Cup Hopes For Eastbourne 1st XV Dashed...

With just a fraction more self belief and the confidence of having a kicker in the side, it would have been Eastbourne who progressed through to the next round of this prestigious RFU competition. As it was, the result went to Cranbrook by the narrowest of margins after a pulsating and lung bursting 100 minutes of cup rugby. Played at a furious pace, the game moved from end to end and ended with a two point conversion difference between the sides.

It was Cranbrook who started the brighter and controlled all the possession in the early phases. A typical winger`s try and excellent conversion gave them a 0-7 lead; it was not long however before the powerful Eastbourne pack responded and big second row Chris Chilvers was driven over after a clean line-out. However the midfield play was dominated by the creativity and speed of the Cranbrook backs and on 20 minutes their inside centre carved a route through 4 missed tackles to touch down and bring the score to 5-12. Eastbourne then lost influential No.8 Luke Turner to a yellow card for a technical offence and were forced to defend the increasing Cranbrook pressure. With only 14 men and against the run of play, some great work by Matt Mottram put Matt Stevenson away up the touchline and Eastbourne were back in the game at 10-12; this proved to be shortlived as a second try by the Cranbrook winger and some excellent kicking by their fly half took them into half time leading 10-22.

With the slope in their favour, Eastbourne looked more dangerous throughout the second half. In fact they outscored their opposition by three tries to one in this half. First Turner, having been returned to the fray crashed over from an attacking scrum; Matt Stevenson got his second of the afternoon by tapping and running after the opposition were penalised at a scrum. But with legs tiring, a further 5 pointer had been conceded and with the final whistle approaching a 20-27 score looked likely. Replacement prop Matt Webb had other ideas and a superb bullocking run took him under the posts; the conversion levelled the scores at 27-27.

RFU rules require extra time in this situation and in the first period of extra time, Eastbourne eased into the lead following a third try from No9 Stevenson. A one minute break followed and Cranbrook had a final chance to score; their try was converted but still the Blue & Golds refused to accept defeat. On the final whistle an attack sliced the Cranbrook defence open and the line beckoned, only for the ball to be inexplicably dropped in the forward momentum. The spoils went to the visitors and Eastbourne were left to rue losing a game in which they had scored six tries to five.

Eastbourne Line Up - Barron; Bettles; Jameson; Mottram; Chilvers; Redman; Turner; Hayller; Stevenson M; Tennant; Linscott; King; Cheater; Fenner; Stevenson A; Webb; Palfreyman; Parks;