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Old Walcountians match report.

Old Walcountians match report.

Josh Buckwell14 Nov 2023 - 18:39
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Eastbourne made another long trip away on Saturday, this time to old Walcountians in West london.

The weather held and a superb game of fast running rugby was on display for the large crowd to enjoy. The away side started strong with a good try made after one of many hard running lines from James Grey, who unselfishly offloaded on the line to the ever 'sniffing' Ian Padget to score from a good supporting running line. Captain Howe kicked the conversion. Eastbourne had a good platform to work off all day, with a solid performance from the Pack in the set piece and in the loose.

Dylan Viles scored his first of two tries, created from fly half and man of the match Arron Hossacks boot, Hossack had a good game controlling the tempo and keeping the home side pinned down. hopefully Hossack will have a good run of games now, after being injured for a large part of the season, due to being quite fragile. Howe once again converted. The home side then responded against the run of play, before Gianluca Bianchi finished off a good set of passing from the back line, to scream away down the touch line and score a superb try. This was the only Conversion Howe missed, hitting 5 from 6 for the day. The home side had a good passage of play and scored again through some very smart interpassing, to go into the break 14-19 in Eastbourne's favour. Viles did score on the stroke of half time, but due to a miscommunication between Eastbourne's linesman and the referee, it was given in touch and disallowed.

The home side then received a yellow card to start the half poorly and Eastbourne attacked at will for the next 10 minutes. The ever impressive Dylan Viles second try came shortly into the second half, once again created by Hossack, converted by Howe. Bianchi then in for his second, scooped up a poor pass from a ruck, from a standing start, chipped over the defence, to then chase it down and calmly regather and score. Converted by Howe.

Eastbourne now comfortably in the lead, took their foot off the gas for a few minutes and allowed the very determined home side back in and bring the gap back to 12 points. Eastbourne had to defend for long periods of the second half and stayed calm on there on try line, which they did to great effect. This was just before Mason Dowle lit the afterburners and discombobulated the home side and left two of them on their back sides, to give Howe his easiest conversion of the day. Dowle Defended as well as he attacked with some massive tackles in defence. 40-21 was the score at 73 minutes, a frantic last 7 minutes saw Eastbourne penalised a few times and get a bit frustrated and allow the home side to score and then again with the very last play from there own half, once again showing Eastbourne they must concentrate for the full 80 minutes. Eastbourne have been showing some real form in spells but have not quite finished it off, but this time they did and got a good win on the road and the maximum 5 points, the home side left the field with a deserved 2 losing bonus points, the game was well refereed and and a very entertaining game was enjoyed by all involved. The determination of the side to prove they can compete at this level, has been evident with 40 odd players regularly at training and also putting out 3 senior sides. The 2nd team also proving how much the squad has grown by getting another good win against Lewes first team 27-22. This was a side that the eastbourne first team was playing last season, so it shows the strength in depth they have as a squad, and competition for the first team places has never been stronger. Eastbourne welcome last seasons title rivals and friends East Grinstead, to park avenue on saturday for a 2pm kick off, where the pre match lunch has already been sold out for a few weeks. As much support as possible will be needed to overcome a very strong and well coach East Grinstead side.

#Eastbourne #Eastbournerugby #yourclub #playforbourne #blueandgolds #supportlocal #sussexrugby #grassrootsrugby #stayinthefight #strongertogether

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