With the Essex sides yet to face each other the stage was set through the East RL Shield Semi-Final. With both sides wanting to show their improvements since last playing this led to a tough, but well fought out first 15 minutes. Both sides showing great tenacity in defence and attack and the set completion rate 100%. This being said it was going to take something for either side to cross the line. The eager eels defence rushed trying to nullify the overlap out wide but great handling from the Spartans backline led to their elusive winger dotting down. Eels looked close to scoring their first points after forcing an error from the restart but dogged defence kept the eels score to zero. Spartans retuned down field with a penalty and were forced to kick on the last tackle which took a comical bounce straight into one of their own players hands luckily the conversion was missed leaving 0-10 with 10 minutes to go.

Eels were maintaining pressure on the Spartans line and after giving away two penalties the defence opened for Damore Balogun who scored of a first phase. A Disallowed try for Sam Lidlow was in the mix as the referee detailed that eels had walked through the tackle close to the line. A Penalty from the Spartans missed touch. Eels had a rapid return, which led to Jacob King sidestepping his way through a 40m break. The eels used this field position to set up some structure but it didn’t take long to break down the tired looking defence with an offload coming from Captain Chambers to returning prop Josh Woodcock the eels were over the line and a successful conversion. The Spartans were then on full attack and bombarded the eels line until the half time whistle blew but eels defence held strong with the whole team putting in a shift left the half time score 12-10.

The half time break was needed for Spartans as the eels were just getting into full flow, but the start of the half spoils went to the visitors with two soft penalties in a row the eels defence was caught short down the right hand side. With the eels not impressing the referee in the second half it took a good 15 minutes to rekindle any form of possession but a simple switch with Debutant hooker Connor Gascoigne slipping a pass to Jake Yellop to dot down for eels to take back the lead at 16-14. Eels defence was solid from there on out with the lads obviously learning from previous premiership games, but with the referee hot on their collar a penalty was given for offside on the try line which the Spartans opted to kick for two to draw the scores at 16 apiece. The returning kick lead to Spartans trying to make ground which raised the intensity to suit the eels but only for the referee to sinbin Jake Yellop which meant the eels had to play 10 of the remaining 20 with a man less.

Spartans kicked deep into the eels half from the penalty but found no open doors. Physical defence from Ruairi Henderson and Cameron Furlong led to a knock on in the tackle and position to switch to the eels from the scrum. Sam Lidlow was holding no prisoners with a beastly carry from the centre, backed up by Both Wingers Michael Agyei and Preye Kongha. They too were making the most of the Spartans opening up through eel’s quick ball. A Great line again from Damore Balogun meant Eels were in front with a man less. With 10 minutes to go eels were back to full 13, and now in full control. Solid Spartans defence held out the eels for a repeat set but the eels feeling comfortable set up a set play for Michael Agyei to dot down in the corner, only for him to nearly get knocked dead trying to score under the posts, the score 28-16.

Enough time for Spartans to have one last go after receiving the ball from a miscount of tackles from the eels. They had a fresh set from 20 metres out and some hard running at half backs paid off, the score now28-22. This led to a squeaky final two minutes. The eels chased the kick off well and soaked up the first wave and controlled their attacking set well enough for the final whistle to blow on their 5th tackle.

The Eels who now go through to the final on the 9th July to play North Herts Crusaders at St Albans centurion’s ground. But back to league action with a tough away day at St Ives Roosters this Saturday the 25th June!