Super Seconds win the league with 3 games still to play

After another week of wet weather the pitches at the Manor were doing remarkably well, this was due to Simon Bottomly pumping them tirelessly all week (Sounds rude) so well done and thank you Simon.

This week Eton Manor played hosts to Westcliff 3s. Earlier on in the season Westcliff surprised Eton Manor when they cried off in the much anticipated top of the table clash when both teams had played 5 and won 5, so we did not know what to expect from our opposition today. They still sat in second place behind Eton Manor who over the past few months have built a quite a lead at the top of league. So the stage was set, 1st vs 2nd.
The squad was decent enough with props returning from injury meaning Chris Hurry could move back to his preferred position of 2nd row. This was definitely the biggest pack I had picked all season and I waited to catch a glimpse of our opposition. I wasn’t too impressed when I finally saw them and could see that the still towered over our pack. I don’t know what they eat in Westcliff but it seems to be working.
It was made clear to the team that a win today would give us an unassailable lead and promotion would be ours with three games still to go. It was also noted during the warm up that this Westcliff team looked sharp with their forwards and backs throwing the ball around with skill and pace. It was made clear to The Manor that only our “A game” would be acceptable for today’s important game.

In the first few minutes of play both teams probed for openings with both defences looking strong. On 5 mins fly half Cushy spotted half a gap and went for it, he was nicely double tackled but was not held on the ground so jumped up and was off and running, the only thing left to do was draw the fullback and pass to the supporting flanker Gerby to run it in under the posts. Brad got the conversion (7 – 0)
Eton Manor had the lions share of the ball in the first half, this was due to two main factors, the first was the complete dominance of the Manor scrum (I believe Westcliff won two of their scrums all game) who ran the bigger Westcliff pack off their own put ins, the second was the back row combination of Craig, Gerby and Franny who virtually terrorised the Westcliff team all first half. This produced an abundance of ball for Manor’s dangerous back line but a lot must be said for Westcliff’s defence who tackled their hearts out behind a very decent rush defence. At this point for the first time this season we actually took a shot at goal from a penalty as I felt we were not getting any change for all our attacks and possession, so up stepped Brad and missed the easiest penalty in the world, lesson learnt Cush.
Manor’s second try was scored by pack leader Franny who ran onto a nice pass at full charge and had enough power to make it over the try line. Brad missed the easy conversion and was sacked as kicker (12 – 0).
With time running out in the first half Westcliff made a half break down the blind side. That mad man Gerby was on hand to make the tackle, get to his feet, strip the ball and pass it out, then in a blink of an eye the ball was being spun along the pitch to the unguarded open side, amongst screams of “pass it” hooker Josh Parmel did what nobody expected and actually passed it to prop Ross Reed who expertly drew the last defender and put winger Jumbo in for a fine team try. Jack got the conversion (19 – 0)
The last ten mins of the half was all about Manor running and Westcliff tackling but no more points were scored.

At half time subs were brought on to get everyone a game and we all congratulated each other on a fine first half performance, but we knew it would be for nothing if the second half was not as good.

The second half started with the same intensity as the first half with Manor retaining possession beautifully but Westcliff tackling hard. This was a real top of the table clash with neither team prepared to take a backwards step. About 15mins into the second half manor were awarded a scrum just outside Westcliff’s 22 in the middle of the park. The backs split and prepared to attack from both sides. The ball was won cleanly and passed out to Conor who beat his man and with a two on one looming the inexperienced buck didn’t pass to Sam Green but instead tried to power over the line. Westcliff had made it clear by now that they knew how to tackle and the chance went begging. That was until no.8 Franny get his hands on the ball and powered over from the resulting ruck. Jack missed the conversion (24 – 0)
The following 10mins were all dominated by Manor, Westcliff just couldn’t hold onto the ball for long enough to do any damage to the score line. Manor was awarded a penalty inside the Westcliff’s 22, Cushy called for the scrum and waited for the expected result. Back went the Westcliff pack until to ball was about a foot away from their try line, then they just went in at the side and picked up the ball before Franny could touch it down. We waited for the penalty try to be awarded but instead the ref called play on. The ball was passed to Westcliff’s full back and from deep inside his own dead ball area he totally fluffed his kick. It ricocheted off about 3 players and landed at the feet of Franny who simply tapped the ball with his hand and our 5th and Franny’s 3rd try was scored. Jack got the conversion (31 – 0)
It was about at this point Westcliff decided that their prop was too injured to continue and that the scrums would have to go to uncontested (surprise surprise) thus ending our complete and total dominance of the scrum. This allowed Westcliff to get their hands on some much needed clean ball but the tackling was ruthless from Eton Manor and the rest of the game was pretty much played in the middle of the park with both teams defences cancelling each other out.

So the final score was 31 nil to Eton Manor. We may have won by a decent margin but we knew we had been in a battle. In my humble opinion Westcliff are definitely the second best team in the league (behind us of course) and their tackling was spot on all game, but I had asked the team to bring their “A Game” and that is exactly what they brought.
This now means that with 3 games left we have built up such a lead at the top of the league that we cannot be caught so promotion into league one is ours.
Well done all on an excellent performance against hardened opposition.

Man of the match goes to Franny who made the difference today with his 3 try’s, but a special mention much goes to the entire pack who systematically demolished the Westcliff scrum.

Next week we are away to Basildon.
March 9th is our last league game of the season away to Southend. Please let me know if you want to come on the coach. Ladies are also welcome. We now have something to celebrate!