Match Reports 2

The Eagles second XV continued their romance with the Merit League Table’s Shield competition with an emphatic 58-0 victory at rivals Old Paulines. The victory made it two from two in the competition’s second leg and puts the Eagles in a strong position near the head of the table.

An inspirational performance from No 8 Justin Churchill set up this very good performance, as he lead the way with numerous bustling runs through the opposition defence. With the forwards winning a huge amount of ball, the backline repaid their forwards by running in eight of the 10 tries scored, with scrum-half Rhidian Llewellyn notching three of them.

The back three enjoyed themselves and between them ran in the other five backline tries, while forwards Churchill and King also scored.

Eagles struggled in the first-half to gain the upper hand, but a good start enabled them to lead 12-0. Although the mid-stages of the half were dominated by Old Paulines, the Eagles defence held strong and they scored from a mistake to lead 17-0.

Some inspiring words at half- time set the Eagles alight in the second-half as they went on the attack and quickly smashed the score up to 58-0. The score could well have been higher with a better goal kicking performance, but it was still an emphatic victory for the Eagles’ second string.

Skipper Cornwell gets 3 and a Jug

This was a good performance from the Eagles 2^nd team, running out convincing winners 5 tries to 1 against Dorking on 6 December. It could have been much more but for silly mistakes and knock-ons at the last minute.

The game started at a cracking pace and it wasn’t long before the Eagles put their first points on the board. After a good build up on the right flank the Dorking line was almost crossed, but desperate defence denied the Effingham team, and the ball was cleared as far as Jon Cook on the right wing. Cook ran the ball straight back at Dorking and with good support from the forwards quick ball was fed to new fly half Mellows, who shipped the ball quickly to the left wing, Cornwell received an inside pass and barged his way over from close range. The conversion was missed. It was Cornwell who scored again in the left corner shortly afterwards. Again the kick was missed from wide out.

The Effingham team was gathering momentum and should have crossed the Dorking line another 2 or 3 times, but were let down with bad handling at the last minute and impatience by trying to force the pass. The best chance fell to James Willoughby who after being worked into space, decided not to back himself with 20m to go. Unselfishly he drew the defence and popped the ball up to No. 8 Paul Brown who was brought down just short. The final score of the half went to fullback Llewellyn. After a poor clearance from Dorking, Cook once again fielded the ball and charged up the right wing. When tackled Llewellyn ripped the ball from Cook and shrugged off one would-be tackler before scooting 25m to score in the right corner. This gave the Effingham side a 15-point advantage at half time.

Dorking played their best rugby after the break and managed to put a few good phases together with some decent pick and goes. This play and some bad discipline from Effingham lead to a penalty under the posts for Dorking. From a quick tap they scored a try which was converted. The Eagles responded to this with some good mauling. Twice they came close to scoring another try from a lineout catch and drive with new prop Woo Kim held up just short, and scrum half Stutts almost burrowed over from a dummy and go from the base of a scrum.

It was left to young Tom McDannel to supply the points though after another superb take in the lineout take from Wes Montgomery. The ensuing maul seemed to be stopped, but a splinter group led by veteran West broke away and McDannel scored in the corner. The conversion was missed from wide out.

Skipper Cornwell scored the final points of the day after receiving yet another scoring pass from about 2m out. The 100% kicking record of missing 5 from 5 was maintained with the final score being 25 to the Eagles against 7 to Dorking.

Man of the match Woo Kim was given the obligatory pint to down afterwards. A simple mistake by him starting on the count of 10 meant a second pint needed to be seen off, which beat the big man. Jugs of beer were then supplied by the hat trick scoring Cornwell.

Next week sees Owen Duffy in his final game for the Eagles against Old rivals Vandals, before he heads back to New Zealand.

There is a newfound confidence at Browns Lane these days. Following last Saturday’s World Cup triumph and the last gasp victory against Jersey, Effingham and Leatherhead Rugby Club is a good place to be at the moment. The new regime, headed up by coaches Paul Gething and Nick Ridley, combined with the tireless efforts behind the scenes of Andy Naish, finally seems to be getting things right and the club is playing the kind of rugby the Eagles faithful have come to expect.

With no first team game this week, as the game against Dorking was cancelled, the second team were given the chance to field a strong side for the clash with Farnham. A number of first team players made themselves available for the game and a few came in to strengthen otherwise weak areas. Such is the desire to play for the club at the moment that some “first teamers” were relegated to the touchline to cheer on their side and others given the enviable task of running touch and writing the match report!

Skipper Dom Cornwell won the toss and decided to play into the strong wind blowing down the pitch. The Eagles strategy was clear from the outset and the strong pack dominated the early stages of the game with excellent work in the scrum and pinpoint accuracy in the lineout. Despite the early pressure the visitors were able to pin the home side back in their own half with good positional kicking. Rudimentary errors and moments of ill discipline saw the Eagles give away a number of penalties in the first half hour and Farnham’s kicker was able to capitalise with 3 excellent wind assisted penalties. The home side answered back with a penalty of their own from impressive new boy James Amos to make the score 3-9 as half time approached. However, Effingham kept their composure and pushed the Farnham defence to its limits with strong running from Johnny “tunnel vision” Farmer and Owen Duffy. Eventually, the pressure told and when young winger Amos managed to stay on his feet in the tackle 30 meters out, the Effingham pack mauled their way to the opposition try line for Eoin O’Riodan to score in the corner. The conversion was narrowly missed and Farnham looked like they would take a 1-point advantage into the interval. But the Eagles were not finished there and when Full Back Dave Simpson hit the back line at pace and released Amos, the speedy youngster was able to slide in the corner to put his side back into the lead. The difficult conversion again went adrift and the score at half time was 13-9.

The second half saw a number of changes, yet the home side’s domination was never in question. Some good positional kicking from Fly half Nick Losardo ensured that the majority of the period was played in the opposition half. Even the controversial sin binning of Hooker, Kevin “I’ll take you all on” Miller, couldn’t let the visors back into the game. The Farnham defence, however, was strong and resolute and the Eagles found it tough to breach the hard tackling midfield. The visitors did threaten with some good counter attacking play but basic errors let them down at the vital moments and when Amos put over his second penalty in the dying seconds of the game, the game was won.

Eagles are away to local rivals Weybridge Vandals next week in a crunch league encounter as both sides are currently locked on 8 points and vying for the all important third spot in the league.

Opposition:        Sutton & Epsom    
Date:                    1st November 03     
Venue:                 HOME   

Match Report:

This was a tough game for the Eagles second string against a powerful Sutton side. Sutton started the game stronger and their backs made inroads into the Eagles half. Good tackling by Onion O'Riordan, Owen and skipper Cornwell prevented the Sutton side from scoring though. The Eagles pack was also under severe pressure with the front row of Tricky Cotton, James Ryall and Neil Morris giving away about 4 stone a man against their opponents. After a couple of reversing scrums however this was shored up to some extent when the ever youthful Shaq stepped up from No.8 to second row. It was the visitors who broke the dead lock first. Another rampaging run by their centrs set up a ruck infront of the posts and after a quick clear out the ball was dotted down under the Eagles' posts. Effingham raised their game after this score and made good ground themselves with new fly half Phil Mellowfacer controlling the game with some well taken options and good kicking from hand. It was unfortunate that this pressure was not converted into points as 2 penalty attempts by Mellows were hooked across the front of the posts. Shortly before half time the scores were levelled when scrum half Llewellyn broke away from a retreating scrum and jinked his way to the line scoring under the posts. Mellows found his kicking boots and converted. Scores were 7 apiece at half time. After the break Sutton managed to outflank the Eagles defence and scored a couple of unanswered tries, neither of which were converted. The Eagles then had a good chance to close the gap when flanker Bentley gathered ball about 15m out and was brought down just short of the line. Sutton managed to clear their lines and shortly scored their 4th try. The Eagles came close to scoring again when the ball was moved wide to Rayner. Rayner jinked inside his man and stretched for the line, just falling short. Shaq smelling a possible score scooped up the ball and fell over the line, only for the ref to disallow the try saying the ball was held up. The last score of the game came from Sutton bringing the final result to 27 to 7 in favour of Sutton. After a plucky performance by the Eagles, the boys were rewarded with several beers in the changing rooms, with Onion, Tricky and Shaq making sure all was finished before leaving the chnaging rooms.

Result: 7-27 Lost

Man of the Match: Eion O'Riordan

oOpposition:        Purley John Fisher    
Date:                 4th October 03     
Venue:              HOME   

Match Report:

After their single point win last week against a fine Chobham second string the Eagles 2nd team were on a high. They were under the cosh right from the kick off though against Purley John Fisher who had a much larger pack. It was Purley who exerted all the pressure in the first 10 minutes, taking the ball up the middle of the park with good mauling and pick and drives. Only stout defence from the pack, especially Turner and Bird prevented them from crossing the line. It was the Eagles who scored first though, after quick turn over ball skipper Stutts playing at fly half booted the ball down the centre of the pitch. A nasty bounce combined with good chasing from new centre Daryl Smith saw the ball popped up to full back Willoughby who rounded his man on the outside to touch down under the sticks. Stuttard converted.

Purley came straight back into the game, and after good phase play came up with the score which levelled the match. A Purley penalty shortly afterwards put them into the lead for only time in the game. From the restart the Eagles began to put together their own phases and chinks could be seen in the Purley defence. The ball was moved to both wings quickly and each winger had chances, the best came when new wing Dave Emsley saw a gap open up in front of him and pinned his ears back for the line. A last ditch tackle from the Purley full back prevented an almost certain score. Purley infringed at the ruck though and Stuttard coolly slotted the penalty. Scores were level at 10 apiece when the half time whistle blew.

After the restart the Eagles continued the good work, and ran the large Purley pack around the park. It was not long until the Eagles scored again with flanker Owen barging over at the corner, with Stuttard again converting. After this score the game opened up and the much superior Eagles back line soon took the upper hand. The ball was thrown wide at any opportunity. It was from a quick tap free kick though where the score came from. Scrum half Llewelyn tapped the ball to himself and went for the gap. He weaved his way past 3 or 4 defenders before touching down under the sticks for a converted try.

The next score came from Emsley. A miss pass gave a simple 2 on 1 and Emsley went over in the corner. A rare excursion by Purley into the Eagles half brought the next score. From a solid Eagles scrum Llewelyn dummied and set off on a 60m run wrong footing the Purley full back and dotting down for his second try of the day. The final try came soon afterwards with more good work with quick hands sending Emsley over for his brace. Stuttard completed a good day with the boot bringing the final score to 43 – 10 to the Eagles.

Result: 43-10 WIN
Dave Emsley - 2
Mike Willoughby - 1
Rhydian - 2
Rhys Owen - 1
with Stuttsy getting one penalty and 5 conversions

Man of the Match: Rhydian Llewelyn