G's have third game in a row on the road against unknown Haywards Heath 2's

Saturday 28th September, the day Japan shook the Rugby World Cup by defeating Ireland, 4 years after their shock win against South Africa – an upset against East Grinstead however was not on the cards and the G’s were mentally switched on to prevent it from happening.

The match started with East Grinstead kicking off downfield with the sun beaming down and the wind in their faces. After an effective kick off from Oli Billin G’s managed to apply pressure from the off with our mobile pack bearing down on the HH attack. Only two minutes into the game after G’s turned the ball over in the breakdown, Ali Schofield distributed the ball blind to Billin who drew the defence, allowing an offload to hooker Mark Oliver in space to run the ball in hard down the right wing and score in the corner. The kick looked good, but the high winds battering Haywards Heaths pitch meant the ball carried just wide.

Over the next 10 minutes both teams strung some good phases of play together and the 10’s and full backs were challenging each other with high balls to see how they coped in the wind. Discipline at the breakdown in the early stages from G’s was far from optimal, giving away both attacking and defensive penalty’s which ultimately lead to HH’s first try after HH reacted quickly to a penalty for the ball carrier not releasing, quickly tapping and going, crashing over the G’s line. HH converted, putting HH in the lead for the first (and only) time in the game.

For the rest of the half G’s looked dominant, especially in the scrums and our backs youthful pace stunned HH. Both these areas helped contribute to the other 3 tries scored in the half. Ben Beard and Oli Adams both had fantastic runs down their respective wings to earn themselves a try apiece in the first half, Oli using his quick feet to manoeuvre players, Ben using his strength and pace to run through them and shrug off tackles. Matt Tomkinson got himself on the scoreboard thanks to G’s overwhelmingly powerful scrum, driving HH over the whitewash to allow Matt at number 8 to touch down.

First half score: Haywards Heath 2XV 7 – 24 East Grinstead

After the restart, as like our game against Eastbourne, Haywards Heath came back firing, coming as a shock to G’s who had spent much of the first half on top. 3 minutes into the half HH’s intensity, especially in the rucks and their strong ball carrying, earned them a try, flicking the switch back on for G’s that they cannot afford to be complacent and drop off their own intensity.

Again, G’s scrum was a dominant force, often the restart method of choice for much of the game for G’s when penalties were awarded. The first try in the second half was the result of G’s opting to scrum after receiving a penalty, providing a solid platform for the backs to spread the ball wide to Adams who as he went to score in the corner was tackled illegally and was awarded a penalty try for his efforts, which on reflection prevented him from getting a hat-trick since he scored again later in the half. It’s amazing what these young players are willing to do to avoid buying a jug.

Ben Beard also scored another try in the second half, however, prop James Funnel this season has clearly had enough of the old saying “forwards do all the work and the backs get all the glory”, after he scored his second try this season (apparently his joint highest try scoring season already!), this time after a powerful rolling maul from the G’s which allowed Funnel to crash over the line. Another forward also got his name on the scoreboard, James Busby. Busby is a young, athletic second row forward, however, as it turns out, he isn’t the fastest runner over 50 meters. Busby broke free in the G’s own half, panic surely gripping him as he found himself in an expanse of space with the try line looking a long way away. However, he kept trundling up field, HH’s players gaining on him, but he kicked on. His second row partner, Thomas Halligey however opting not to join him in his endeavour to run the majority of the length of the pitch, exclaiming “I know he can do it”. Thankfully, Halligey was correct, and relief was earned for Busby’s tiring legs and over worked lungs, as managed to reach the try line before HH’s impending defenders.

Full time score: Haywards Heath 2XV 12 – 57 East Grinstead

A unanimous decision was reached on deciding who rightly deserved to be awarded Man of the Match. James Funnel; dominant in the scrums, carried well and was an effective leader on the pitch, playing in what was a personal grudge match for him since Haywards Heath is the town where he lives.

Step 3 complete, 19 steps to go.
#ONWARDS!