Match Report form Coach Matt Pysden.

After a fantastic win against Lewes last week, Eastbourne had to make 10 changes to the squad due to injuries and the only part of the team not effected was the ever reliable second row.

The Eastbourne coaching team felt this was the week to release all of the young guns together for the first time and give them a real litmus test away from home. Against a powerful and direct Hellingly side.

Eastbourne stuck to there fast paced slick handling structure that they have slowly been building on all season. This proved to catch Hellingly cold from the outset and force them to give away multiple penalties. Eastbourne failed to get over the line, after turning down three penalty kicks to go for the corner in the hope of a scoring a try. However Hellingly proved strong in defence and had some effective turnovers.
Finally Eastbourne made the pressure and Possession tell with a score on debut for their new 18 year old scrum Half Harry “To easy” Gibson, from Waga Waga in Australia! The versatile and reliable 18 year old fly half, Spike Gleave playing out of position and taking responsibility for the kicking duties, kicked the conversion.

Hellingly had a short spell of dominance and scored a well worked try in the corner after some powerful and telling runs.
The continued fast pace and fitness now causing the home side real problems, Eastbourne’s 19 year centre Ben Perrott, who is the glue in Eastbourne’s midfield, crossed for Eastbourne’s second with Spike Gleave converting for the extras.
In the final minute of the first half and Eastbourne under pressure in their own 22,
Spike Gleave opting to attack and ignore touch to end the half, attacked very sharply down the left hand side to release “French” Jeremy on another powerful run, then some slick handling between Jeremy and Ollie Horley saw Spike score from a superb long range attack and kick the extras to end a superb half of rugby. 5-21 to Eastbourne.

A rejuvenated Hellingly started strong in the second half and managed to gain the advantage in the scrum on a few occasions. Which led to them playing there direct ‘one out’ hard lines rugby very well. Eastbourne, a little complaisant had to soak up an awful lot of attack. Eastbourne managed to get an attack that eventually led to a penalty.

Hellingly responded, once again with direct runs and good possession to score a try.
Eastbourne now finding there gears again and there superior fitness really telling. This put the home side under pressure for Eastbourne to force another penalty and Spike capping off a great kicking display to make the score a comfortable 27-12. With the last 10 minutes a bit stop start. It ended with a last solid run of possession from Hellingly, to take the final score and end the game 19 - 27 to Eastbourne.

This was a very important win for Eastbourne, as they showed real strength in depth of there squad, against a very tough opponent. This was optimised by 18 year old Dylan Viles in the centre who repelled everything that came down his channel -pictured here-. Eastbourne started the game with 7 18/19 year olds on the pitch and the future looks bright. With the nomads (2nd team) winning once again and fantastic numbers at training every week. Eastbourne are set for an exciting run in, for the end of the season for both sides. And Hopefully a few seasons ahead as well.

Eastbourne have also been putting out a third team in the Sussex social league to try and accommodate everybody.

Thanks to Andy Pelling for the images.