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1st BATTALION THE RIFLES 32 - EAST LONDON RFC 19
Eddie Gooby23 Jul 2018 - 09:55
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Defeated by last minute breakaway try
East London RFC travelled to Allianz Park, home of Aviva Premiership champions Saracens, on Saturday (21 July) to take part in the annual Rifleman’s Gathering challenge match.
In the corresponding fixture last year the 1st Battalion the Rifles put 50 points on the visiting East Londoners and despite only a few weeks of pre-season training, director of rugby Gary Pearmain and new head coach Eddie Gooby were hoping for a different result this time.
From the off East London took the game to the Rifles and on two minutes shocked the hosts with a well worked try scored by hooker Lewis Bourke and converted by fly-half Alex Pearmain.
The visitors were hampered by the early loss of number eight Rob Yiannakou and inside centre Joe Kelly to injury. The game flowed from end to end and the Rifles had to resort to a penalty kick on 25 minutes to get them on the score board.
With both defences on top it took a bit of bad luck and a couple of defensive lapses in the final five minutes of the half for the Riflemen to take the lead with two tries. Only one was converted and they went to the break 15-7 ahead.
As the temperature soared, East London made ten changes and as the new players were settling into the fast pace of the game, another try was conceded which went unconverted.
At this point in last year’s game the flood gates opened up but this is a different East London squad. Running some new systems of play with great interplay between forwards and backs, they scored the next try. Second row Dave Gibson collected a line out in the corner and bundled over. The conversion was missed for a 20-12 scoreline.
Alex Pearmain had an opportunity to reduce the gap but a penalty in front of the posts from distance hit the upright. A late tackle by a Rifles player reduced then to 14 men.
East London sensed victory and after great possession from the forwards, scrum-half Alex Mylchreest scored with ten minutes. Pearmain converted to make it a one point game.
The Rifles added another unconverted try on 85 minutes but the East Londoners sensed they could still nick the game from 25-19 down. The visitors regrouped and built a solid platform and as the clocked ticked down pounded the Rifles try line.
At the death they created a 2 on 1 out wide to the right. As the pass was made, the Rifles left winger gambled and intercepted the ball to run the length of the pitch and score beneath the East London post. The try was converted for a 32-19 defeat.
It was the final act of a very entertaining and skilful game in which both teams gave everything. The respect from both sides was evident at the final whistle.
Head coach Gooby said: “The boys have earned the respect of everyone and I am buzzing at this performance. I cannot wait for the season to start. The players have been awesome.”
In the corresponding fixture last year the 1st Battalion the Rifles put 50 points on the visiting East Londoners and despite only a few weeks of pre-season training, director of rugby Gary Pearmain and new head coach Eddie Gooby were hoping for a different result this time.
From the off East London took the game to the Rifles and on two minutes shocked the hosts with a well worked try scored by hooker Lewis Bourke and converted by fly-half Alex Pearmain.
The visitors were hampered by the early loss of number eight Rob Yiannakou and inside centre Joe Kelly to injury. The game flowed from end to end and the Rifles had to resort to a penalty kick on 25 minutes to get them on the score board.
With both defences on top it took a bit of bad luck and a couple of defensive lapses in the final five minutes of the half for the Riflemen to take the lead with two tries. Only one was converted and they went to the break 15-7 ahead.
As the temperature soared, East London made ten changes and as the new players were settling into the fast pace of the game, another try was conceded which went unconverted.
At this point in last year’s game the flood gates opened up but this is a different East London squad. Running some new systems of play with great interplay between forwards and backs, they scored the next try. Second row Dave Gibson collected a line out in the corner and bundled over. The conversion was missed for a 20-12 scoreline.
Alex Pearmain had an opportunity to reduce the gap but a penalty in front of the posts from distance hit the upright. A late tackle by a Rifles player reduced then to 14 men.
East London sensed victory and after great possession from the forwards, scrum-half Alex Mylchreest scored with ten minutes. Pearmain converted to make it a one point game.
The Rifles added another unconverted try on 85 minutes but the East Londoners sensed they could still nick the game from 25-19 down. The visitors regrouped and built a solid platform and as the clocked ticked down pounded the Rifles try line.
At the death they created a 2 on 1 out wide to the right. As the pass was made, the Rifles left winger gambled and intercepted the ball to run the length of the pitch and score beneath the East London post. The try was converted for a 32-19 defeat.
It was the final act of a very entertaining and skilful game in which both teams gave everything. The respect from both sides was evident at the final whistle.
Head coach Gooby said: “The boys have earned the respect of everyone and I am buzzing at this performance. I cannot wait for the season to start. The players have been awesome.”
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