Eastbourne v G's

After back-to-back promotions for EGRFC, this season has been about adapting to the challenges of the new league. On Saturday however, the boys looked forward to something more familiar, like catching up with an old friend. Except instead of leaving you with a warm fuzzy feeling, the winter away trip to Eastbourne is more likely to leave you with hypothermia and trench foot.

As it happened, the driving rain eased off, the temperature rose to a balmy 15 degrees and the pitch was firmer than the usual bog next to the Eastbourne clubhouse. Electing to play into the wind and uphill, Ryland Thomas's men knew exactly the challenge ahead of them.

Eastbourne struck first with a penalty directly in front of the posts for a late tackle, but rubbed salt in the wound as they exited from the restart. A high hanging kick wavered in the wind and bounced between the retreating defence and the EG back three. As Eastbourne regathered, Oli Billin's slip in the mud was enough to open the door on the halfway line leaving a 3-on-1 and a foot race to the try line to make it 10-0.

With neither team clicking in the lineout, attacking relied on plays off scrums and an intelligent kicking game in the conditions. Oli Billin started to build a score in the second quarter, but it was Eastbourne who finished the half stronger. Having failed to make any headway with a lineout drive just inside the EG 22, Eastbourne spread the ball well to squeeze round our drift defence and score in the opposite corner. The score would be 15-6 to Eastbourne as they kicked up the hill to us in the second half.

After half time, Eastbourne were kept quiet as the away side looked to build momentum. Winning a scrappy lineout, the forwards were forced to carry hard and gradually bullied their way deep into the Eastbourne 22. Twelve bruising phases later, Dan Poulton demanded the ball for the backs leading to Ben Saunders receiving an offload in heavy traffic but jinking his way between scrambling defenders to take a well-earned try next to the posts. With the successful conversion, it was a 2-point game for the final quarter.

Twice he kicked us into the lead and twice we let Eastbourne claim it back before Oli Billin again found himself in the familiar position, with 5 mins left to play, lining up from the tee to take us into the lead by 1 point. Not wanting to take anything for granted from such a wide angle, the whole team was ready to chase the kick as it bounced just short of the posts and into Eastbourne hands. Making the grave error of running it out of their dead ball area at none other than Ben Tottman ready to chop him down, replacement Sam Lindsay-McCall engulfed the tackled player with his gangly arms to emerge with the ball on the EG side of the ruck, 5m from the try line. Energised and tasting potential victory, the backs pounced on this turnover ball, working it wide to Ben Saunders to score his second in the corner. No conversion, but a 3-point lead with 3 mins to go.

Receiving the kick-off, the instructions were simple - keep the ball, run down the clock. Repeatedly kicking possession away to escape our 22 required a prolonged defensive shift, with the pressure only piled on by a high tackle and yellow card for John Peaty with barely a minute remaining. Requiring a try to win, Eastbourne kicked for the corner and their last chance to score off a lineout. A good defensive read and steal at the lineout might have been enough to seal the game, but the desperate scramble to tidy up turnover ball on our try line led to a knock on and a last chance for Eastbourne. Committed to attacking the fringes of the ruck on our try line, Eastbourne were held out but remained patient before changing direction and crushing EG hopes with one last lunge for the line and the clock in the red.

A game EG felt they had won several times over ended 26-24 to the hosts, and once again it was for the coach and players to take away the positives from a valiant defeat, and to rue the opportunities that went begging.

In the crowded Eastbourne clubhouse afterwards, the opposition declared Oli Billin our Man of the Match for his 14 points from the tee. With the other 10 points coming from Ben Saunders tries, it was only fair that he was rewarded with a free pint as Dick of the Day. At least EG claimed the victory at finishing their pints, but the rugby needs more work on Tuesday and Thursday with Horsham to look forward to in the cup next week.