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| 2 Feb 2025 | |
| Written by Malcolm Davies | |
| Sports |
Having suffered a fairly heavy defeat at home to Dursley RFC earlier in the season Es travelled up to Dursley hoping to have a better showing and based on recent good results to at least give the Dursley boys a good run for their money!
1st XV SQUAD: Conor McGrath, Jack Houlder, Toby Wilcox, Adam Skyner, Callum McCarthy, Matt Bailey, George Burnie, Joe Mallander, Will Patterson, Monty Nash, Ollie Lunt, Pat Dore, Sam Brewer, Tom Scott-Dempster, Arthur Mills, Greg Foord, Liam Bailey, Alex Lee
Callum McCarthy was replaced at the last minute by James Brookes
A cool but still afternoon greeted Es at Dursley RFC who were hosting their Old Boys for a Pre Match Lunch and therefore assured of a good level of support whilst a good number of Es’ followers had also turned up to cheer on the 1st XV. Es were to play the first half up the slight slope.
MATCH REPORT:
Es were clearly fired up as the two teams opened this clash with Dursley sitting 3rd in the league and Es in 8th position but in good form! The first scrum had to be reset and then was lost before an early swirling clearance kick by Dursley was well gathered by Arthur Mills who made good ground slipping the ball to vice skipper Pat Dore and then onto Ollie Lunt who sped down the left wing to score in the far corner followed by an excellent successful conversion from Monty Nash (0-7).
Es were then penalised (the first of a high number of Penalties against received throughout the game), and Dursley made good ground down the left hand side of the pitch and won their lineout before driving Es back from 12m out to score a converted try (7-7).
Es then stole a Dursley lineout and Liam Bailey went on a good run before Es were penalised again! Dursley again pressured Es’ 22 but Es survived and had a good clearance kick from a penalty. Dursley then had a strong break from their 22 down their right wing before a great tackle from Ollie Lunt left him injured and was replaced by Alex Lee. Dursley then won their own scrum and broke down the right wing to score a second try, not converted (12-7).
From the restart Joe Mallander put in a great hit and from a subsequent lineout Es’ Pat Dore made good inroads before passing to Arthur Mills who scored a well worked try , not converted (12-12).
Lock Adam Skyner was working hard in the lineout and stole a number of Dursley put ins during the game.
Es were penalised again for offside and Dursley opted to kick for the posts but missed.
From the base of an Es scrum, Will Patterson, Sam Brewer and Tom Scott-Dempster made a good break but Es again gave away a penalty! Arthur Mills then put in two great tackles in quick succession and Es pressurised Dursley in their 22 just before half time but unfortunately couldn’t make it count. A Dursley player was then Yellow Carded for a high tackle, Es broke well from the penalty through George Burnie and despite a scrum 5m out Es couldn’t capitalise.
Half Time score (Dursley 12 - 12 Old Elizabethans).
Es had the advantage of the slope in the second half but needed to make sure they didn’t rely upon it!
Dursley started the second half strongly and their No 10 evaded 4 tackles and set up a great attack from which they scored a converted try (19-12).
Despite this setback Es responded very quickly and a quick lineout from Sam Brewer to Will Patterson and a great pass to Pat Dore running a great line saw him burst through the defence to score with Monty Nash converting for the 2 extra points to draw level (19-19).
A great clearance kick from Monty Nash took Es up to half way after the restart. George Burnie then stole the Dursley lineout before a great move involving Arthur Mills and Sam Brewer setting up Matt Bailey for a try under the posts converted by Monty Nash for Es to take the lead at (19-26).
Es continued to apply pressure from the restart with a good run from Alex Lee and separately from Arthur Mills before Es were again penalised. Dursley’s grasp on the game was then weakened further when their No.7 was Yellow carded for shoving an Es player in the throat. The Es penalty kick didn’t make touch and Dursley attacked before Es were penalised again.
A great tackle from skipper George Burnie halted the Dursley attack. From a scrum the ball was shipped from No.8 Joe Mallander to scrum half Patty onwards to Alex Lee and then Sam Brewer passed to Pat Dore before a slick pass to Arthur Mills put him through for his second try of the day. The extras were once again secured by Monty Nash (19-33).
From a defensive position Es winger Ollie Lunt, back on the field, caught a good cross field kick and but for a good Dursley tackle could have broken free.
Dursley were working hard to get back into the game but Es defended their line as if their lives depended on it, winning a lineout on the 5m and putting in some great tackles before Ollie Lunt broke free with two great kicks down the left wing but unfortunately the ball went dead.
Sam Brewer off with cramp saw Tom Scott-Dempster return to the field and Alex Lee went to Centre. Es forwards were getting the upper hand in the scrum as Dursley peddled backwards! A great popped pass from Adam Skyner set Es on another good attack before being penalised again!
Despite a great tackle from George Burnie, Dursley broke into the Es half and there they remained. Jack Houlder was replaced by James Brookes. With 7 minutes to go Conor McGrath stole the ball in a Maul following a Dursley lineout and made good headway. Then, however, Es almost imploded with three Yellow Cards being shown to Es players in quick succession, firstly James Brooke, hardly been on the pitch a few minutes, then George Burnie before Will Patterson was also penalised in the same way.
Es down to 12 men were frantic in defence and gave away several penalties on the 5m line with Dursley opting to take a scrum on each occasion but Es forwards with Toby Wilcox back on dramatically held out and eventually Dursley were themselves penalised for breaking their binding in a 5m scrum, before Monty Nash, kicked the ball over the dead ball line for the final whistle to be blown, Es securing a well deserved win at (19-33).
This was a tremendous win and ensured the great run of results continued and promoted Es up to 6th place in the league with the rearranged match at Hallen vs Bream RFC now awaiting Es next Saturday - see you there!
FINAL SCORE: Dursley RFC 19 – 33 Old Elizabethans
Man of the Match: Monty Nash
Spectators Man of the Match: A brilliant performance by all 18 Es’ players and indeed the Es Spectators decided that Man/Men of the Match should be the whole squad!
SCORERS:
Tries: Ollie Lunt, Pat Dore, Arthur Mills (2), Matt Bailey
Conversions: Monty Nash (4)
Full League Table and Fixture List below
Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington
CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website
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