Eastern Counties Rugby Union

campaign against Sussex at Crawley with a resounding win with John Utting and Tui Uri both scoring hat-tricks.

5th Feb 2017
On a boggy pitch, Sussex started the stronger and after three minutes missed a penalty that was to be their only scoring opportunity. Counties forwards dominated throughout the game with Tui Uri and Sam Copeland making inroads into the Sussex defence. Counties backs were getting the ball on the front foot and moved the ball effectively and, through some good handling from Andrew Devoy and Jake Duffield who fed John Utting to score his first of his three tries. This was excellently converted, by captain, Rob Smith. Quickly, Uri scored a try showing good strength whilst Counties defence kept repelling Sussex and obtaining possession. Devoy then scored a scorching solo try running in from 70 metres.

Counties forwards dominated the scrum with the front row of Jed McDonald, James Storey and Oliver Coleman allowing for Smith to orchestrate some excellent back moves and good lines of cutting runs by Owain Collard and Aaron Forrest. Copeland found himself on the charge and drove over for a converted try from 7 metres which was soon followed by Utting’s third when he arrived on the left wing to complete a flowing movement. Smith converted. Uri was slicing through the Sussex defence and received a pass from Henry Cowling to score a well worked converted try.

The second half started with Sussex changing front row and Counties also making changes. Sussex scrum became dominant; however they could not compete with Counties in broken play. Kevin Kanda drove the heart of the defence to set up Chris Lewis to score a converted try. Further tries came from Uri, his third; Jacob Page, Forrest, Smith and a further excellent try from Devoy completed the scoring with Forrest converting 2 of the tries.

An outstanding performance from the squad with coaches Kidney and Minifey very positive ad looking forward to the next match versus Middlesex at Shelford RFC on 19 March.
Squad:
1. Jed McDonald (Cambridge) 2. James Storey (Ely) 3. Oliver Coleman (Wymondham) 4. Sam Copeland (Cambridge) 5. Jacob Page (Diss) 6. Sam Easton (Colchester) 7. Henry Cowling (Sudbury) 8.Tui Uri (Ipswich) 9.Goncalo Roquette (Anglia Ruskin University) 10.Robert Smith ©(Nottingham University) 11. John Utting (Southwold) 12. Andrew Devoy (Bury St Edmunds) 13. Jake Duffield (North Walsham) 14. Owain Collard (Cambridge)15. Aaron Forrest (Bury St Edmunds)Replacements :16.Liam Hill(Ipswich)17.Joe Akak (Shelford) 18.Henry Cherington (Shelford) 19.Kevin Kanda (Shelford) 20.Sam Armstrong 21.John Bannerman (Cambridge) 22.Chris Lewis (Sudbury)