Hatrick return for dirty Dobbin

EUCRFC 2nd XV 38 – Basildon 54

Saturday 10th January saw a very young Epping side take on an experienced Basildon team. Like the majority of opposition that the 2nd XV have faced this season they were drastically out-weighed. Therefore, the game plan was simple – keep it away from the larger chaps and give it to our quicker ones, a great concept in theory.

From the minute the game kicked off it was apparent that the Basildon side really wanted this win as they crashed over the line in the corner. With their kicker on form the score was 7-0.

The Epping lads soon returned the favour with a great start kick and chase placing the Basildon side under immense pressure. After a short period of attack the Basildon defence caved, and Dean ‘twinkle-toes’ McFarlane at Fly half threw a wonderful miss pass, allowing Jordan Ambrose to break the line and score. The score sat at 7-5 and the game looked as though it would be a close one.

However, this was not the way that the Basildon side felt as they spent the remainder of the first half using the wind and pitch’s slope to their advantage and ensuring that the EUCRFC team had very little possession and made very little yards. This resulted in 4 more scores for Basildon, all of which were converted. The score now sat at 35-5.

The half time talk touched on the Epping side’s tackling, set pieces, support play and, most importantly, the original game plan.
It would seem that the Epping side was listening (and the Basildon side were tiring) as the forwards provided clean quick ball for the backs to run some of their fluid moves. The result put Lindsey "Honey Badger" Dobbin in the corner. Alex "Baby Face Nelson" Babb slotted the conversion putting the score at 35-12.

The club received the kick-off and stayed true to form by ensuring that Jordan Ambrose, once again, broke the defensive line and scored his second try of the match. 35-19.

Lindsey Dobbin, keen for some more glory, outpaced his opposite man on the outside and scored his second of the game. With Babb’s football skills on form the score sat at 35-26. Things were looking up!

This great period of play was, however, short lived as Basildon managed to score 2 more tries in quick succession putting the score at 47-26. The Basildon side was not as tired as it seemed.

The teams then traded tries, in the last 10 minutes, with Liam Rogers scoring, then Basildon and finally Lindsey Dobbin (with his hat-trick).

The final score was 54-38. A valiant effort from the EUCRFC chaps, however, the Basildon scoring in the first half was far too severe to come back from.

MOM went to Jordan, not just scoring but setting up tries

Ed