Sunday 2nd October 2011
Haywards Heath vs Eastbourne (Cup)
Final score: 0 - 5
Eastbourne U12s at the Haywards Heath Festival, 2nd October 2011
Match 1: Haywards Heath 5 - 0 Eastbourne
Match 2: Heathfield 10 - 5 Eastbourne
Match 3: Pulborough 0 - 5 Eastbourne
Match 4: East Grinstead 0 - 30 Eastbourne
Overall Result: Runner-Up Pool A
A cloudless sky and record-breaking October temperatures set the scene for some sizzling rugby by an Eastbourne U12 squad still brimming with confidence from their previous weeks success against Ashford.
The U12s found themselves in Pool A, up against some very strong opponents from both East and West Sussex, with their first match against expectant hosts Haywards Heath. Due to some non-rugby related injuries to a couple of key players, the Eastbourne Coaches had to make some forced positional changes which included Full Back Mason Dowle stepping into the breach as Hooker, with Aaron Brown and Luke James sharing Full Back and Inside Centre duties which would later prove to be an accidental masterstroke. Understandably with many players out of their usual positions the team started nervously and it wasn't long before Haywards Heath broke through a shaky back line to score an opportunist try on the left wing. To Eastbourne's credit, they returned to the restart positive with heads held high. In the second 7-minute half, Eastbourne's reshuffled forwards began to dominate the scrums and line outs, with the backs defending with equal gusto. Despite sustained pressure, Eastbourne were unable to capitalize on their resurgent streak and lost the game by a single try only. Result: Haywards Heath 5 - 0 Eastbourne
Eastbourne's second game was against local rivals Heathfield, and despite their earlier defeat the team started in a positive manner determined to add 3 points to their current Pool A total of 1. Despite some good early pressure, Heathfield's forwards were dominant in all areas and their ability to counter-ruck at speed caught-out an Eastbourne side that began to lose focus, and it wasn't long before Heathfield spread the ball quickly through their backs to take the ball over the line for their first try. With the relentless heat of the October sun pounding down, and a dominant Heathfield pack pounding a struggling Eastbourne defense, the team found themselves on the back foot for most of the half, often having to resort to some last-ditch tackles to keep the score from increasing. Inevitably Heathfield scored a second try in a similar fashion to end the first half with 2 tries. In the second half Eastbourne gritted their teeth, and with a more dogged approach and a period of sustained pressure, managed to half the deficit scoring a well deserved try by stand-in Hooker Mason Dowle. As with the first match Eastbourne's real enemy was a lack of time and again only lost the game by a single try score. Result: Heathfield 10 - 5 Eastbourne
Despite two earlier losses, Eastbourne knew they had the strength and skill to finish well in Pool A, and were more determined than ever to take maximum points from their last two games. Their next opponents were Pulborough who had shown some good form in their previous matches. Before the game started the Eastbourne coaching team reminded them of their dominant forwards performance in their first game and fired the boys up for their next encounter with a resounding rendition of 'Gold & Blue' in front of a confident looking Pulborough side. As the game progressed it was clear that it would be a close encounter of the bruising kind, and to their credit Eastbourne's forwards slowly began to dominate the set pieces once again, with the backs becoming more and more involved and increasingly creative with some intelligent kicking from Fly Half Harvey Warren, enabling our lightning-quick three-quarters to charge through and put an increasingly fearful Pulborough Full Back under immense pressure. This sustained full attack approach led to a well-worked try for Scrum Half Oliver Ashdown and the referee duly awarded the try despite strong objection from the Pulborough spectators and coaches. The game ended with a single try victory for Eastbourne complemented in the end by a magnanimous Pulborough coaching team. Result: Pulborough 0 - 5 Eastbourne
With one game to go, and confidence now sky-rocketing into the sapphire blue sky above, Eastbourne were now firing on all cylinders and nothing but a win would do against East Grinstead. Despite a heavy defeat at the hands of East Grinstead in last seasons Sussex Festival, Eastbourne were gunning for runners-up honours in the hotly contested Pool A. The game had barely begun when a loose ball at the first ruck was scooped-up by Outside Centre Angus Bingham who duly deposited the ball unchallenged over the try line. This instant injection of confidence spread through the whole team, and a rampant Eastbourne team were playing a flowing style of rugby only ever seen in the southern hemisphere. Tremendous work from the whole team saw tries scored in quick succession from Full-Back/Inside Centre Aaron Brown and Tight Head Prop Euan McGreevy with a double-score total for Inside Centre Angus Bingham and Loose Head Prop Louis Wood. The 6-try rule dictated that the game ended slightly prematurely but this devastating display stunned all who were fortunate to be watching and meant Eastbourne were proud and worthy runners-up in Pool A with a total of 8 points. A great TEAM effort with some scorchingly hot rugby played on a scorchingly hot day. Result: East Grinstead 0 - 30 Eastbourne
Man of the match/festival is voted for by fellow team players via www.teamer.net, and could be an impossible call based on such an outstanding team performance! The result of the vote will be published in 5 days time on the U12s webpage at www.eastbournerugby.com. A big THANK YOU to all the coaches, team manager, parents and team sponsors, and a huge WELL DONE to all the players.
MOM (via teamer.net): Angus Bingham (Outside Centre)
