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EAST LONDON WIN ESSEX INTERMEDIATE CUP
Eddie Gooby27 Apr 2019 - 20:28
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DUE TO THE LOCK DOWN EAST LONDON ARE STILL DEFENDING CHAMPIONS 2 YEARS ON
[/b]Underdogs East London achieved a deserved 32-29 victory over Romford & Gidea Park to win the Essex Intermediate Cup on Saturday (27 April).
A hat-trick of tries from left wing Sean Cooper was the foundation of the win against a side who finished second in the league above them and went into the game as favourites.
Head coach Eddie Gooby said: “What a magical day for the club. We went in as underdogs by virtue of league places but you would never have known it. Never bet against the minnows in a cup competition. This is fantastic for those who played on the day, those who got us to the final, and all our supporters.”
The game played in windy conditions at Harlow RFC was a topsy turvy affair with the lead changing hands several times. Romford with the advantage of the wind behind them should have had the lead on two minutes but a penalty in front of the posts was missed.
Romford had the early possession but there were signs that East London’s pacy backs would be the key to the game. On four minutes right wing Kevin O’Donoghue burst along the touch line but was unable to gather his own kick forward and Romford cleared.
A turnover resulted in a converted try on 13 minutes for Romford but the East London forwards then began to exert pressure, marshalled by number eight Dan Bracken and flanker Nick Parrott. They thought they had scored on 20 minutes but Parrott was adjudged to have been held up over the line.
They didn’t have to wait long for their first points when scrum-half Will Brown took a quick tap penalty and skipper Parrott bundled over the line. Full back Max Stanyard’s conversion floated wide in the wind.
On 29 minutes Romford had a player yellow carded after a succession of penalties. Two minutes later second row Luke Staples-Preston was penalised as he looked to score. Romford extended their lead on 35 minutes with an unconverted try before the East London forwards set up Cooper for the first of his tries on 37 minutes. Stanyard’s conversion attempt hit the post. A converted try at the end of the half saw Romford lead 19-10 at the break.
East London now had the advantage of the conditions. Looking more comfortable than their opponents with ball in hand fly-half Ryan Billinghurst and Stanyard combined to give Cooper an easy run in on the right side. The conversion was missed.
On 47 minutes East London had the lead for the first time. Cooper on the left flank timed an interception perfectly and picked off a Romford pass to burst 60 metres from his own half to score under the posts. Stanyard converted for a 22-19 lead.
Romford got their noses in front again on 51 minutes with an unconverted try but East London came storming back. O’Donoghue kicked through but a Romford defender dropped on the ball as it bobbled over the touchline, but play was brought back for a penalty. They had the lad again on 58 minutes with a fine individual try from Will Brown who spotted a gap in the defence, threw a dummy pass and scored. The conversion was missed.
Romford scored an unconverted try with 12 minutes remaining to regain the lead but then had a player yellow carded for a no arms tackle. East London took advantage to score their try of the season.
With seven minutes on the clock Billinghurst kicked a penalty to the corner. The lineout ball was secured and the forwards drove on. The backs joined the shove to take advantage of the extra man and prop Ben Hogan emerged as the jubilant try scorer. The conversion was missed but East London kept their heads to wind down the clock for a deserved victory and jubilant scenes.
Skipper Parrott collected the trophy and said: “This was our first win in a senior Cup competition for 17 years. This has been a fantastic season and makes up for narrowly missing promotion from London 3 Essex. We thank our sponsors Aspers Casino for their support and our new shirts for the final.”
East London 1stXV vs Romford & Gidea Park: 1. Ben Hogan; 2. Lewis Bourke; 3. Paddy Coman; 4. Luke Staples-Preston; 5. Dave Gibson; 6. Nick Parrott; 7. Simon Edscer; 8. Dan Bracken; 9. Will Brown; 10. Ryan Billinghurst; 11. Sean Cooper; 12. Lachlan McKenzie; 13. Roger Ng; 14. Kevin O’Donoghue; 15. Max Stanyard. Replacements: 16. Ed Brown; 17. Ryan Exley; 18. Eoin Kelly; 19. Rob Yiannakou; 20. Jack Millard; 21. Mantas Urbonavicius; 22; Ben Stern.
A hat-trick of tries from left wing Sean Cooper was the foundation of the win against a side who finished second in the league above them and went into the game as favourites.
Head coach Eddie Gooby said: “What a magical day for the club. We went in as underdogs by virtue of league places but you would never have known it. Never bet against the minnows in a cup competition. This is fantastic for those who played on the day, those who got us to the final, and all our supporters.”
The game played in windy conditions at Harlow RFC was a topsy turvy affair with the lead changing hands several times. Romford with the advantage of the wind behind them should have had the lead on two minutes but a penalty in front of the posts was missed.
Romford had the early possession but there were signs that East London’s pacy backs would be the key to the game. On four minutes right wing Kevin O’Donoghue burst along the touch line but was unable to gather his own kick forward and Romford cleared.
A turnover resulted in a converted try on 13 minutes for Romford but the East London forwards then began to exert pressure, marshalled by number eight Dan Bracken and flanker Nick Parrott. They thought they had scored on 20 minutes but Parrott was adjudged to have been held up over the line.
They didn’t have to wait long for their first points when scrum-half Will Brown took a quick tap penalty and skipper Parrott bundled over the line. Full back Max Stanyard’s conversion floated wide in the wind.
On 29 minutes Romford had a player yellow carded after a succession of penalties. Two minutes later second row Luke Staples-Preston was penalised as he looked to score. Romford extended their lead on 35 minutes with an unconverted try before the East London forwards set up Cooper for the first of his tries on 37 minutes. Stanyard’s conversion attempt hit the post. A converted try at the end of the half saw Romford lead 19-10 at the break.
East London now had the advantage of the conditions. Looking more comfortable than their opponents with ball in hand fly-half Ryan Billinghurst and Stanyard combined to give Cooper an easy run in on the right side. The conversion was missed.
On 47 minutes East London had the lead for the first time. Cooper on the left flank timed an interception perfectly and picked off a Romford pass to burst 60 metres from his own half to score under the posts. Stanyard converted for a 22-19 lead.
Romford got their noses in front again on 51 minutes with an unconverted try but East London came storming back. O’Donoghue kicked through but a Romford defender dropped on the ball as it bobbled over the touchline, but play was brought back for a penalty. They had the lad again on 58 minutes with a fine individual try from Will Brown who spotted a gap in the defence, threw a dummy pass and scored. The conversion was missed.
Romford scored an unconverted try with 12 minutes remaining to regain the lead but then had a player yellow carded for a no arms tackle. East London took advantage to score their try of the season.
With seven minutes on the clock Billinghurst kicked a penalty to the corner. The lineout ball was secured and the forwards drove on. The backs joined the shove to take advantage of the extra man and prop Ben Hogan emerged as the jubilant try scorer. The conversion was missed but East London kept their heads to wind down the clock for a deserved victory and jubilant scenes.
Skipper Parrott collected the trophy and said: “This was our first win in a senior Cup competition for 17 years. This has been a fantastic season and makes up for narrowly missing promotion from London 3 Essex. We thank our sponsors Aspers Casino for their support and our new shirts for the final.”
East London 1stXV vs Romford & Gidea Park: 1. Ben Hogan; 2. Lewis Bourke; 3. Paddy Coman; 4. Luke Staples-Preston; 5. Dave Gibson; 6. Nick Parrott; 7. Simon Edscer; 8. Dan Bracken; 9. Will Brown; 10. Ryan Billinghurst; 11. Sean Cooper; 12. Lachlan McKenzie; 13. Roger Ng; 14. Kevin O’Donoghue; 15. Max Stanyard. Replacements: 16. Ed Brown; 17. Ryan Exley; 18. Eoin Kelly; 19. Rob Yiannakou; 20. Jack Millard; 21. Mantas Urbonavicius; 22; Ben Stern.
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