Old Albanians 31 - Epping 2s 59

If you are a defence coach then read no more my friend as this match excelled in try scoring but lacked some what in the tackle department
It had been a tough week for the second string as a heavy defeat the previous Saturday at the hands of Finsbury Park and then several call upsd up to the first team squad meant drastic measures were required and a call for help to the International Rescue of the club well the Old boys!!.Fortunately this was well received as Legends Big Kev, Dr Weeble and Use2be stuck there hands up to play. In addition coaches Kenty and Potato also kitted up.
The squad also welcomed Rhys Brown who was playing in his first game of the season.

The game kicked off with the visitors driving their opponents into the twenty two and creating several try scoring opportunities without success.
It was rather against the run of play that the homeside opened the scoring after fly hacking the ball through the Clapton defence and out stripping the cover to touch down. Conversion made, seven nil to Old A's.The early setback was short lived however as Clapton went back on the attack and levelled the score after a five yard scrum was touched down by a rather flu ridden Kenty.
That score seemed to release the pressures of the last few weeks as the club proceeded to produce their best rugby of the season so far as good handling and running lines tore the Old A's defence apart which led to further tries for Harry Wood, Rhys Brown and Jakk Harty. Kurtis Knightly converting them all. The half time whistle blew with Clapton in a substantial lead.
The half time talk was led by Crouchy who had observed several anomalies from the side line that needed to be rectified.
Now as the score suggests the second half consisted of a try fest as both sides scored a hatfull. Clapton try scores were Joe Walker, Kurtis Knightly, George Douglass x 2 and Jakk Harty who showed an extremely quick pair of heals to intercept for his second of the game.
As the game entered the final quarter Albanians were on the ascendancy which led to a rather strange atmosphere for the Club at the final whistle.
With the rather lack lustre tackling aside this was an extremely important result for Epping as they come to terms with life in a new division.
Lots of positives to take from this match but to highlight a couple was the performance of the back row with Rhys Brown, Matt Sweeney and Kenty all breaking through the gain line at will, also Xavier looks a competent scrum half when distributing the ball quickly.
The man of the match though went to Jakk Harty who had a fabulous afternoon with ball in hand

Next week Epping host Hatfield in their first home game of the season (fingers crossed)

Oh and POWER promised me a pint if I mentioned him in this report