Match Report

The Old Boys continued the impressive start to the new year with yet another nail biter as they overcame a 12 point deficit to claim a rare victory over East London by 20-18.

Starting well East London provided all the early pressure & went 6-0 up in the first 20 minutes thanks to 2 well judged penalties. The visitors used the advantage of the wind well early on & if it wasn't for some fine defensive work notably from Neil Hanaway, Pete Womersley & Gary Bartlow the lead would have been much greater.

The home team pack responded well to the set early setbacks especially in the scrums where they were totally dominant. Ed Gooday enjoyed success in the line outs & gradually as the half progressed the Old Boys got more into the match. A missed penalty from Alistair Rigden was quickly rectified & the 6-3 score line at half-time was clearly more satisfying to the home side.

Despite their increased confidence the Old Boys went further behind early on in the second half. Some sloppy play enabled the visitors to go over for a try in the first 5 minutes: the added conversion making the score 13-3. The home team quickly picked themselves up & the wind advantage slowly began to work in their favour. Fine kicking from Alex Hughes, Perry Reeves & Alistair Rigden gained vital yards & the increased pressure from the Old Boys' pack brought a further reward in the shape of a penalty after 10 minutes. This however did not prove to be the catalyst to greater success for the home team as it was East London that extended their lead soon afterwards through another try making the score 18-6.

At this point the game suddenly changed in the home teams favour as firstly the visitors were reduced to 14 men with their fly-half getting yellow carded for punching & secondly they began to make their fitness tell.

Increased pressure from the forwards in the shape of Paddy Bache, Pat Stroud & Billy Mullen helped provide ball & the powerful running from Neil Tetner brought a well earned try which was ably converted by Rigden.

The pendulum had swung & the increased confidence brought further rewards for the Old Boys 5 minutes from time as Tetner produced another of his jinking runs to evade the defense & score another try. The conversion was successful & the home team were able to hang on to the hard earned lead & register without doubt their best victory for many a year.