Eastbourne u13’s (14) vs East Grinstead (15) FRIENDLY (09/03/2008).

Eastbourne u13’s produced the team performance of the season in an exciting encounter against East Grinstead. Eastbourne started strongly and dominated the early exchanges at the breakdown. The ball was distributed effectively from the base of the scrum by Tom Minshall and the backs moved the ball wide. Fly half Alexander Voss Hillier looped and collected the ball out wide to open Eastbourne’s scoring. A fine long distance conversion followed. Within ten minutes Voss Hillier scored under the posts and converted again to give Eastbourne a 14-0 lead. Eastbourne were now in uncharted territory, never before had they had such a lead against this opposition and it looked as though finally it maybe their day. However, East Grinstead were never going to be easily beaten and despite being made to work for every yard, scored three unconverted tries to lead at half-time by just one point.

The growing squad made it necessary to make eleven substitutions at half time, it was still clear the game could go either way. Every player gave their all. In defence Shane McLoughlin at full back was solid under the high ball, tackles were made where it mattered and players supported each other at all stages of the play. Eastbourne continued to spread the ball wide and Tom Pashley crossed the line, but was judged to have hit the corner flag before grounding the ball. Within another five minutes he crossed the line again, but was again denied, this time the ball deemed to be held up. Eastbourne continued to attack and from a tap penalty, flanker Harvey Padget was stopped just short of the Grinstead line. It is seldom that a team can play so well and still be denied the win they deserved, but a scoreless second half showed the effort that both teams had put in. Both sides left the pitch rounds of applause from the supporters, who had been thoroughly entertained. MOM – the whole team, both new and experienced players for an outstanding team performance.

Eastbourne: Dominic O’Malley (captain), Luke Kerrell, Greg May-Clingo, Kane Angel, Joseph Parker, Michael Turner, Sam Munton, Bradley Meredith, Ricky Van Bentham, Harvey Padget, Jack Priddle,Lewis Milligan, Peter Newman, Joshua Rafferty- McWall, Tom Minshall, Louis Hall, Alexander Voss-Hillier, Chris Maskill, Joseph Skeet, Peter Osborn, Tom Pashley, Joseph Tickle, Lawrence Harte, Michael Honeywood, Oliver Brooks, Shane Mcloughlin.