Eastbourne u13’s vs Edenbridge u13’s (10/02/2008)

A friendly against Edenbridge following a narrow victory against them in the league gave an ideal opportunity to allow some of the newer players that have joined the growing squad this season to develop their game. The players showed that they were capable of rising to the challenge, the forwards provided the platform, dominating in the early rucks and mauls. When the backs were finally released Chris Maskill playing his first game at fly half opened the scoring and converted his own try, this was followed a few minutes later by a second try bringing his and the teams points to twelve without reply. Edenbridge struck back to show that the game was not going to be won as easily as the previous weeks encounter. From the restart Eastbourne won the lineout on the Edenbridge five metre line, Dominic O’Malley seizing the ball and charging over to bring the first half score to 17 – 5.

Several changes were made at half time and more experienced players were bought into the team. However, Edenbridge had clearly done the same, and the second half was an entirely different affair, Edenbridge opened the scoring the scrum half going blind side and three missed tackles allowed the try. The next five minutes was reminiscent of a recent international, and as the play broke up Edenbridge’s fly half added two further converted tries, Eastbourne were now 19 – 17 down. This should have been the wake up call that the team needed, but despite this Eastbourne did not dominate the way they had in the first half, Edenbridge were much more aggressive in attack, they were rewarded for their efforts with to further converted tries to take a 33 – 17 lead. In the last ten minutes Eastbourne did respond and from a tap penalty Harvey Padget drove over close to the posts. The game could have been won, as Eastbourne from a fine kick off attacked the Edenbridge line, but it was too little, too late as the referees whistle bought the game to a close with a 33-22 score line. Mom Chris Maskill for a fine performance at fly half.

Eastbourne: Dominic O’Malley (captain), Luke Kerrell, Kane Angel, Austin Hogben, Sam Munton, Michael Turner, Peter Newman, Lewis Milligan, Ricky Van Bentham, Harvey Padget, Joshua Rafferty- McWall, Tom Minshall, Louis Hall, Alexander Voss-Hillier, Chris Maskill, Lawrence Harte, Joseph Tickle, Oliver Brooks, Michael Honeywood, Tom Pashley, Shane Mc Loughlin.