East London RFC’s second team the Wyverns continued to pile on the pressure at the top of Group 1 Automotive Essex Merit Table Division 3 West with a 0-97 away win over clubhouse rivals Kings Cross Steelers 2s at the Memorial Ground in West Ham on Saturday (20 Jan).

The win puts the Wyverns on 39 points from ten games, just four behind league leaders Bancroft RFC who have also played ten games. The top two play each other at Bancroft next Saturday (27 Jan).

The Wyverns scored 15 tries in a dominant performance with a hat-trick of tries from right wing Zviko Jabangwe and left wing Matt Louis; two from outside centre Matt Bridges and backs replacement Tanneguy de Cugnac; and one each from prop Jade Ruming, second row Thomas Mohan, flanker Will Emery, scrum-half Niall O’Shea, and backs replacement Anthony Si. Fly-half Fabio Ogunfowora kicked 11 conversions.

East London 2nd XV versus Kings Cross Steelers 2s: 1. Jade Ruming; 2. Lee Carson; 3. Mark Strain; 4. Dave Gibson; 5. Thomas Mohan (C); 6. Sacha Maly; 7. Will Emery; 8. Jack Roughan; 9. Niall O'Shea; 10. Fab Ogunfowora; 11. Matt Louis; 12. Bill Brown; 13. Matt Bridges; 14. Zviko Jabangwe; 15. Micky Boden. Replacements: 16. Simon Leke; 17. Charlie Dunn; 18. Tanneguy de Cugnac; 19. Antoine Asemota-Thomas; 20. Anthony Si.

East London’s 3rd XV the Thirsty Thirds were beaten 17-57 at the Memorial Ground by Pegasus Palmerians 2s in Group 1 Automotive Essex Merit Table Division 4 West.

With the Pegasus first team having their match called off on Saturday morning, they added six first teamers to their depleted second team squad, who began the day bottom of the table, which affected the result of the game.

The East London points came from tries from backs replacements Ben Clare and Rob Yiannakou, and flanker Archie Leport on his debut for the club. Fly-half Frank Murphy added a conversion.

With Kings Cross Steelers 3s having dropped out of the league and their scores removed, the result leaves the 3rd XV in fourth place in the table with 12 points from six matches.

East London 3rd XV versus Pegasus Palmerians 2s: 1. Dylan Johns; 2. Ian Bright; 3. Sam Corbett; 4. Mo Mohamed; 5. Roberto Finelli; 6. Archie Leport; 7. Rich Keough; 8. Michael Greig (C); 9. Paul Conolly; 10. Frank Murphy; 11. Anthony Si; 12. Andy Davenport; 13. James Narramore; 14. Michael Thomson; 15. Charlie Raw. Replacements: 16. Luis Herrera; 17. Pete Stubbs; 18. Chukz Chiagorum; 19. Rob Yiannakou; 20. Chris Brown; 21. Ben Clare.

East London’s Director of Rugby Eddie Gooby said: “It was a great club day with more than 40 players pulling on a maroon and blue shirt. Our second and third XVs reflect what the spirit of the club is about and it was fantastic to see both teams celebrating together afterwards.”