EEL’s focus back to the league as cup run ends!

Eels were in good spirits even though having six players drop out due to injuries between training Thursday and the game Saturday, the pack was looking lightweight. A good start was vital and eels making the most of the damp conditions and tigers handling error count growing eels mounted most of the pressure for the first 15 minutes of the game eventually Charlie Chambers found himself sniping over from scrum half after Calvin Bradley broke the line. Eels continued to complete sets and with sublime kicking from chambers insured the back three of tigers were under pressure specifically when chased down by Simon Wood.

First twenty Brentwood were still leading 4-0 with some great goal-line defense eels pushed on up field making great distance until stand in front row Damore Balgourn made a powerful run through two defenders only for one of the defenders to swing him by the shirt as he was going to ground head first and was forced to leave the field with concussion. The eels already down in forwards making the job ahead even harder on top of The referee for some reason gave a knock on and scrum to tigers were they failed to complete the set but a eels penalty for high tackle gave them position which ended in another high tackle penalization, the third time 20 meters out eels succumbed there first ever sin binning Tom Riches with eels another forward down. After four tackles and an extra man Tigers got on the score line to the right of the posts. Tigers returned the kickoff well and was not long until they were challenging the eels try line this time the referee stopped played for 4/5 minutes to decide whether one of the Tigers players had a foot in touch during scoring the player himself admitting he did the try was still awarded and with a superb kick tigers found themselves in front 12-4. Eels now back to full numbers hoping to get back into the game, Tigers turned on the premiership style before half time and showed there experience at ruck time to sneak over for another converted score. Mounting the pressure again tigers received a penalty in front of the posts 2 minutes before half time and chose to go for points with the tigers kicking form impeccable this left the half time score 20-4.

Despite the score Coach Sherwood was happy with how the team was performing and competing despite the sizeable difference in the packs. The Aim was to start picking the pace up, but premiership side closed down the game scoring immediately in the second half with a well worked kick to the left corner. They later scored to similar tries of similar kicks to the left corner and a soft try with their elusive winger capitalizing on a slow responding defense. 20 minutes gone of the first half the final score was reached 42-4 eels trying to get some more points on the board to save face but it was no to be which lead to a very slow last 20 minutes which was dually down the referring, and having plenty of chances throughout the game to even up the high tackle sin bin but totally lacked consistency. Bedford deserved winners eels left thinking again two weeks on the trot of what might have been with a few more squad members being available. Man of the Match for Eels was talisman Charlie Chambers for his ever present work-rate to try and get eels over the gain line.

EELs now look forward to a week of after successive defeats and the magic weekend draw has been kind to them giving them a bonus game against Southend Spartans Away on Saturday 4th July.