Eastbourne 1st team (29) v East Grinstead 1st team (15)

Both sides had maximum points and it was set to be an absolute cracker, which indeed it turned out to be. Eastbourne had a few injuries to contend with and had to reshuffle the back line with both fly-halves out injured, this meant Captain Jake Howe moved from 13 to 10 for the first time this year and Ronnie Doorey-Palmer started at 13 after a few weeks out due to injury, Eastbourne also welcomed debutant Paul Smith to the bench. East Grinstead also had a few injury problems with a couple of regular 1st team players out due to covid and a few knocks following a bruising encounter the week before.

This however did not affect the intensity and energy that was on display for the largest crowd the club has seen in over a decade. It really was a special day.

East Grinstead started the stronger playing with the conditions and forced an early penalty, the away side battered Eastbourne in the opening exchanges, which Eastbourne duly withstood. Eastbourne grew into the game after shaking off the big game nerves, they also had a couple of opportunities as well which were squandered in the oppositions 22. Eastbourne looking very confident at the set piece and starting to make decent dents in the EG back line, which gave them confidence. Eastbourne felt they could see out the half against the conditions only 3 points down, that was until the final 5 minutes of the half when Eastbourne conceded two tries and one conversion. This was a bitter pill to swallow as Eastbourne had grown into the game and was starting to get on top of the away side.

The second half started and continued at real pace, Eastbourne have based a lot of there game around fitness and they did appear on the day to be the fitter side. Now with the conditions, Eastbourne kicked well and really pressured EG into penalties and forced them to be pinned in there own 22 for much of the second half. Joe Bettles was first to cross with good control at the back of a driving maul. 5 minutes later Mason Dowle hit the line at real pace from full back and scored a scorcher of a try splitting the EG centres and scoring between the posts, Jake Howe kicked the conversion, Eastbourne now in full control but still behind on the scoreboard. Eastbourne now dominating the scrum and the lineout working perfectly, forced another penalty, after a few phases from a dominant lineout Ian Padget worked his way around two defenders on a lovely arching run to score in the corner. Jake Howe kicked a superb conversion from out wide. Eastbourne now in front and looking for the bonus point win, once again forced the away side into the corner and from another penalty opted for a scrum, which they earned a penalty try from after a couple of resets. Eastbourne now desperate to stop EG from earning a losing bonus point, kept it tight and battled hard to keep the determined away side from scoring again. Eastbourne’s Jake Howe kicked a penalty with the last kick of the game to round things off 29 – 15 to Eastbourne. To beat a side of this quality, was an entire squad effort, not just the 18 players picked to do the job on the day.

East Grinstead turned up with great support and a great attitude to play rugby, as did the home side. They left the changing room immaculate and stayed for a few drinks and a good chat with the Eastbourne coaches, which goes to show what a class outfit they are.

Eastbourne will be determined to go undefeated until the return fixture in February, where they will brace themselves for one hell of a back lash from a full loaded and determined side, but the Eastbourne side is growing every week and will be ready for the challenge.

What a weekend for ERFC.