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Essex County RFU U18 29 - 0 Eastern Counties Rugby Union
A 29 – 0 win over our close rivals from Eastern Counties reinforced the press release earlier in the week regarding the strong character of the Essex team. The weather, facilities and crowd gave the players from both sides a boost as they took to the pitch in bright sunshine. The early phases of play produced numerous handling mistakes as both teams nervously felt their way. With referee Doug Cooke trying to keep the players on their feet at the point of contact he had a very difficult first 20 minutes.
It was from one of the numerous penalties that lat on in the first half Essex were given a kickable penalty carefully converted by Campion and Barking full back, Callum Howard. The first try of the match came on the stroke of 30 minutes. Essex were pressing on the Counties line and given a kickable penalty. Despite some spectator shouts of “Go for Goal” scrum half Joshua Cook seized the moment to tap and go, darting over the line for the first try of the match. The missed conversion from out wide gave Essex an 8 – 0 lead which they held until both sides took a well earned break with the half time whistle.
With the sun on their backs and a slight breeze following them down the pitch, Essex started the second half as they finished the first half. They began to grow in confidence with some excellent skills and hard work in the scum. A break by the centres took the ball yards from the Counties posts and in the ensuing ruck the ball popped out the side to be pounced on by an ever alert Jake Eagleton, who grounded the ball under the posts to give Callum Howard and easy conversion and take the score to 15 – 0. Shortly afterwards Essex again went onto the rampage into the Counties 22 and with Captain Jamie Bache leading by example the young England U16 star charged over the line to give Essex a 20 points to nothing lead. Zain MANN took the conversion for the additional two points and Essex were sitting comfortable in the lead. This also gave the coaching team the opportunity to ring the changes with some of the replacements.
Despite being well behind Counties continued to make Essex work hard in every phase of the game, but Essex reacted well with several phases of play ensuring the ball went out to the wings. With minutes to go play was on the half way line and quick hands passed the ball to replacement right wing Andy Lewis, Campion School and Romford who ran in the final try of the match from the halfway line with an exciting burst of speed that outstripped the Counties defence. Grounding the ball just wide of the posts giving Callum Howard the easiest of conversions and make the final score 29 – 0.
Head coach and team manager Simon Hoult and coach Tom Webb praised the efforts of the players but warned them that the match against Herts could be even harder.
The next match for the U18’s in on Sunday 26th October against Hertfordshire at Eton Manor RFC kick off 2pm |
