G's v Old Colfeians

With 7 weeks of pre-season training under our belts, the first game of 23/24 had echoes of our last game against Wensleydale - an unknown team, with a big, solid pack coached by ex-pros at hooker and back row. Old Colfeians, however, play their rugby up in the Regional leagues (level 6) and their lumpy forwards are coached by Rugby World Cup winner Vicky Fleetwood, who played for England at both hooker and back row.

Fortunately, game week preparation was all about our rugby with barely a mention of the opposition. A mixed squad of 20+ players took to the field on a hot, sunny day for 3 x 25 minute thirds with a simple message - start strongly and play positively.

And so the game began, with EG soaking up the early exchanges under new tackle laws against a team already with minutes under their belts the week before. Having stood their ground and worked their way into the game, EG found their strengths with a formidable scrum and excellent hands.

Connor Leggat, having delayed his big move to the front row, led the team from the back of the scrum. Ever-dominant in contact, he was first on the score sheet, stubbornly shoving aside tacklers as he dived over from 5m out. He then took every home fan's breath away when the referee blew the whistle for a thunderous tackle that tested his interpretation of "horizontal", but was mercifully deemed a penalty-only offence.

The second try of the match came from a first-phase move off the back of a scrum, straight off the training pitch. Connor attacked the gain line before giving the ball to then be pulled out the back to Noah Roberts who sent Ali Moffatt clear down the right wing. Ever-composed kicking from Oli Billin took the game to 14-0, allaying any fears of a slow start.

Unfortunately, with the first 25 minute period coming to an end, complacency set in as the team began watching the clock. Brief lapses of focus allowed Colfeians back into the game, picking off holes in a previously robust defensive line to bring the score back to 14-12 at the break.

As the replacements rolled on, the opposition picked up where they left off but errors crept into the East Grinstead attack. Playing with the same ambition, new player combinations struggled to click and maintain the cohesion of the first 25.

Full back Sam Spriddell stretched our lead to 19-12 off the back of some slick handling, but Old Colfeians' offloading game and match fitness helped them to 2 more tries before the second break at 19-26.

MOTM Guy Collins resumed business as usual, bossing his opposite number in the scrum, as well as being typically industrious around the park and using his initiative to demand the ball at a lineout so he could dance his way down the 5m channel. I only wish the Veo camera could adequately capture this intimate magic moment between Guy and hooker Mark Oliver, as they caught everyone else by surprise.

While the game got away from us with 2 more tries conceded in the final third, the overall mood was buoyant at the final whistle (and not just because I was desperate for the rest). Old Colfeians had been pushed hard, and we had blown off the cobwebs and blooded some new players as training ramps up for our season opener against Twickenham.

Preseason is a time to bed in new ideas, find out what works, and build experience with new combinations around the field. Two years ago we tested ourselves against higher league opposition in 3 pre-season defeats before going on to an undefeated season. These are the games that teach us the most, and on Saturday we learned that our rugby is moving in the right direction, and our depth of talent goes far beyond the 1st team regulars.