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SENIOR RUGBY
2025 started with a bang! Both our Men and Women in action last weekend.
Saturday was very cold! Although the second team match fell foul of the frozen pitches, a huge’ thank you’ to Chairman, Bob Marsh, who rode the tractor all morning to get pitch 2 ready for the visit of high flying Weybridge Vandals. We continue with our match DotD writing the report, so click here to read the report (extra points if you guess who the author is?): Match report

To see Ben’s pics of the game, follow this link: Match pics

On Sunday, the frost had turned to mud and miserable rain, for the visit of ‘top of the table’ Seaford. A massive game played with great intensity by both sides. To read what happened, click here: Match report

To see the match pics, click here: Match pics

Next Saturday sees Our 1XV travel to Hove, eager to replicate last seasons result, while our 2’s host Jersey Royals, eager to upset the odds against the Channel Islanders. Both games kick off at 2pm. Our Ladies get a well earned rest.

INTERMEDIATE RUGBY
Horsham U13’s v G’s Reds
Our U13 boys opened the second half of their waterfall season with an emphatic win against Horsham on a cold, wet and windy morning on their AGP. They played brilliantly as a team, proving again how strong we are in the scrum (including a couple we won having driven over the Horsham put in) and how well we are now moving the ball around and finding/making space in attack. This combined with a strong defence left Horsham nowhere to hide and at half time the score was 0-30 with the game finishing 0-50 to us (official score 0-35)

The try scorers were George S, Tommy D, Tom C, Fred, Mason and Billy.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining game to watch with one of the particular highlights being our defence against several attacking phases from Horsham within our own 10, before we finally came out with ball and scored at the other end of the pitch. All the coaches were incredibly proud of the boys and we look forward to continuing to develop throughout the remainder of the season.

Old Reigations U15’s v G’s 15 (Dec 2024)
Before the game, the Old Reigations’ coaches thought they knew the level of rugby our age group were at. In April 2024, the EG squad lost to them 5-0 and 17-0 in short games during a festival in Havant. On that day in April, we also lost to Havant 20-0. But as the players, parents and coaches know, we are not the same side this season.

Today we played the last game before Christmas and won 53-0. Tries by Syd x3, Ollie S, Alfie x2, Ethan, Declan & Ollie H. Declan converted 4 times. EG started hard and quickly out-muscled and out-classed a dispirited Old Reigations C team. Reigations played an EG squad that have completely changed their mindset this season. EG’s rugby was at such a different level of intensity today, Reigations only entered EG's 22m, red zone, once to no avail. The disparity in attitudes between both teams meant EG didn't perform at their newly discovered, high level of skill throughout the match, but even so, had the game not been called early by Reigations, a score in the 60s or 70s was on the cards. EGRFC U15’s were turning over their scrums, regaining the ball at restarts and winning almost all collisions.

After Christmas, the U15s will face stern opposition in the form of Guernsey, Jersey, and Lewes. These games will be better tests for our developing squad and will really demonstrate how far we have come from the 2023/2024 season.

G’s U15’s v Jersey
A lot can happen in two years; EG’s U15 team have been transformed over that time. When we last faced Jersey in October 2022, we stopped counting the tries scored against us. Back in 2022 we lost 40 or 50 to nothing. But today, in weather that would have made Noah nervous, EG’s U15s played a hard-fought match that revealed how far we’ve improved. Ryland Thomas refereed and stated it was the most spirited U15 performance he’d seen.

It was never going to be a pretty game with wind and driving rain adding to the waterlogged pitch making it a true character-building experience. EG opened the scoring with a hard fought, physical try carried over the line by Syd. In the first 30 minutes, EG dominated the play, but it was clear that Jersey had the skills and strength to threaten us every time we slipped up. With a squad double the size of EG and Harlequins players amongst their team EG were in for a fierce battle against one of the strongest teams in our league.

EG couldn’t keep up the intensity and Jersey replied with three converted tries. EG rallied in the last quarter showing their determination in atrocious conditions and Sam ran in a try from 30m out handing off three opposition players before he muscled over the try-line to make the score 10 -21. The Jersey coaches admitted they were worried about a comeback by EG, but the final whistle blew before we could capitalise on our rejuvenated spirit.

EG’s man of the match was Dylan for his work-rate tackling, jackalling and hard charging.

For anyone not following the development of EG’s U15 squad this season, the games have been:
01 Sep 2024 Portsmouth 55, EG 0
15 Sep 2024 Lewes 29, EG 19
06 Oct 2024 EG 29, Old Becs 12
13 Oct 2024 Uckfield 24, EG 38 (League game)
03 Nov 2024 EG 10, Pulborough 22
10 Nov 2024 Westcombe Park 3, EG 40
17 Nov 2024 EG 22, Burgess Hill 7 (League game)
01 Dec 2024 Hastings & Bexhill 0, EG 46 (League game)
15 Dec 2024 Old Reigations 0, EG 53
05 Jan 2025 EG 10, Jersey 21 (League game)

TWICKENHAM LUNCH (18th)
Join us for the first EGRFC feast of 2025! Our next pre match food is on Saturday 18th where we host Twickenham. Burgess Hill will also be sending their Sussex All Blacks to face our 2’s, so it’s going to be a big day!

All the info you need to book your seat is here: Pre-match lunch

Look forward to seeing you.

WIN THE ULTIMATE RUGBY EXPERIENCE
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You could win an unforgettable prize package including match tickets, the chance to meet players, gain exclusive on-pitch access, Guinness merchandise, and much more at Allianz Stadium.

Click the link to apply: Rugby comp

OTHER NEWS
If you have any news about any aspect of our rugby family here at East Grinstead, get involved and email m.marriott@btconnect.com. See you next week!!