Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Bream 1st XV
8 February 2025

After losing (26-17) at Bream in one of the first matches of the 2024/25 season Es were now looking to put one over on Bream at Fortress Hallen in this rearranged fixture!

1st XV SQUAD: Conor McGrath, Jack Houlder, Toby Wilcox, Adam Skyner, Callum McCarthy, Matt Bailey, Liam Bailey, George Burnie, Wil Patterson, Monty Nash, Ollie Lunt, Pat Dore, Sam Brewer, Will Monro, Arthur Mills, James Brookes, Archie Joslin, Alex Copinger-Sykes

Es were forced into a last minute change with Matt Bailey reporting in sick, but a great replacement in the form of Luke “I’ve been out injured for ages” Jagger. Great to see him back in the 1st XV. Playing a game of golf with his dad in the morning Luke had said two things “(i) he was hoping to be involved in a win, and (ii) that he would kick a chip through, collecting the ball to go over for a winning try!” So, let’s see how Luke’s wishes panned out.

Once in every while comes along a truly exciting game of rugby where a superb score in the last two minutes secures a win and I’m not talking about England’s narrow victory over an exciting French team, but which way would it go in this 4th vs 6th league fixture?

MATCH REPORT:
So a cold February afternoon welcomed bogey team Bream RFC to Hallen. Es kicked off the first half playing away from the clubhouse and seemed to settle into the game relatively quickly but then so did Bream and both teams therefore in the early exchanges cancelled each other out in the main.

This was to be a game of two halves, a game with a high level of penalties where the ref was being assessed and to many supporters of both teams was a little whistle happy such that the game didn’t flow like maybe it could have done. The penalty count against Es was high throughout the match but Bream also suffered from this in the second half, a fact that didn’t help Bream’s quest to get a season’s double over Es.

Many couldn’t see any fault when Es vice skipper Pat Dore was Yellow carded for a high tackle! Es then had a second setback when fly half Monty Nash appeared to have twisted an ankle being replaced by Archie Joslin.

Bream were mounting increased pressure on Es 22 and this led to a third setback for Es when the Ref showed Yellow to Es skipper George Burnie, Es down to 13 men. Almost immediately Bream broke left from a scrum and created space for their left winger to score an unconverted try in the corner (0-5).

Fleetingly Es had some good possession as scrum half Wil Patterson broke from the base of the scrum beating 3 players before Sam Brewer and Will Monro pushed forward, however this was short lived and Bream returned to Es’ 22 with real intention and a series of attacks led to their second and converted try (0-12).

With Es back to full strength and Monty Nash back on the pitch Es had a great back line move which led to an Es’ penalty and the first bit of good news for Es as Monty Nash slotted the ball between the posts (3-12).

Despite this, things continued to go wrong and Es suffered further penalties and from the touchline it was difficult to see what we were doing wrong and so it was somewhat of a relief when Half Time came!

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 3 – 12 Bream).

Will Monro, Pat Dore and Toby Wilcox all played their part early in the second half to get Es moving forward and a further successful penalty kick from Monty Nash gave Es some hope (6-12).

Another attack from Es unfortunately led to an injury to Pat Dore, forced to leave the field he was replaced by Archie Joslin who came on to have a fine performance in the centre.

A good series of attacks from Es led to another kickable penalty, but being within 7 points Es supporters were wondering whether to kick for touch, however it didn’t matter as the kick was missed anyway and the score remained at (6-12).

Once again in the next move Es were penalised again for a high tackle which was unbelievable as the Bream players head was probably only 6 inches above the ground before the Es player made contact, anyway we know not to question the referee! A few moments later Bream were penalised and they did question the decision and were duly marched back 10m.

The Es scrum was starting to get the upper hand and not only providing a good platform for Es attacks but putting Bream under increasing pressure. A good run and kick through by Ollie Lunt unfortunately came to nothing but then Es were awarded a further kickable penalty in front the posts and Monty Nash stepped up to deliver and put Es within three points of Bream (9-12).

Ollie Lunt was replaced by Alex Copinger-Symes. An up and under by Es was well caught by Will Monro and then Bream were penalised again and Es kick to touch followed by a great catch and drive unfortunately led to nothing due to a knock on by Es.

Good interventions from Conor McGrath, Archie Joslin and Alex CS kept up the pressure from Es followed by a great charge down by Adam Skyner who was working hard with his 2nd row partner Callum Mcarthy. A quick line taken by Es saw Arthur Mills break a few tackles before being stopped by a high tackle and Es Monty Nash duly punished Bream with another good kick through the uprights (12-12).

A draw would have been a good result but Es tails were up now and Bream were finding it hard to live with the ferocity of the Es’ attacks. Callum McCarthy was then replaced by fresh legs in James Brooke. Skipper George Burnie was leading from the front and broke numerous tackles in several telling runs and Bream were once again penalised and for the first time in the game Es took the lead as Monty Nash cooly took the three points on offer (15-12).

Bream however were by no means finished and pushed Es back into their 22 but twice/three times Es repelled the attacks with some great tackles from Wil Patterson and others stopping Bream as they desperately tried to breach the Es Blue Wall. A great run from Liam Bailey and Will Monro took play back upfield and Bream were not to pose any further threat as Es pushed Bream back at every opportunity.

Once again George Burnie broke from his No.8 position at the scrum and made 30 yards with the ball spun out to the line of Es’ attackers, both forwards and backs and with only a couple of minutes left Luke Jagger kicked the ball through and behind the Bream defence (remember he’d told his dad he would) and with a kind bounce Alex Copinger-Symes evaded 1, 2 or maybe 3 tackles to score an excellent try and the icing on the cake was applied with the conversion by Monty Nash (22-12) and the Es’ spectators and players went mad with excitement.

A brilliant recovery and fantastic second half from Es had given them a well earned victory against a good well organised Bream team. Bream couldn’t live with Es in the second half and whilst at times the game could have swung either way it was with big heart, one and all, that Es clawed their way back into the game, and deserved this prestigious win securing their 6th place in the league with another hard game next week away to old foes Old Colstonians - see you there!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 22 – 12 Bream

Man of the Match for Players and Spectators: George Burnie, a real skippers performance dragging Es back into the game leading by example, just what you want from your skipper! Special mention should also be given to Monty Nash who kicked Es back into contention when all seemed lost!

SCORERS:
Tries: Alex Copinger-Symes
Conversions: Monty Nash
Penalties: Monty Nash (5)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

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