Match Report
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| Date - 18th December 2004 |
Old Brentwoods 2nd XV -v- East London 3rd XV |
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| Old Brentwoods II 21 East London III 19 |
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| The Old Boys produced a magnificent team performance to beat East
London with the last kick of the game at Ashwells Road on Saturday.
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| Both teams started positively in the ideal conditions and managed to
cancel each others' efforts out for much of the early period.
The deadlock was broken after twenty minutes with Paul Buchanan receiving
a pass from Perry Reeves in his own half and blasting his way through
the visitors' defence to score impressively under the posts. Reeves
converted the try to take full advantage of the visitors' errors.
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| However the score only proved to galvanize the East London side and it
took them just five minutes to level the scores with a well-worked try
stemming from a lineout inside the Old Boys' 22.
From the kick-off the visitors took the ball on again and with some
good support play crossed the Old Boys' line once more for a further
converted try to make the score 14-7.
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| The Old Boys came back into the game following the restart and some
typical darting runs from Alex Hughes from the base of scrums and from
quickly-taken penalties gave the home team some good opportunities.
However runs from Ian Hannaway, Simon Peace and James Faiers continued
to be thwarted by the great defence from the visitors. Despite great
efforts from both sides the score remained unchanged up to half-time.
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| The second half started where the first left off with both teams fully
committed. The Old Boys continued to dominate the scrums and through Pat
Stroud's and Michael Bache's efforts in the lineouts they were able to
provide good ball for the backs.
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| As the game began to open up it was clear that the next side to score
would have a massive advantage. The score came ten minutes into the half
for East London, the try stemming from some slack defending - for once -
from the home team. The conversion was missed but the visitors seemed
untroubled with the score at 19-7.
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| Old Brentwoods have shown tremendous character this season and their
'never say die' attitude, which was epitomised by Jonny Davis, Paddy
Bache and Ed Tomlinson among others, proved to keep the Old Boys
focussed on the game.
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| With substitutions being made midway through the half, both teams
attempted to up the pace.
However it was the home team that managed to reassert themselves
better and a succession of winning scrums against the head brought them
the rewards they deserved.
A scrum five metres from the line was won by Dave Kavanagh and the great
efforts from the pack managed to drive the scrum forward to give Jamie
Keane the chance to dive over the line for a try beside the posts.
Reeves converted and suddenly with five minutes to go the game was back in
the balance.
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| The Old Boys continued to press and with moments to go the visitors
were penalised five metres from their line. The Old Boys opted for the
scrum and again were strong and focussed. With a final effort Keane went
over for his second try to level the scores.
Reeves remained cool under pressure and stroked the ball over to give the
Old Boys their best win of the season so far.
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