G's v KCS Old Boys

Having secured the first points in the new league away at Trinity, East Grinstead prepared for a tough home fixture against KCS Old Boys. KCS have come down a league as East Grinstead have come up a league and so the preparations during the week were excellent as you would expect.

The day was a special one for EGRFC as the team remembered the passing of their former
Head Coach, Matt Ratana, who sadly passed away three years before.

G’s kicked off and the experienced KCS side gathered and cleared their lines; territory is clearly going to be a key focus for this league.

Winning their line out G’s moved the ball wide through Aaron Bozcek and Ali Moffat and won the first penalty of the match. Oli Billin giving the G’s the first attack from a line out on the 22. Closely followed by their second. G’s, much improved lineout was won but handling errors cost the chance for first points.

However, G’s didn’t let up and the dominant pack turned the scrum over, allowing G’s backs to exploit some space and win the third penalty in as many minutes 5 meters out. A quick tap and a scamper, from debutant scrum-half Harry White, and G’s were over for the first score of the afternoon. Oli Billins with the conversion. 7-0 to East Grinstead.

Keeping the pressure well and truly on, G’s launched attack after attack winnings numerous penalties in the KCS half and taking an additional 3 points on offer to make the score after 20 minutes 10-0 to EG.

Again G’s pushed hard into the KCS half, adding pressure and penalties as they went. Oli Billin narrowly missing a chance to add an additional 3 points and combined with multiple handling errors gave the away side the chance to clear lines and draw a line in the sand.

The experience of playing at this level now came to the surface as KCS retaliated with their first forward momentum of the game. With two visits to the G’s 22, they came away with 12 points of their own before the half.

Half time. East Grinstead 10 - 12 KCS Old Boys.

The second half was an arm wrestle with both teams dominating in places.

KCS started strong putting phase play together with strong carries over the gain line and eating into the G’s territory. Just when the attack looked to reach its crescendo, Chris Taylor read the play and scored a 70 meter interception try for his first try in the 1st XV. With the conversion added 17-12 to EG.

The away side stood firm and came back to score two tries in quick succession, with Max Crawley-Moore seeing his first yellow card for three years to boot.

17 – 26 with 10 minutes to play, 14 men on the park.

Galvanised by the yellow, G’s now played some of the best rugby of the afternoon and, for the first time in the second half, dictated the pace of the rugby being played. Thundering carries and quick hands allowed Harry White a yard of space out wide to find the try line for the second time.

22 – 26 with 4 on the clock and back to a full complement of 15 men.

Whilst playing Trinity away the week before in the dying moments of the game, G’s had a scrum on their own 10 meter line and needed a try to win. They managed that feat away, could they perform the same at home?

The energy and intensity was there. Phase after phase G’s crashed over the gain line, creating space and exploiting it. On two occasions if the final pass had gone to the right person a try was almost guaranteed.

It was not to be on this day. G’s attack ran out of puff and a knock on signalled the end of the match.

Final score. East Grinstead 22 – 26 KCS Old Boys.

Last season there were two leagues separating the two teams and only 4 points separated them on the paddock, G’s securing a losing bonus point.

I think Matt Ratana would’ve been very proud of that result.

G’s now face up against unbeaten side, Old Tiffinians, away from home in what should be a physical encounter.

Lots to work on but lots of positives.

Onwards.