East Grinstead Rugby Football Club

heLLingly I (away) (L)

(Re-arranged from 30th January 2010)

G's extended their unbeaten run to six in a fixture which they always expected to win but where some of their decision-making and execution made it a far harder afternoon than it needed to have been.

For much of the game Hellingly had the upper hand in the tight scrummage as well as the lineout, and frequently made good ground from mauling the ball but they had no answer to the visitors' attacking back-line where a brace of tries each for Tudor Carr and Ryan Foster and one for Ben Gray ultimately made the difference.

From the first whistle, Grinstead put themselves under pressure with poor decision-making.  A simple kick to touch or an attacking scrimmage were turned down in favour of a forwards run from which Hellingly turned the ball over and ran it back for a 7-0 lead. 

A period of G's pressure then followed during which a penalty converted from Gray and then a trademark jinking run from Carr for his first try, put G's in front.

Hellingly responded well and good interplay between their fly-half and centres down the narrow side, coupled with some feeble G's tackling let the home side in for their second try in 20 minutes and they soon followed it with a converted penalty to lead 15-10 with the half-time break beckoning.

Grinstead weren't finished for the half though and came straight from the kickoff with a combination of quick ruck ball won by the forwards and simple straight lines from the backs releasing first Carr for his second and then Gray to end the half 22-15 in front.

The second half, as with previous weeks' performances, was largely Grinstead's. David Jones, who had been excellent first half, continued his strong running and ball-carrying, frequently crossing the gain line, and the addition of Kenny Roser to the back row only increased G's impact in the loose.

On 55 minutes, Grinstead pressured first one way the width of the field and then all the way back for Foster to muscle over in the corner before Ryland Thomas, playing out of position on the wing, returned a deep kick some 40m, providing a strong platform for the forwards to secure quick ball and the backs were released again.

Simple, straight running lines, committing the defender and releasing the ball held the Hellingly defence and Foster was over in the corner once again, Gray converting from the touchline. Grinstead held firm for the final ten minutes, with most of the play in the visitors' half, but refused to let Hellingly in.

Lineout were quickly dealt with by aggressive counter-mauling and the tackling in the centres from Barnaby Carter and Alex Ingham kept the home team at bay. Grinstead now go to St Francis for the first of two games against their Crawley-based rivals for promotion.

Squad: 15 Gray 14 Thomas 13 Carter 12 Ingham 11 Foster 10 Carr 9 Sands 1 Lanaway 2 Hogbin 3 Smith J 4 Morris 5 Kellas 6 Dewing 7 Mountain 8 Jones D 16 Unsworth 17 Roser 18 Gee 19 Oliver