Epping 2s 21 - Finsbury Park 1s 12

OK, so no match reports for a while has really summed up the 2s season so far. It's difficult to keep writing on defeats and up until two weeks ago the 2s sat at the bottom of their new division having only one victory from seven matches played.
So what has caused the change in fortune I hear you ask, simples....two consecutive home matches
For both the Finsbury Park game and the previous week's match against Weston the 2s had the choice from around 25 available players.
Weston had beaten the club earlier in the season but a comprehensive 51 points to 10 reverse had given the squad real belief that they weren't in the league to make up the numbers...oh and Smelley Kelley won the man of the match (needed to add that to stop him whining that there was no report last week)
Even with that victory Finsbury Park was a different animal. As with Weston this was the second game of the season and this time Clapton had a humiliating 80 points to 6 hammering in the back of their minds.
True, there was only four players starting who played in the previous fixture but with Alfie Reynolds, POWER and Liam Rogers who all played the previous week being called up by the ones and Tom Roberts unavailable due to work commitments, fresh meat was called for. In came Lindsey Dobbin, Jakk Harty ( returning after a month out with a hurty finger!), Doodle & Ed Lobbo ( making their first starts of the season) and the Colossus's that is Nicky T who also Captained the side.

Epping kicked off and from the early exchanges Finsbury knew that they were not going to have the same stroll in the park!! as they did earlier in the season.
The home side dominated the early exchanges but could not turn this into points. The closest chance fell when George Douglass powered his way over the line but could not ground the ball. Finsbury soaked up the pressure well and showed what a good side they are by making their way up field and with their first meaningful attack scored from a neatly worked line out move. Conversion missed 5-0 to Park.
Epping continued to put pressure on the visitors defence and this time were rewarded 10 minutes later when the impressive Ollie Dunningham barged over from close range. George converted to give the home team the lead.
The remainder of the half was spent in mid field with both teams taking chunks out of each other but not creating any real opportunity to score. The half time whistle blew with the Club holding a slender 2 point advantage.
The half time talk revolved around not giving the opposition any space and the next score would be vital.
The words were barely out of Skipper T-Bones mouth as the FInsbury flanker pounced on loose ball at the start of the second half, broke several tackles and crossed the home sides try line. The gods must have been looking favourably at the club as unfortunately and crucially in the context of this match the ball was dropped before touching down.
10 minutes later and Epping had their second try of the afternoon after a neat chip over the on rushing defence by RIchard Mcenery had the defence scrambling with scrum half Xavier collecting and sprinting clear.
This score rather galvanised the visitors as they produced there best rugby of the match that ended in a converted try under the posts to level the score.
With 12 minutes remaining George, who we playing with a hurty hamstring was forced from the field being replaced by potato.
2 minutes later and the veteren fly half was called into action as a penalty was awarded to the homeside that he duly converted. 5 minutes later Epping were awarded another penalty this time out wide on the right but again went over to mean that Finsbury required a try to take the spoils.
As time ran out Clapton were keeping the ball tight by driving up field and marshalled well by Messers Kent, Baldwin and Trevillion.
The final play of the game saw the Park defence creep offside to give Potato a tap over in front of the posts and a rather flattering 21 points to 12 victory
This was a truly outstanding performance for the club who not only beat the league leaders but a team who were unbeaten in 29 games.
The whole team should be commended for this performance but to mention a couple, Doodle proved that he hasn't lost the talent of being a pain in the arse at the breakdown, fellow coach Mark Kent who has moved back in the row but is defying his 48 years of age. Nicky T...absolute Legend. The man of the match however went to Smiffy who last week was on the flank but for this match moved to outside centre. Both he and fellow centre Ed Lobbo both ensured that there were no holes in centre field especially against an extremely physical opposition. Smiffy tackled his little heart out as well as making some nice breaks.

A week off for the 2s next week before entertaining Old Albanians the week after.