New Year Starts Well

Although a rest week for G’s 2’s, we felt a run out was important before our first league game of 2017 next weekend, so many thanks to Heathfield who came and gave us a good run out to help get rid of some of the cobwebs and turkey! It didn’t take long for Bowden, running at 12 for a change, to break the gainline and feed Marriott senior who opened the scoring under the posts. Heathfield had come a couple of players short and it wasn’t long before I was regretting my decision to let Ali play 9 for the oppo, as a lovely snipe up the blind side saw him score Heathfield’s only try of the game. At least we can say that only East Grinstead players scored in the match.

We scored eight tries in total with Spridell, Robo, Perry and Bowden all crossing the Heathfield whitewash and an awesome hat trick from Mikey Redmond really put the icing on the cake as the lively flanker returned from dislocating his kneecap last year. Some other real positives were; Ross Perry playing his first game for us looked a real find at 8, Tom Keeley playing his first game at hooker which really gives us options and Steve Lampkin was awesome on the side of the pack. Selection is going to get harder and harder as everyone is playing better and better. I must say that training at least once a week is fast becoming a necessary tick towards selection for this developing group of players as we strive towards our goal of going unbeaten for the whole season.

Massive thanks to Ali and Cormac who played for Heathfield - you both played beautifully all game and I’m sure our score would have been greater if it weren’t for your endeavors in attack and defence. Heathfield are a great group of boys and the game was played at excellent intensity and in extremely good spirits throughout. In fact the thing that made me most pleased was this message from the Greenies manager.

“Hi Matt.
Thanks for a very enjoyable game of rugby today. It was just what we needed after the Christmas break.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate East Grinstead as a club for the job you’re doing in rebuilding the club. From players to staff it has the friendliest/most welcoming atmosphere.
Good luck for the rest of the season and see you in three weeks.
Cheers Kenny”

Looking forward to playing them again in the league on the 28th.