Eastern Counties Rugby Union

- poles apart, Eastern Counties clawed their way back into the game to finish with gaining a try bonus point.
A poor start with lack of intensity and pressure allowed Lancashire time for half backs Steve Collins and Callum Mcshane to orchestrate many attacks and tries soon came from open side Phil Mills and Connor Wilkinson. Counties lineout failed on numerous occasions and with time given in attack, centre Scott Rawlings and No 8 Matt Lamprey were enjoying a good day. Further tries came from Lamprey, Mills, Rawlings and winger James Dorrington.
With a half time score of 35-0 Counties were looking at an uphill battle in the second half.
Debutants, Fin Creighton, on at scrum half, Will Swart at open side and Under 20 captain Chris Lewis, injected pace and a threat to Lancashire from the restart. Matt Hema showed with time he outshone all in front of him. Will Swart also thrived making an early crunching tackle and the game looked totally different. Steve Hipwell was now taking control and with some good decision making from Lewis and Ben Penfold allowed Sam Bixby to score a well worked try.
Creighton and Lewis were developing a good partnership with some ball from successful lineouts by Will Scholes and Will Nankivell. Counties followed with tries from the impressive Hema, Owain Collard and Nankivell. Lancashire did strike back and forced Counties into errors in midfield resulting in tries for Armstrong and Collins.
Counties were after the try bonus point and following a blistering run from Mike Stanway he chipped over the head of the defence to regather and score a converted try by Penfold, giving Counties a deserved point.

Final score Lancashire 52 Eastern Counties 31.

Next week Eastern Counties take on Yorkshire at Grange Road, in their last Championship match, needing to better the Northumberland result to stay in Division1.
Squad:
1. Matt Meek – Cambridge,2. Harry Jones – Shelford,3. Matthew Worral Clare – Cambridge,4. Will Scholes – Bury St Edmunds,5. Mat Waring –Cambridge,
6. Sam Bixby – Bury St Edmunds, 7. Joe Britton- Cambridge, 8. Steve Hipwell – Diss, 9. Jake Ashby – Bury St Edmunds, 10. Ben Penfold – Cambridge,
11. Mike Stanway –Cambridge, 12. Matt Hema – Cambridge, 13. Owain Collard – Cambridge ,14. Charlie Parkhouse – Shelford ,
15. Mike Ayrton –Cambridge ©, Finishers: 16. Mark Roberts – Shelford,
17. Shane Moynihan – Cambridge, 18. Will Swart – North Walsham,
19. Collen Smith – Bury St Edmunds, 20. Will Nankivell –Ampthill.
21. Chris Lewis – Cardiff Met University, 22. Finn Creighton - Cambridge
Team Manager: David Masdin Assistant Manager: Shaun Gardner
Logistics: Greg Hind Match Day Officer: John Phoenix
Lead Coach: Simon Kidney Coaches: Spencer Williams & Ben Penfold
Physios – Sam Jones & MarjolnVisser