Injury Struck Eels stunned by a Ruthless Table Topping Tigers

The toughest test to date in the East RL premier was upon the Eels but with 16 Injuries there was mixed feelings from Coach Sherwood. As a Positive the depth of the squad was being tested but on the downside Eels were struggling to put in the same team each week to really work on the problem areas the weak before and general consistency which is what is needed against a well drilled side like the Tigers.

Bedford started well not particular playing with pace but more precision and the mix and match eels side were losing their shape easily which led to an opening score from the Tigers. Eels then earn the ball from a knockout at kick off and had both sides had a fairly competitive 10 minutes both completing sets. Eels finally got a decent bit of structure set up lead by stand in Centre James Vogel who picked a great line of the eels half back chambers to go over the line untouched. With possession back with the tigers they physicality was fairly even with both sides carrying strongly but the massive difference was at the play of the ball Eels were not doing their selves any favours and moving out of the tackle too quickly rather than waiting to be warned by the referee to move. This enabled Tigers some quick ball and with no markers and half set defence it was easy pickings for the tigers who ran a few easy tries from a mixture of distances.

Eels were competing but were not clinical enough with Georgie Treffer’s not able to take two cross kicks and a fumble over the line from Debutant Harrison Newman meant the game was fully in tigers control even at half time it was 4-34. A strong start to the second half from eels that led to them scoring with ease again Man of the match James Vogel picking up a great line of Chambers. As the storm started so did the tigers with some impressive hands in considering the weather and Eels not holding on to the tackler at the play of the ball meant Bedford were finding holes galore in the eels defence.

With Brentwood spending most of the game defending errors started to creep in on the ball and another drop ball close to the line was effecting confidence. The weather was torrential at this point, A clash of heads meant Charlie Lewin-Pyke had to leave the field with concussion, another one to add to the injury list. With the final whistle the scores 10-62 to the still unbeaten tigers.
Eels drop in to the shield next Saturday the 18th June against Essex Rival Southend Spartans along with Brentwood Eels “A” taking on Eastern Rhino’s “A” in the Vase it will be an all Essex double header at old Brentwood’s next Saturday!