Easter 'Ex-certificate' performance

Eagles 40 – 0 Painswick RFC (Touring)

Juniors U13 • Friendly • Sun 4th Apr 10, 10:00AM

Forgoing their Easter Eggs in favour of an Easter 'Ex-certificate' performance, a rampant Eagles U13 side entertained and thrilled a good crowd at a bright and blustery Brown's Lane on Easter Sunday. For touring side Painswick, they were the unfortunate recipients of the performance. Painswick, the oldest acknowledged village rubgy club in England, a fact commemorated in the Museum of Rugby at Twickenham, are a side well known to Effingham, and indeed have been good friends to our age group on previous tours. Most recently, last season in fact, both our A and B squads had very close and competitive encounters against them, and it was against this backdrop that the Eagles prepared conscientiously for the fixture.   Whilst acknowledging that a touring team can be an eclectic mix of players, the way the Eagles started the game, they would have been a match for anyone. The intensity and purpose straight from the kick off was exemplary, and in no time at all they had rucked smartly to achieve clean ball to bring the backs quickly into the game to exert maximum pressure. Shortly after, another ruck on the left hand side provided an opportunity for the alert Cornish to pick up and drive to get the scoring underway. 5 - 0. From the resultant kick off the Eagles withstood a degree of pressure to secure a line out on their 22. Well won, and with a truly inspirational solo run, Bathurst weaved his way the full distance to secure the second try. Mead duly converted. 12 - 0. It didn't take long from the re-start for the Eagles to again take control of the ball in midfield, and then, we were left with the treat of witnessing inspirational skipper Chandler running the ball (six million dollar man style!) into the left corner. With an exceptional effort, Mead slotted the conversion and the Eagles were now firmly in control after only 10 minutes. 19 - 0. From this point on a succession of replacements were brought into the game, but pleasingly this did not impact too much on the fluidity of the Eagles game, endorsing the flexibility and talent in this age group. Further tries followed quickly, and whilst it is very difficult to detail all the efforts (particularly for this old hack!) it is sufficient to say that Messrs. Bone (following excellent work from Crowhurst), Mead, Meek and Hammerson all scored excellent individual tries to take the try count at half time to seven without reply. Two more conversion attempts were successful, which brought the first half to a close with the score standing at 43 - 0. Wholesale changes were made for the second half, and once again the Eagles played as a unit, mostly resisting the temptation to go for personal glory. In fairness to Painswick they 'upped' their game somewhat, and there followed a passage of play within the Eagles half. Painswick were further strengthened following an injury to one of their pack, when the formidable Stevie Warr sportingly put on the famous Cherry and White jersey to lend support. Nonetheless, mid-way through the half, the Eagles were once again able to assert themselves, and started running strongly and penetratively at the Painswick defence. Eventually the pressure became too much, and the Eagles scored a further four tries, all of a similar nature. Bathurst powerfully ran in three of these, and Buisson the other; after 'creating himself' an opening out of the midfield. With one further successful conversion attempt, the whistle blew for full time and the final score showed a resounding victory for the Eagles 65 - 0. Today's fixture would not have taken place without the efforts of Brian Murray and the many wonderful people that took time out to help in the kitchens and around the club. Thank you. Not forgetting of course, the referee!  SUMMARYIn games like this it is especially important to acknowledge, not only the try scorers, but also the good discilpline and performances from the collective of a well functioning and supportive squad of players. Everyone in the squad played their part today, and as one of our 'wizened old coaches' often states, "forwards win games, backs decide by how many". Never a truer word spoken! THE SQUADMax Chandler, Matt Cornish, Louis Hammerson, Stevie Warr, Luke Bliss, Dominic Brown, Chris Bone, Bill Bathurst, Seb Lim, Will Mead, Matt Murray, Harry Lonsdale, George Meek, Sam Parsons, Mikey Crowhurst, Sam Godwin, Josh Buisson, Tom Anderson, Myles Wickes, Benjy Baxter SCORING SEQUENCEFirst half:  5 -0 Cornish try; 10-0 Bathurst try; 12-0 Mead conv; 17-0 Chandler try; 19-0 Mead conv; 24-0 Bone try; 29-0 Mead try; 31-0 Mead conv; 36-0 Meek try; 41-0 Hammerson try; 43-0 Mead conv Second half:  48-0 Bathurst try; 50-0 Bathurst conv; 55-0 Buisson try; 60-0 Bathurst try; 65-0 Bathurst try  T H Lonsdale4th April 2010 

 

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