TOUGH WIN ON THE ROAD

Three teams out and wins for 1st and 3rd XVs
“In the conditions this was a really entertaining game. We fought hard and deserved the win."
EDDIE GOOBY
East London’s 1st XV made it three wins in a row with a 10-19 away victory in a feisty but entertaining encounter with Epping Upper Clapton on Saturday (6 Nov).

The maroon and blues went into the match in a confident mood after two good wins in previous weeks, but ultimately it was the windy conditions that would help determine the result of this game, depending on which team could best master the tricky conditions.

The visitors played against the wind in the first half and Epping started fast. The first scoring opportunity however went to East London and only a last-ditch tackle prevented right wing Kevin O’Donoghue touching down in the corner. The visiting forwards then produced some great pick up and drive work, only to knock on just short of the line.

Against the run of play, Epping scored in the corner on 19 minutes, with the conversion missed (5-0). During the play leading up to the try, outside centre Bill Brown injured a knee and was replaced by forward Will Emery who played on the left wing with Alex Pearmain switching to centre.

East London dominated the next ten minutes with the pack playing a tight game which eventually resulted in hooker Lewis Bourke scoring with the conversion missed (5-5). Epping went into the break ahead with an unconverted try in the 39th minute (10-5).

The visitors now had the wind at their backs and dominated possession and territory, but the Epping defence was solid and aggressive and making things difficult. On 65 minutes from a lineout 20 metres out, the ball was moved quickly and full back Max Stanyard ran a superb line off fly-half Ryan Billinghurst to score near the post. Billinghurst converted and East London were ahead for the first time (10-12).

Epping responded through their big forwards but with five minutes to go, they gave away a penalty on the half-way line. Quick-thinking Billinghurst tapped the penalty and fed the speedy pair of Stanyard and O’Donoghue who made ground. With Billinghurst running a support line, he received the ball to run in under the posts and then convert his own try to win the match (10-19).

Head coach Eddie Gooby said: “In the conditions this was a really entertaining game. We fought hard and deserved the win. It moved us up to fourth in London 3 Essex with 20 points from seven matches.”

With so many fixtures cancelled across Essex at the weekend with clubs not being able to raise sides, East London successfully managed to get two other teams in competitive action.

The 2nd XV, the Wyverns, fought hard but lost 12-29 at the Memorial Ground in West Ham to Wanstead 2s in Shepherd Neame Essex Merit Table Division 2. The home side, who had only 15 players available, were ahead initially thanks to tries from props Ben Hogan and Sam Corbett and a conversion from fly-half Davit Goginashvili. The visitors were level at the break (12-12) and stretched ahead in the second-half as they were able to send on a full quota of replacements as East London tired. The 2s are seventh in the table with 14 points from six games.

East London’s 3rd XV won a competitive match in Shepherd Neame Essex Merit Table Division 6 West, beating Pegasus Palmerians 2s by 12-10 at the Memorial Ground. Tries by centres Michael Greig and Byron Collins on his debut, with a conversion by fly-half Wally Scott, secured the win for the home side that included a mix of young, new recruits, and club veterans. The 3s are now third in the league table on 13 points from four matches.

On Saturday (13 Nov) all three East London teams are at home. The 1st XV host Canvey Island, the 2s play league leaders Eton Manor 3s and the 3rd XV host Kings Cross Steelers 3s.

East London 1st XV vs Epping Upper Clapton: 1. Frazer Wilson;2. Lewis Bourke; 3. Dave Gibson; 4. Chris Brown; 5. Dan Bracken; 6. Simon Edscer; 7. Tony Rumore; 8. Nick Parrott; 9. Will Brown; 10. Ryan Billinghurst; 11. Alex Pearmain; 12. Karim Russell-Ketfi; 13. Bill Brown; 14. Kevin O’Donoghue; 15. Max Stanyard. Replacements: 16. Will Emery; 17. Paul Bortnowski; 18. Ed Brown.

East London 2nd XV squad vs Wanstead 2s: Ben Hogan; Bank Khamtonwong; Mo Zouabi; Charlie Dunn; Sam Corbett; Thomas Mohan; Thomas Melieres-Frost; Henry Wallace; Eoin Kelly; Zac Tyler; Davit Goginashvili; Denis Keohane; Nicholas Finch; Harri Aston; Joe Kelly.

East London 3rd XV squad vs Pegasus Palmerians 2s: John Salthouse; Lee Carson; Gary Pearmain; Mo Mohamed; Jeremy Carson; Roberto Finelli; Caleb Gibson; Sam Corbett; Thomas Rochette; Wally Scott; Luis Herrera, Michael Greig; Byron Collins; Ibrahim Adan; James Narramore; Joe Ralt; James Hayburn.

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