Historic Day for EELS fielding two sides is overshadowed by first ever Dismissal and sin bins.

Eels were drawn back at home to Hemel in the East RL Cup who have transferred over from the London league so it was the first time the teams had clashed so both teams started optimistic being a Cup fixture. Brentwood started the game with speed and intensity which initially caught the visitors napping and with repeat sets Debutant Nick Binet went over untouched to score the first points of the game. Eels look to turn the screw with a few solid carries up the middle from Earl Gorman and Cameron Furlong the ball went wide to Patrick Rourke who broke the line only to throw a half-baked, which was Cooley collected by the stags winger and they had their first try.

Eels continued to take one step forward and two steps back and with an experience side against them they went behind after another error and soft tackle in defense led to a score under the post. Brentwood built the phases and with repeat penalties with stags proving a little bit of pressure can get to any team and a repeat set move for the first try meant Binet grabbing a double. That was Eels last venture over the whitewash as a midfield battle took place Brentwood’s Boys were coming of second best with the referee failing to stop for some injuries the game was becoming heated and a stags players had to leave the field due to a serious injury. With frustration setting in the eels were losing concentration and were saved by the half time whistle as the scores were 10-30 to the visiting side.

With the Eels proving if they kept hold of the ball they were causing damage. Coach Sherwood urged them to keep the cool and focus on completing sets. Matt Lindsay having to leave the field also with a knee injury meant the 16 eels were a man light and problems got worse with Alex Wright having to leave the field after an accidental clash of heads leaving just one replacement. The referee failing to stop immediately after some of their players taking knocks of the ball was frustrating the eel’s players as the game was getting niggly and with the Eels looking to the referee to interact, they were only digging their selves a deeper whole. Stags started well capitalizing on the 50/50 decisions scoring twice making it 38-10. After the second try the referee decided to sin bin both Captain Charlie Chambers and Ben Smith for Dissent.

Stags failed to make the most of the two man advantage immediately with some heroic defense from Ruairi Henderson and Harry Chambers meant the visitors on scored once. Before the sin binned due returned. The referees still failing to stop for injured players on the floor Chambers was letting his emotions getting the better of him and this led to the eels first ever red card. Stags scored two soft late tries through absolutely knackered defense leaving the full time score 10-48.

Sherwood left disappointed rather than Angry had this to say “Guys effort was outstanding today every team makes errors and we only made a few but Hemel fielded a good side today with a few league 1 players which I have no problem with as its more experience for our boys. I was looking for more from the referee around player safety as it’s a physical game as it is and if a guys on the ground it needs to be taken seriously. Other than that we are now in the shield and have Hemel next week so see what side they bring then”
Man of the Match was our youngest player Double Duck debutant Nick Binet who made the most of the set plays but put In some hard yards.

The A team also had a bye through to the vase semi final but played Bedford Tigers "A" in a merit league game losing -30-48 but with the eels fielding 30 players the future looks bright with 16 coming through the youth setup!