EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT – 05.01.08
LONDON SE3 LEAGUE MATCH : EASTBOURNE 11 LEWES 9 .
The Blue & Golds opened 2008 with a narrow but vital win over Lewes, thus maintaining its league position but with an increased advantage over the three basement clubs below them, who all lost. Eastbourne was hit by the late withdrawal of fly-half James Coulthard and No. 8 Henry Stafford but experienced James Bremer and Rob Light filled their places.
Eastbourne started with the significant advantages of slope & wind, and subsequently driving rain: in appalling conditions both sides found it difficult to control the ball, resulting in a proliferation of set scrums, these proved quite evenly contested. The Blue and Golds were able to exert early pressure resulting in Lewes conceding two penalties, accurately converted by hooker Nathan Ring to give the hosts an early advantage at 6 – 0. However, Lewes responded with driving forward play up the right touch line and , in turn, Eastbourne gave up two penalties which Lewes fly half Chris Eden struck over to level scores at 6 – 6. In the last 10 minutes of the half Eastbourne camped inside the Lewes 22 and gained a succession of attacking set scrums but could not take advantage of scoring opportunities, one especially when with a three man overlap the ball was kicked dead from the hand. Thus it was advantage Lewes when the teams turned round at half time.
Conditions got worse underfoot, although the rain stopped and early on Eastbourne seemed to thrive, there was more forward momentum as Adam Flude and Joe Tobin came into the pack. However, Lewes struck back with forward drives down the centre of the pitch and astute use of kicking with the wind, the Blue & Golds conceded a couple of penalties and Eden slotted over one conversion to give the visitors a 9 – 6 lead. This proved short lived as Eastbourne’s pack drove into the Lewes 22, from the resulting attacking set scrum skipper and scrum half Mat Pysden broke sharply to the blind side and slipped the ball out to full back Paul Keen who drove over to score near the right corner flag ; although Ring’s conversion attempt fell just short Eastbourne regained the lead at 11 – 9. Exchanges were even until the last 12 minutes when Lewes put Eastbourne under the cosh as it dwelt in the home 22. Despite seven successive attacking 5 metre scrums being awarded to Lewes and with traction being lost on the squelchy slope an indefatigable Eastbourne pack, aided by skipper Mat Pysden, held out and finally drove their opponents back to claim the match.
MOM: In a fine performance, often in defence, by the pack, flanker Damon Varney was outstanding.
Team: Barron, Ring, Price, Spires, Groenen, Varney, Light, Oakey, Pysden M (c), Bremer, Platt, Ashworth, Clark, Crane, Keen, Flude, Tobin and Pysden N.
Eastbourne host Chichester at Park Avenue in the semi-final of the Sussex Trophy on Saturday, kick off at 1.45 pm.
Peter Lloyd /06/01/08. |
