Epping 2s 48 - UCS Old Boys 2s 19

On paper this game had all the intention of being a close affair and up until the 50 minute mark it looked to be the case until 3 tries in a ten minute spell put the game out of the visitors reach.
Both teams had first met a month ago where Epping had produced one of their best performances of the season with a narrow 24 points to 17 victory.
Skipper Tom Roberts elected to play with the wind in the first half but it was the visitors who started the game the better by producing multiple phases of play while holding onto the ball.
It was in fact some loose play from UCS that enabled Epping to open the scoring after a fly hack saw the club regain possession and charge upfield to find second row Jakk Harty who showed the ball to several willing candidates but deciding to ghost in on his own.
Moments later and Clapton had scored again and again on the back of a UCS mistake. This time the full back failing to take a towering up and under by fly half George Douglass. Dobbin was first to the loose ball to and run in unopposed.
Clapton were growing in confidence albeit with limited amount of ball they were getting. None more so than scrum half James Hack starting in only his second game of the season. Normally a winger but for the 2s helping out at scrum half. It was Hack next on the scoreboard after a tremendous solo effort after collecting the ball from the back of a scrum on the opponent's 10 meter line.
With a nineteen point lead it looked as though Clapton would run away with the game but UCS had other ideas as it was they who were next on the scoreboard. Roberts crossed for Claptons fourth try of the afternoon but as the half came to an end UCS were again controlling possession which resulted in their second try to leave the half time score at 24-12 to the club.
Now that score in normal circumstances should give enough confidence that an easy win was on the cards but with UCS looking dangerous in attack and now having the advantage of the strong wind a rather apprehensive half time team talk was had.
Clapton made one change at the break with Harry Judge replacing the POWER in the front row.
The early exchanges in the second half were even but as explained earlier three tries in a tennminute spell put the game out of the reach of the visitors. Try scorers Douglass, Hack (for his second) and finally Smiffy after a wonderful flowing move.
As time ran out UCS added another try for themselves before centre Darah Poonwaisse ended the try scoring for the day.
Overall a good day for the club as they managed eight tries in testing conditions. Questions will be asked though around the amount of possession they tend to gift their opponents. This could be looked at training if any of them ever turned up!!!!!

It was great to see Aggie available for a second week in sucsession. He really made an impact when coming onto the field (mostly positive)
Another fine display also by fellow back rower Rhys Brown who tackled, ran and controlled the home side lineout all afternoon.
In the backs Joe Walker had arguably his best game of the season so far.one reason for this was his realisation that if the ball Isn't coming his way then he must go looking for it.
The man of the match though went to James Hack whose elusive running and ability to break out of the tackle was a thorn in the USC defense all afternoon.

A special mention must also go to Ali G who before his trip to Australia was a regular on the Clapton wing but since his return has struggled to gain his place back yet has been consistently available, has played in the back row when asked and on Saturday was happy to play for the opposition when their winger had pulled his hamstring during the warm up. He also made a few home players look rather silly in defence as he ghosted past them, no names though eh SKIPPER!

Crunch merit table game next week as Epping travel to Saracens Amateurs for their penultimate league game of the season. The club will be looking to avenge the defeat by Sarries a couple of weeks ago.