Firsts bounce back at Uckfield in the wind!!

EG visited Uckfield looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing to Hellingly last time out. We didn't have the best of preparation with Sandys delayed at work and unable to arrive until well into the game. This meant a reshuffle and slight change in game plan. With the weather always going to play a part this week with 50mph winds it was important that accuracy was maintained.
We chose to play into the wind in the first half and were immediately on the back foot as a dropped ball from the kick off gave them an attacking platform. A few phases later they had scored the softest of opening tries within a couple of minutes. Things didn't get any better from the kick off as it blew back in the wind and didn't go ten metres. We gradually got some possession and for the next eight minutes or so took the ball deep into the Uckfield defence with big carries from Perry, Andrews and Beanland. Good tight work from the forwards lead to an opportunity for Andrews to crash over for our first of the day. Swadling kicked the conversion. Surely we would learn for our previous mistake and get the kick off sorted. A good catch was carried up and set up. However, the resulting carry was stripped and gave Uckfield another opportunity in the 22. They took the opportunity well but yet another feeling of a soft try given up needlessly. We continued to play a tight game with the forwards working hard carrying and making great yards both tight around the fringes and off 9 and 10. We had a long period of time in their half and continued to make inroads into the defence. Perry and Andrews continued to link and carry well and Funnell was growing into the game. Andrews worked well to create an opportunity that saw him touchdown for his second of the day. Swadling kicked an excellent conversion. We continued to dominate possession but it was had to get large gains in territory with the wind restricting options to tap and run penalties. We kept possession well for the remainder of the half and despite losing Hulst for ten minutes to a yellow card were unlucky not to have added to the score card. 14-12 up at half time was a reasonable position to be in given we had given away two pretty soft tries.
We talked at half time about being accurate with the kicking game in the second half, using the ball a little more in wide channels and making it hard for them playing into the wind. However, again it was Uckfield who started the strongest and scored the try of the day with some good offloading and strong finish from the impressive winger. From then on it was pretty much one way traffic with us having the large majority of possession and now territory. Sandys eventually arrived and gave us a huge lift in the centre with some strong runs. From one such run we set up phases in the red zone and Perry carried hard to score our third of the day. Swadling kicked the conversion to put us 21-17 up. We continued to press and good set piece was giving us a strong platform to play off. Whilst it didn't quite click signs where there that it is starting to come. With ten minutes to go a breakdown infringement from Uckfield gave Swadling the chance to slot the penalty to extend the lead, which he did. The final ten minutes saw us batter their line looking for the bonus point try. Some strong defence and at times indecision in attack meant we didn't quite get there despite being held up over the line on a couple of occasions. When we finally looked to have an opportunity the referee stopped play because of an injured player and then informed us that time was up. A good 24-17 win.

Head Coach Rhodri Lewis said,' Great to get back to winning ways, even if it wasn't very pretty. The work rate, attitude and effort to find a way to play in that wind today was excellent. We are still making too many basic errors and there is still loads of room for improvement and that's what excites me. We haven't reached 60% of what we are capable of yet and once things start to click, it is starting to come, we will start to reap the rewards. Nice to welcome a few back into the squad today, still a few more to come back and with big games over the next few weeks that will be important for us. The frustration from today is again missing out on a bonus point, but the win was vital.'

Next week we host Eastbourne and we would love to have your support once more.