East London RFC’s 1st XV will be playing for silverware after winning 45-72 at Maldon on Saturday (4th May) in the semi-final of the Essex Intermediate Cup.

The maroon and blues now face Counties 1 Essex rivals Upminster in the final on Saturday (11th May). The game kicks-off at 2pm at Thurrock RFC.

The match was an end-to-end affair, befitting of a semi-final, with both sides committed to attack. East London’s Director of Rugby Eddie Gooby said: “You couldn’t take your eyes off it and hopefully the final will be the same. We have a lot of respect for Upminster and we are one game all for the season, having each won at the other’s ground in the league.”

The visitors ran in 11 tries to secure the win with a hat-trick from inside centre Antoine Louis, two from full back Luca Rizzo, and single efforts from scrum-half Dave Cohen, fly-half Rob Smart, outside centre Matt Shacklady, left wing Hamish Veitch, number 8 Nick Parrott and replacement winger Zviko Jabangwe. Louis kicked five conversions and Rizzo two conversions. Louis also landed a penalty.

East London 1st XV versus Maldon: 1. Simon Leke; 2. Chris Brown (C); 3. Frazer Wilson; 4. Geoff Coleman; 5. Luke Staples-Preston; 6. Jack Roughan; 7. Ben Clare; 8. Nick Parrott; 9. Dave Cohen; 10. Rob Smart; 11. Hamish Veitch; 12. Antoine Louis; 13. Matt Shacklady; 14. Josh O’Neill; 15. Luca Rizzo. Replacements: 16. Jack Rice-Lines; 17. Eoin Kelly; 18. Archie Leport; 19. Dan Roach-Williams; 20. Zviko Jabangwe.