First win of the season

First win of the season for the 1st XV
“The club deserves a huge pat on the back as we had three men’s teams playing on Saturday in awful weather and the Vixens on Sunday. It’s what grassroots rugby is all about and there are exciting times ahead.”
EDDIE GOOBY
East London’s 1st XV recorded their first win of the season on Saturday (2 October) with a 27-19 victory over Mavericks that moved them off the bottom of the London 3 Essex table.

The maroon and blues overcame tough opponents and tricky conditions as rain throughout made the pitch at the Memorial Ground in West Ham heavy and slippery.

Openside flanker Tony Rumore opened the scoring on five minutes bursting from a lineout drive and touching down right of the posts. Fly-half Ryan Billinghurst converted (7-0). The lead didn’t last long and two minutes later Mavericks scored a converted try (7-7).

On 30 minutes Billinghurst kicked a penalty (10-7) but again the lead didn’t last long as four minutes later Mavericks scored a second try. The conversion was missed (10-12). East London hooker Lewis Bourke ensured the home side went into the break ahead when on the stroke of half-time he bundled over following a number of attacking phases by the forwards from a penalty to the corner. The conversion was missed (15-12).

The lead was extended on 57 minutes when second row Dan Bracken scored from a lineout drive following a penalty kick to the corner. The conversion was missed (20-12). On 75 minutes outside centre Ross Howard benefited from sloppy Mavericks play. A high kick from Billinghurst was knocked forward by a defender into the arms of Howard who had an easy run in to collect the four-try bonus point. Billinghurst converted (27-12). Mavericks touched down with two minutes remaining to round off the scoring (27-19). The result moved East London up to ninth in the table.

East London’s 2nd XV the Wyverns were also at home but lost 12-26 to experienced Thurrock 2s in Shepherd Neame Essex Merit Table Division 2. The home side were leading 12-7 at the break thanks to tries from tighthead prop Mo Zouabi and fly-half Fabio Ogunfowora who also kicked one conversion, but couldn’t hold on. They sit sixth in the table after three games.

East London 3s were due to be in action away to Upminster 3s in Merit Table Division 6 West but the match was delayed to a future date after agreement from both sides. They stay third in the table. In the absence of a league fixture they arranged a friendly against Kings Cross Steelers 2s, losing 43-5.

East London Head Coach Eddie Gooby said: “The club deserves a huge pat on the back as we had three men’s teams playing on Saturday in awful weather and the Vixens on Sunday. It’s what grassroots rugby is all about and there are exciting times ahead.”

Next games take place on 16 October. The 1st XV host Romford & Gidea Park; the Wyverns travel to Chelmsford 2s; and the 3rd XV host Billericay 2s. The Vixens host Rosslyn Park Ladies on 17 October.

East London 1st XV versus Mavericks: 1. Frazer Wilson; 2. Lewis Bourke; 3. Paul Bortnowski; 4. Angus Tidey; 5. Dan Bracken; 6. Josh Norton; 7. Tony Rumore; 8. Nick Parrott; 9. Josh Campbell; 10. Ryan Billinghurst; 11. Bill Brown; 12. Karim Russell-Ketfi; 13. Ross Howard; 14. Kevin O’Donoghue; 15. Max Stanyard. Replacements: 16. Stephen Beattie; 17. Chris Brown; 18. Ed Brown.