Upper Clapton Eagles 34 Black Horse 17

With many of the team having not played together for some time Danny Elmer took the warm up and the team listened except Oakes who arrived late!
The team consisted of many young players but the old warhorse Dave Barker stepped in to share his experience and lead the team, whilst Barker can smell the knacker’s yard, the young colts excelled on a great day for rugby
The renamed Eagles took only 3 minutes to open the scoring with a try by returning player Elliot after an absence of 3 years, the try went unconverted by Harry Barnes, who playing at scrum half and was to have a great game returning to his home club
The Black Horse went over for a score some 10 minutes later to level the scores 5-5
With a fast flowing game the Eagles were next to score when Barnes kicked a penalty 8-3 half time
The forward had won all their own ball in the first phase, Jack Harty at 2nd Row was taking everything in the line out ably supported by his lifters; the second phase was all ours as Barker led the youngster all over the park
Elliot departed the field at half time to be replaced by Charlie Oakes at fly half; a few changes saw Dale Stalley move from Fly Half to his rightful position at Full back, and Ben Bradford moving to the wing
The second half saw the Eagles fitness start to pay off and the finesse of Oakes at fly half, given great service by Barnes, was a pleasure to watch
With 5 minute gone and after three or four phases we saw Harty dive over for a try 12-5 the kick was unconverted
From the kick off Oakes ghosted through the defence from within his own half supported by the young hordes, including Barker! For one of the best tries of the day scored by 17 year old Jordon Ambrose, this lad was a real handful all day, Barnes was successful with his kick form wide out on the right 19-5. This was followed by a further two tries for the Eagles, the final one by Ben Bradford who did an Ashton splash over the line after a run of 50 metres
The Black Horse were down but not out and came back late in the game to score two tries
Final score 34-17
So what have we learnt?
Adam Power at hooker had the best game we have seen him play, and the front row of Tillett and Crouch and Adam are capable of progressing. Andrew Green, returning for his first match in a year grew into the game and Angel Face Harty is a real man for the future in the second row
The back row with Swales, Nathan Ambrose and Barker, late in the game joined by Matt Sweeney, were a handful all day
The three quarters including Dale Stalley, majestic at full back and the returning Jordon Elmer who tackled everything that moved were exceptional and the young under 18’s who played were superb, thanks to Ben Bradford and Jordon Ambrose

We are here to play rugby and that is what we did, teams like the Black Horse are what grass roots rugby is all about and their attitude to the game is a credit to them
This week the Eagles travel to Wansted for their league match and the club looks forward to the return of Alan Chinn-Shaw, Andy Carroll and Adam Prince to strengthen this developing team
PS will the Vet pass the Warhorse fit to play???