Slippery Eels are back with a tough away win!

Eels on the road again, north this time to play St Ives Rooster’s. With the side missing players from injury in the tough encounter the week before. A trusty fifteen out of a possible 18 made the trip in hope of a respectable score line but hearing St Ives were also struggling for numbers with 14 out of the possible 18 a valuable two points could be for the taking. The return of youth players of Teddie Duke and Frankie Gibson along with fan favourite Michael Agyei was a boost in confidence out wide, with the pack only making one change with the injured Fred Dixon being replaced by Alex Wright. The bench had a bundle of experience with former Bulldog’s player Troy Elkes joining Coach Anthony Sherwood. They both surprisingly boosted the average age of the squad, from last week’s eighteen to twenty years old this week.

A Physical start was expected from the roosters and they didn’t disappoint with some heavy carries coming in the Eels had to shake off the long drive quickly. The first 10 minutes was confusing state for both teams as both sides were adapting to the keen eye of the referee who was extremely professional and consistent throughout. But for the second week running it was the Eels who took the lead first this time through playmaker Joe Heavey who was making the most of Captain Jamie Impey’s high carry count, skipped through a gap and Charles Hammond Knocked over the extras 0-6 Eels. The Game not being played at the fastest of pace but still very much physical in every aspect led to the No7 being warned a few times for dissent and lashing out. With just under twenty to go Alex Wright and playmaker Joe Heavey was both forced off in the Blood Bin Eels were forced to play it tight and after getting close to the line Anthony Sherwood dotted down from the play of the ball within a metre of the line but the conversion was missed 0-10.
The resulting kick off Eels were again awarded a penalty for foul play from No7 in which they kicked with 30 metres of the St Ives try line in which the referee issues a final warning for dissent. First tackle was taken from a tap and given for Anthony Sherwood to carry up in which he dragging three defenders over with him but again the extras were not made the most of 0-14 to the Eels. Roosters chased the kick off hard but eels nearly made a break on fourth tackle only to throw a forward pass with only ten minutes left of the half Roosters pulled the pin out and started putting the visitors under pressure but only for that to fizzle out even though roosters were in possession the No7 again abusing the referee was given a yellow card, but as he was walking off he still had a lot to say, to which the referee returned fire with a red card. This stalled the game and a few errors from both sides led to the scores not changing before Half Time ending 0-14 to Brentwood.

Eels hoping to hold on to their lead this week were looking for a quick start but an error from the kick off led to St Ives getting the ball in prime position and it was not long until they were over for their first points, 4-14. St Ives tried to come back again from kick off but was defused by some dogged defence from the ever present Charlie Lewin-Pyke and David Baker. Eels were threatening every time they come close to completing a set especially through the right hand side with Paul O’Dell making the most of extra man and dotting down under the posts with Hammond to convert 4-20. Complacency was around the corner for the Eels they were a man up and ahead away on the scoreboard. The from the restart a carbon copy of the St Ives Roosters first try an error at play of the ball and a heavy attack down the right hand side and the home team was over 10-20. With twenty to go Eels switched on for a set in which 16yr old Harry Pyke nearly scored a spectacular try in the right hand corner but was denied until after the goal line dropout that was forced to which Eels decided to risk and play the ball on fifth out wide left with Frankie Gibson left with it all to do beating three defenders and scoring what Eels thought was the crucial match winning try but it wasn’t converted.10-24.

Eels Confidence went up but sadly so did the error count, they couldn’t step up in to the later gears to finish off this experienced side. St Ives played easily their best rugby of the game with 15 minutes to go dotting down two well worked tries only one converted brought the scores to 20-24. Eels worked hard of the restart and forced a knock on in contact to which Michael Agyei replied with some hot stepping to twinkle over on the right flank but again conversion missed. 20-28. it was too close for comfort still when Eels made a crucial error at the play of the ball to which St Ives scored their last try to make it 24-28 after a heroic effort in defence from Joe Heavey the Big St Ives prop rumbled over. Eels were wondering when the red card was going to make a difference on a smaller a pitch but the key was in the pace of the game in which the last ten minutes was mostly breaks from the Slippery Charles Hammond with one off load judged forward and a try disallowed for captain Jamie Impey. It was not long before Eels sealed the game with a well worked try down the right and close Man of the Match Paul O’Dell crossed over. A conversion finally converted left the full time score 24-34.
Eels look forward to their first Home game of the season against East RL 9s winners St Albans Centurions who are hungry for a first win in the league.

Average Age 20.67