Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Eastern Counties dominated the early exchanges of the game as Yorkshire took some time to run the journey out of their legs in what proved to be thrilling encounter with the lead changing several times throughout the game, however it was a powerful and organised Yorkshire side that came out on top, the strength and clever use of their bench players proving a deciding factor.

Eastern Counties had much of the early play, with a break by North Walsham’s Will Swart setting up good field position, allowing Cambridge’s Matt Hema surge through the midfield and score under the posts for a simple conversion which was duly taken by 18-yearold Fin Creighton also of Cambridge, Counties taking an early 7-0 lead.

Yorkshire hit back, driving the play upfield where Eastern Counties infringed at the ruck allowing the visitors to take an easy three points from a penalty under the posts, with fly half Jack Blakeney-Edwards doing the honours, in what was their first foray into the opposition 22m, narrowing the score to 7-3

Eastern Counties dominated at the scrum in the early stages and were able to force a penalty on half way, but the resulting lineout was overthrown allowing Yorkshire to mount an attack where Counties were penalised for going in at the side at the ruck in easy kicking range, Yorkshire opted for a scrum showing confidence int their replacement front row, which was justified as Yorkshire attacked the EC line again and again and were rewarded with a try form outside centre Lewis Minikin, which was converted by Blakeney-Edwards in what proved to be the final play of the half to take a 7-10 half time lead into the break.

After the break Counties once again took the game to Yorkshire, with breaks down the left flank by Cambridge loose head prop Matt Meeks, and the ever-present Steve Hipwell of Diss his drive resulting penalty and sin bin of a Yorkshire in front of the posts which was converted by Creighton to level the score at 10-10.

Unbowed Yorkshire attacked from the restart taking the play deep into Counties half and scoring wide out on the right through openside flanker James Tyson to take the score to 10-15 as the conversion was missed. In a replica of the previous try Yorkshire scored in the same place, this time from Sam Wilson converted by Blakeny-Edwards to stretch their lead to 10-22.

Eastern Counties struck back with a second try from Matt Hema converted by Fin Creighton, following some great phase play and a massive drive by Steve Hipwell to narrow the score to 17-22.

Flowing Rugby by Eastern Counties started with a great take at the front of the line by Shelford’s Red Newbury allowed the ball to be spun quickly to the backs, Fin Creighton now in the centres making a sharp break before popping the ball to Cambridge’s James Ayrton who raced to the line to score, Creighton adding the extras to retake the lead at 24-22.

Yorkshire had the last word however with an unconverted try to seal victory with five minutes to play, spinning the ball wide and scoring a try through Dan Preston-Routeledge to take a three-point lead at 24-27. Eastern Counties threw the kitchen sink at the visitors in the final minutes of the game, but the Yorkshire defence proved too strong and they were unable to score the try needed to snatch victory.

Eastern Counties: Matt Meek, Harry Jones, Matthew Worral Clare, Will Scholes, Red Newbury, Tyler Hammond, Will Swart, Steve Hipwell, Fin Creighton, Chis Lewis, Owain Collard, James Ayrton, Matt Hema, Mike Stanway, Mike Ayrton Replacements: Shane Moynihan, Collen Smith, Sam Easton, Matt Waring, Ben Penfold, Jack Harvey, Asley Elvers

Yorkshire: David Laverick, Ali Thompson, Lawrence Sanderson, Sam Brady, Joe Makin, George Hedgely, James Tyson, Josh Burridge, Phil Woodhead, Jack Blakeny-Edwards, Simon Frewin, Will Milner, Lewis Minikin, Steve Nolson, Ben McGee Replacements: - Rob Baldwin, Brett Mitchell, Ben Bell, Dan Preston-Routledge, Sam Wilson, Joe Graham, Elliot Morgan

Scorers: EC Matt Hema 2T, James Ayrton 1T, Fin Creighton 3C 1P Yorkshire: Lewis Minikin 1T, James Tyson 1T, Dan Preston-Routeledge 1T, Sam Wilson 1T, Jack Blakeny-Edwards 2C 1P