6th January 2007
REEDS WEYBRIDGE 5:29 EGHAM HOLLOWEGIANS

The League campaign re-commenced this year with a bang. EHRFC were away to Reeds for the second time in 3 games. No doubt Reeds would be determined to make it a win after loosing the past two scrappy games. The weather was foul at kick off, and got worse. This did not dampen spirits however, and the quality of rugby from both sides was excellent in spite of the conditions.

EHRFC welcomed some new faces and some not so well known! The side however had a quiet determination obvious from the start. This must have been brought on by the shock the side received here at Whitely village last outing where over confidence was almost their undoing.

Determined ball carrying from Nick Trower and Jonny Holloway kept Reeds on the back foot, until finally the defence gave as Holloway burst through from quick ball to post the first score. The conversion was missed. Holloway should have scored 5 minutes earlier, but instead of rounding the full back, elected to run over him, resulting in an embarrassing knock on!

EHRFC applied sustained pressure, and after good play which saw them go the length of the pitch, from ruck ball, Abton Porjieve delivered a sublime pass to Silver, who glided through for the second try. 10 - 0.

EHRFC were relentless, with Reeds having little answer. Trower completed a very good first half with a score from driving play to make it 15 - 0 at half time.

As the sides turned round, the light began to fade. EHRFC picked up where they left off, and should have scored when Mark 'Guido' O'Meara, having a superlative game thus far, spurned a 5 on 1 overlap. He decided to take on the very powerful Reeds number 8 who swallowed him. The tell tale puff of feathers showed where Guido had been. We hadn't seen this sort of opportunity to score dismissed since Pourgeev blew it against Haslemere earlier in the season.

The scoring way was habit was soon re-established when Sebo Warner crashed under the posts to notch up the fourth try, converted by Dan Silver. 22 - 0.

EHRFC maintained the pressure. Holloway went on a mazy run, jinking first over to the right wing, then back to the left. He popped to Silver, and the defence parted. Reference to the Red Sea would be too close to the mark given the weather conditions. Silver crossed under the posts, and converted his own try to bring the score to 29 - 0.

Reeds managed a consolation try at the death to bring the game to a close with a fine win, 29 - 5.

This match was a huge positive. It truly confirmed that mindset at the start of the game dictates how the result is likely to go. The previous encounter was nearly lost through over confidence, and this was won comfortably in terrible conditions through determination and application. There were fine performances from everyone who played, particularly from Frenchie, Abtin and Hugh Strivens. Hugh has perhaps decided to let his feet do the talking??!! Roll on the next league game.

WINNING TEAM!