Eastern Counties Rugby Union

This fixture is becoming a traditional and very useful early season warm up for both CB’s and provided an opportunity for the coaches to experiment with 30 players in different combinations and positions under game conditions. The intention was to play 3 x 30 minute periods to give a reasonable amount of game time to everyone but, in the event, because of injuries and late call-offs in the NLD squad, we only played 2 sessions.

The games were keenly fought and EC started brightly but the mood changed very quickly when, after a tackle in midfield, the EC 12, Bertie Nicholson, who was returning after a year out with a cruciate ligament reconstruction, was left prostrate, clutching the previously injured knee. After extensive treatment, he returned to the dressing room and was not able to resume. Coaches, Managers and players all have their fingers crossed that the injury is not serious and that Bertie will soon re-join us.

Unsurprisingly, EC were shaken by this incident and allowed their concentration and intensity to drop which a strong NLD side took full advantage of. Whilst there were some very good individual performances in the match, and some excellent phases of play, there was also a degree of early-season ‘rust’ which reflected the fact that the squad have only enjoyed one training session prior to this outing. NLD are further advanced in their preparations as their assessed matches start several weeks before ours and we wish them well in their campaign.

The EC coaches are confident that by the time the first assessed match arrives on 25th October, the players will be firing on all cylinders and able to give a very good account of themselves