong drive by the Eastbourne pack culminated with a touch down by flanker Jon Oakey to register the first try, 5 – 0. Another surge with No.8 Joe Tobin and flanker Damon Varney prominent ended with Varney going over for Eastbourne’s second, 10 – 0. As Matt Crane temporarily retired with a head wound to be replaced by Mark Ashworth on the wing, the backs got on the scoreline when centre Adam Lawrence made a great pick up of the loose ball to force his way over for the third try to give Eastbourne an ominous 15 – 0 lead as the teams exchanged ends. Matt Crane returned to the field.

At the onset of the second half Rob Light replaced Damon Varney at No.7. Lewes had to contend with both the disadvantage of the conditions and the constant harrying of a zealous Eastbourne outfit, which was quick to the breakdown and dominant in the scrums. As a result, apart from one sustained attack along its left touch line Lewes had to defend within its own half and principally its own 22. Following a great thrust in a set scrum by the Eastbourne pack, No.8 Joe Tobin picked up from the base and drove over for the Blue & Golds fourth try which, remarkably, hooker Nathan Ring converted to extend the lead to 22 – 0.

Dom Groenen retired from lock to be replaced by Gavin Farley, making a welcome return from injury, while Mark Ashworth came back to replace Matt Crane who had to retire permanently. Ashworth was in action quickly, fielding the ball and slipping a pass to full back Paul Keen who made a swift swerving run past several defenders to score Eastbourne’s 5th. try again well converted by Nathan Ring, 29 – 0 .

Centre Steve Clark and fly-half James Coulthard then competed for the run in after the ball was kicked beyond the Lewes defence, Clark edged it to touch down the sixth try and Ring kicked another remarkable conversion for his hat trick, 36 – 0. Jon Oakey gained his second and his team’s seventh try when he drove a Lewes defender, holding the ball, back over his own try line and then touched down the loose ball, 41 – 0. The final try was the result of a deft turning of his opponent by Mark Ashworth who then slipped the ball out to his opposite wing Paul Newell who crashed over in the corner to bring the score to 46 -0.

MOM : there were many good performances but the award goes to hooker Nathan Ring for a live wire effort both in the tight and loose and three great conversions.

TEAM: Flude, Ring, Barron, Groenen, Spires, Oakey, Varney, Tobin, Pysden M. (c), Coulthard, Crane, Lawrence, Clark, Newell, Keen, Ashworth, Pysden N., Light and Baldwin.

Peter Lloyd/09/12/07.