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CAMPION 1st XV 31 - 31 EAST LONDON 1st XV

CAMPION 1st XV 31 - 31 EAST LONDON 1st XV

Eddie Gooby30 Sep 2019 - 10:23
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Scores level in high quality encounter

East London head coach Eddie Gooby praised his team after they came away from Campion with a 31-31 draw and three points on Saturday (28 September).
An entertaining game saw both sides score five tries and retain their unbeaten records after three games of the London 3 Essex season.
Coach Gooby said: "The three points we've gained here might just prove important at the end of the season. Not many teams will come away from Campion with points. They are a good team who know best how to play their sloping pitch."
Campion should have been ahead on two minutes but missed a penalty before eventually going ahead with a converted try shortly afterwards. A try by second row Luke Staples-Preston, converted by full back Max Stanyard, levelled on 15 minutes before the maroon and blues got their noses in front two minutes later. A superb break down the flank by left wing Connor Reilly set up Stanyard to score. The full back converted his own try.
An unconverted try by Campion on 24 minutes narrowed the gap to two points but East London added their third try on 31 minutes. Good work from outside centre Roger Ng created the chance which was finished by flanker Sam Cassidy and converted by Stanyard.
East London should have taken advantage of Campion losing a player to a yellow card but on two occasions knocked on when looking to score. Campion missed a penalty at the whistle to trail 12-21 at the break.
Despite playing uphill for the second-half, the visitors looked to extend their lead. RIght wing Kevin O'Donoghue was tackled close to the home line and then they turned the ball over on the five metre line.
Campion capitalised and converted tries on 58 minutes and 62 minutes saw them in front until Staples-Preston barged over for his second try on 66 minutes. The conversion was missed and the scores were level.
A superb turnover in their own 22 metres saw East London launch a counter. Inside centre Ed Brown led the chase and forced the defensive error from which Connor Reilly benefited to score. The conversion was missed. Six minutes from time the scores were level from an unconverted try and despite home pressure, a draw was a fair result at the end.
The three points moves East London to third in the league, a point behind Campion and three behind leaders Upminster. The maroon and blues face Harlow at home on Saturday.
Coach Gooby added: "Both teams played fast running rugby and there was little to separate us in every department of the game. Both teams were frustrated at the final whistle but the draw was about right and we should be the more satisfied especially as we have lost here in our past two visits so this is a step forward.
East London 1st XV versus Campion: 1. Mantas Urbonavicius; 2. Lewis Bourke; 3. Paddy Coman; 4. Josh Norton; 5. Luke Staples-Preston; 6. Nick Parrott; 7. Sam Cassidy; 8. Dan Bracken; 9. Will Brown; 10. Ryan Billinghurst; 11. Connor Reilly; 12. Ed Brown; 13. Roger Ng; 14.Kevin O'Donoghue; 15. Max Stanyard. Replacements: 16. Ben Hogan; 17. Simon Edscer; 18. Ernestas Lisauskas.
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