Eastbourne u13’s 0 vs Uckfield RFC u13’s 3 (30/3/2008) League Match

Eastbourne playing in the final league game of the season, travelled to Uckfield looking for an away win to take them into second place in the Sussex East division.

Eastbourne started well and within minutes were inside the Uckfield twenty two, but a resolute Uckfield defence and handling errors in the very muddy conditions enabled Uckfield to clear their lines. Uckfield countered but were stopped just inside the Eastbourne twenty two knocking on to give Eastbourne a scrum. Eastbourne made hard work of clearing their lines but eventually made the ball safe to touch.

The half continued with much of the game played in the centre of the pitch, the Uckfield full-back was put under considerable pressure but Eastbourne could not capitalise on this. The forwards dropped on loose ball but on too many occasions a much lighter pack rucked them off the ball. The first half finishing scoreless.

It was clear that this was going to be a very close and therefore very exciting game. The second half started with Uckfield driving mauls into the Eastbourne defence. Eastbourne were judged to have come in the side and conceded a penalty, despite two attempts the Uckfield fly-half could not deliver what should have been easy points. Eastbourne continued to attack and with greater support and more dynamic forwards play could have won the game. From a clearance kick inside the Eastbourne twenty two and from the ensuing Uckfield knock on the Eastbourne fly half seized upon the ball, passing to the outside centre who was open all the way to the Uckfield line, the referee blew up stopping play and awarding Eastbourne a scrum. It seemed it was not going to be Eastbourne’s day. Uckfield had one more attack and this time were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts, this time converting to take the lead. Despite every last effort to try to win the game Eastbourne left the pitch dejected and very muddy to reflect on what might have been. MOM Shane Mc Loughlin – strong performance at full back in difficult conditions.

Eastbourne: Dominic O’Malley (captain), Luke Kerrell, Austin Hogben, Michael Turner, Ricky Van Bentham, Lewis Milligan, Peter Newman, Harvey Padget, Louis Hall, Alexander Voss-Hillier, Christopher Maskill, Peter Osborn, Tom Pashley, Oliver Brooks, Shane Mc Loughlin, Lawrence Harte, Greg May-Clingo, Sam Munton, Jack Priddle, Tom Minshall, Daniel Stewart.