An Eel held by the tail is not yet caught!

With Eels winning the team’s first encounter earlier in the season 74-22, it was obvious the knights would be out for revenge. Using some of their strong u17s squad that only recently got knocked out of the u17 cup by the eel’s u17, would also be looking for revenge. Brentwood was missing main play maker Charlie Chambers who proved to be missed in game management. The game started off well with Brentwood initially sticking to the game plan and slowly broke down the Knights resilient defense with Michael Aygei opening the scoring from the wing.

This led to a tug of war between the referee and the eels as to who could make the most random decisions with new players filling in for the Eels basic rugby league techniques were lacking and Brentwood were found to be kicking possession away on 2nd tackle through spur of the moment acts. The knights being the more league organized side of the two teams on the day took full advantage of these mistakes, scoring instantly. The first of the referee’s calls to cause frustration in both camps was an alleged ‘shirt pull’ which resulted in Clinton Dorling being Sin Binned, Knights scored twice again before half time leaving eels 22-6 down at half time.

Putting both the referee’s and their own mistakes behind them , Coach Sherwood urged his team to go back to basics and bring raise the physicality. Brentwood started the half with 12 men and forwards worked well to get down field a man down a brilliant set move see Callum Whitcombe going over. Eels back to 13 upped the physicality which Knights did not deal with well enough leading to Debutant Dean McFarlane rumbling over taking 3 or 4 defenders with him. Mike Hogan continued his form since returning from injury coming into the line from fullback to nick a try.

Previously Sin Binned Clinton Dorling made up for his earlier sin binning with a free run under the posts where defenders seem to move out of the way to let him through, This led to eels taking the lead for the first time since scoring first with the scores 22-26. A mistake from the kick off let the down hearted knights back into the game and gave them a second wind which resulted in a hat trick of tries from the home team and the eels behind again with the scores 34-26. During the process Debutant Lewis Dorling was injured in the run of play forcing captain and Back Rower Alfie Hill to fill in at hooker.

With 5 minutes to go, Brentwood’s unbeaten form threated for the first time in the league. Eels were given possession in their own half from the scrum and from a great set and support play the back line linked well led from Jon Wylie and a strong run from Preye Khonga, Eels were in position to score with Clinton Dorling crashing over for his second of the game with Lawrence Haywood kicking the points it meant the last moments would be a close encounter with eels still behind 34-32.

From the Kick off Eels seemed to gain energy from somewhere even though the heat was constant throughout the game. The knights were being tested physically in the last play and the slippery customers out powered them with Steve Kerslake Cutting a line of Man of the Match Alfie Hill whose work rate, leadership and never say die attitude assisted to score under the posts with Haywood Converting the final score was 34-38. Coach Sherwood had this to say “Mixed emotions about the game today but if you can win when you’re not at the top of your game then as history has shown in many sports you’re not a bad side, I am extremely proud of the boys we have a great team spirit with some great characters with a great work ethic and attitude towards aggressive and physical rugby league looking forward to the ‘Eels Family’ pushing on and growing into next season and celebrations next Saturday at our last home game”

Brentwood have their final domestic game next week at home (Brentwood Rugby Club) Get down there for 2:30pm kick off and awards night to follow to celebrate Eels great first season of senior Rugby League