Eels push league leaders all the way in the last game of the season!

The Eels were looking to end the season in style and make the long 150 miles round trip that both the Senior team and under 13's side were to travel. The Under 13s side ran out victors in their friendly 42-30, with the open age side hoping to claim a shock away victory. The Eels were down from the full 18 to 16 as potential debutante Tom Wignall and u17 player Taine Burns pulling out last minute. This proving a bigger problem on the day with temperatures into the late 20's.

The game started with eels kicking off and defended the set well for Bedford to kick from their own half towards Winger Georgie Treffers who done well to take the ball and side stepped the three chasing Bedford defenders to pass to full back Callum Whitcombe and becuase the players brushed passed each other the referee deemed it obstruction even though there were no Bedford players close to the eels fullback and gave Bedford a penalty after they kicked 10m out from the eels line. A big carry from one of the Bedford Elders and they league leaders had opened the scoring. The following kick off led to a dent in confidence chase and Bedford played through the eels defence and were quickly up the and over the whitewash making the most of a two one with the full back. The scores 10-0. Charlie Chambers from the third kick off then kicked straight into touch and the Tigers found themselves 10m out from the eels line again. Eels defence held on but for the referee to give an offside before the ball had even been played and then another penalty for offside after he had set the line of defence on the try line. Frustration was kicking in for the eels but defence was strong in midfield forcing bedford to kick wide for a try to take the scores to 14-0. with only 10 minutes gone. Brentwood Starting to dig in defence but Bedford showed their class for what turned out to be their last try of the half on the 12 minute mark. A few offloads led them to well worked try to make the scores 20-0. The Eels trying to get back into the game were stepping up defence and forcing errors to turn the ball over but seem to be in a never ending battle with the referee. Frustration grew especially with captain Charlie Chambers who was sin binned after 14 minutes for dissent! Another kick wide from the result penalty and set of six from the Tigers, led to Callum Whitcombe chasing down field in great support in the form of Preye Kongha to get eels on the front food to solid forward Carries from Damore and Haidyn Lloyd led to Callum Dotting and the man less Eels side dotting down under the sticks. Conversion from Haywood led to the score being 20-6.

Brentwood Side rallied and added pace to their powerful attack and it was not long before James Vogel cut a super line to offload to Georgie Treffers to streak away under the posts only for the referee who was no where near play to deem it a forward pass. Tigers got away but were tiring from the chasing back in the forwards and eels put the pressure on from the scrum only for a Bedford forward to knock on and eels had the ball back a furious attack led to Georgie Treffers not being denied 2nd time out wide and the 12 men scored again! 20-12 with Chambers still absent Haywood converted the extras. With the Captain back on in the 30th minute meaning a 16 minute sin bin the eels tried their up most to keep the referee out of the game and this was led by the returning captain whose chip and chase plus a cheeky toe poke passed the full back got eels right back into the game with 10 minutes of the half to go it was 20-18. The eels were taking control and a well worked set involving most of the team ended with a great offload into the looping run of Sam Dawes who touched down for his first try of the season unscathed. The Eels went in at half time leading amazingly HT 20-24.

The second half started how the first half did from the Bedford Kick off the referee again 40 metres away deemed a forward pass from Half Back Lawrence Haywood on the eels on 5 metre line. Tigers took their get of jail card and caught eels cold out wide to make to make the score 26-24. Eels needed to take the game to the tigers who looked nowhere to be seen in defence with the eels forwards striding through and with Bedford expecting the attack to come out wide the wholes were widening between their defenders and especially their forwards were Chambers was on the score sheet again but this time it was younger brother Hooker Harry who took the scores to 26-30. The Eels forwards were weakening also and with stand in centre for the day Joe Heavey eventually leaving the field for a second time with suspected broken ribs the forwards and already dented bench was wilting and Bedford scored out wide from the play of the ball bring the scores to 30-30. A Break from Callum Whitcombe ended in him being tackle short of the line and knockon defused the attack but Callum Whitcombe left the field of play leaving eels with one replacement and the back line full of tired forwards it was easy pickings for the League leaders in the last 20 Minutes and the scores ended 50-30. James Vogel was awarded man of the match for constantly attack the line in defence and attack and leading the team well during chambers sin bin!

Eels have successfully got into the playoffs after confirmation of them finishing fourth was delayed due to a few points having to be deducted for other teams not fulfilling games. Which will mean a carbon copy fixture away at Bedford Next Saturday 13th August with the venue to be confirmed! Brentwood Eels "A" have also got into the merit playoffs and have Bedford Tigers Away alsos0o a double header is on the cards!