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Hastings & Bexhill 27 - East Grinstead 7
With 6 players unavailable it was always going to be a tight game and forced changes on H&B, Phil Begg (hooker), Simon Mapstone (2nd row) and Peter Eames (scrumhalf) also Dave Hirst shifted to Right wing Phil Hilton to left wing and Murray Whittington in as full back. From the kick off H&B were for once ready to rumble as within 4 mins the pack led by old faith-full Duncan Dobson had forced a penalty 20mtrs out in front of the posts, up stepped Peter Eames and with the trusty right boot to made it 3-0 to the home side. The first half seemed to be one scrum after another, as simple handling errors on both sides seemed the order of the day. The front row of Dobson and birthday boy Neil Clark working hard to keep the advantage in what was two well matched packs, East Grinstead at times getting the push on driving against the usually solid H&B pack. H&B found themselves in their own 22 Grinstead with the throw. It went long and the wind took to ball wide expecting the whistle for not straight H&B's 8 Brian McNeilly didn’t re-act quick enough to stop his opposite number from going over to score, Grinstead also converted 3-7. A ticking off from Captain Phil and H&B set about getting t he points back good running from the centres Nick Beaney and Stand-off Mick Ellis seem them make good ground and after chipping ahead Matt Dawes found the line, but was judged held-up. Grinstead managed to clear the line but soon found the H&B rolling mauling closing in on the line, the maul started to fall and Brian McNeilly broke-off charging the line, he went over with the ball but failed to ground. Back for a 5 meter scrum and he was off again taking over two Grinstead players with him again to be told held-up by the ref, another 5 meter scrum and with the ball popping out quick McNeilly found himself and the same two players over the line for the third time, and yes the ref said held-up. The fourth scrum on the Grinstead 5 meter line was set and hoping that the focus was still on McNeilly Eames set the backs off on the open-side. Quick hands by Ellis and Eames opened a gap and winger Hirst cut back to the line being brought down short, the ball turned in a frantic grapple on the floor and Grinstead cleared the line and got a break with half-time.
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The restart and on came sub's Roger Kingston and Carl Bramwell for H&B the pack set up some important rucks allowing power player Kingston Eames to open the line and off-load to Ellis to Kerr to hooker Begg who romped over under the posts Eames converting 10-7. H&B at this point took the upper hand and became to open the game using both forward and back plays, Simon Mapstone picked from the back of a ruck and bowled over the line, his wife was heard to say "tripped over holding the ball" Eames on target again 17-7. Pushing hard Grinstead failed to keep out H&B and with the pressure on they give another penalty Eames wanted the kick and slotted in another 3 points 20-7. With the game drawing to a end Grinstead made a break down the wing, David Hirst bring this run to a end with a try saving tackle. The pack setting the ball from yet another scrum and the fleet footed Eames picking up the ball from the base of the scrum danced over and adding the conversion kept his 100% kicking and took the final score to 27-7.
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East Grinstead making ground
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