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| 24 Apr 2023 | |
| Written by Malcolm Davies | |
| Sports |
Having reached the semi-final in the Cup E's faced an away fixture to St.Mary's Old Boys RFC (SMOB) and having beaten them twice in the league you would have been forgiven for thinking that this was just a formality in qualifying for the final.
1st XV SQUAD: Jack Houlder, James Brooke, Tom Brewer, Adam Skyner, Henry Kirkpatrick, Joe Brock, George Burnie, Jakob Harding, Matty Brewer, Monty Nash, Tobias Burden, Sam Brewer, Pat Dore, Luke Jagger, Will Appleton, Lucas Sadler, Archie Walker, Dom Swann.
MATCH REPORT: Es started the match strongly putting pressure on the SMOB defence for the first ten minutes but SMOB escaped without any damage inflicted. Well yes, we can say we played well in the first ten minutes! SMOB's confidence grew and apart from Sam Brewer Es seemed lethargic in defence and SMOB seemed to breach the Blue Wall far too easily and despite the play ebbing to and fro for a while it was SMOB who broke the deadlock with an unconverted try in the corner (5-0).
The holes in the Es' defence seemed to grow larger and SMOB were putting together some smart moves and despite desperate defence it was SMOB who scored again with an unconverted try (10-0).
Es then suffered a big blow when Matty Brewer was forced to leave the pitch with a broken arm. So, a reshuffle for Es with Monty Nash moving into Scrum Half and Dom Swann slotting into Fly Half. SMOB were penalised by the young BGS (18 year old) referee for wheeling the scrum (the referee was excellent throughout the match). A SMOB penalty kick 30m out was missed and the score remained unchanged. Es broke from their 22 but not for the first time the crucial pass went astray.
Half-Time – (10 – 0) Es still in the game and supporters felt confident for the second half kicking with the wind.
Lucas Sadler and Archie Walker on. The second half saw Es stuck in their 22 for a good while and another try from SMOB was inevitable, not converted though (15-0) the kicker's inaccuracy keeping Es in the game - just!
For Es it was an afternoon where nothing was clicking, there was a comedy of errors with mistake after mistake. However, Es did have their chances to score and narrow the gap but unusually didn't take their chances. With SMOB breaking the Es' line at will and having great support on the shoulder they scored again, not converted (20-0), and it wasn't long before great SMOB passing took them further ahead with a converted try (27-0).
Cries from the SMOB players to keep a clean sheet were shattered when Es' player of the match, Sam Brewer broke through to score a good try, not converted (27-5).
SMOB though, were to have the last laugh with their own try not converted (32-5).
So OEs have been unable to win the Cup but they can take solace from the fact that they have done well this season in coming second in their league.
FINAL SCORE: St Mary's Old Boys 32 – 5 Old Elizabethans
Man of the Match: Sam Brewer
Supporters Man of Match: George Burnie
We all wish Matty Brewer a very speedy recovery
Report by: Paul 'Blakey' Barrington
Editor's Note: Old Elizabethans RFC have given us supporters some wonderful rugby this season and I have thoroughly enjoyed going to see them play each week. They have done themselves proud.
See you next season
