Welcome to East Grinstead Rugby Round Up. If you are reading this on the website, or via Facebook, please sign up to receive this Newsletter via email, which contains loads of pictures and other content, please email m.marriott@btconnect.com and we will add you to the list.

SENIOR RUGBY
A big weekend for East Grinstead RFC as our 1XV welcomed promotion chasing Twickenham to Saint Hill. This game was always going to be a big ask, but how did we do? Thank you Ted for this report: Match report

You can see Ben’s pics of the match here: Match pics

Meanwhile, on pitch two, our 2XV were taking on a large Burgess Hill 1XV looking to get back to winning ways. What a match this was!! To read all about it, click here for Rhys’ report: Match report

Next up were the Women who travelled to Crawley with a massive opportunity to shoot up the table. For the first time in the women's team history, the teamsheet featured a mother and daughter duo. Coming up from the U18's alongside player of the match Jorja Shelford, Gabi Johnson-Cordaro took to the pitch to make her senior debut alongside her mum, Angie. With dad Daan playing for the senior mens team and son Henry for the boys, this was a truly special moment for the rugby family.

This first is a testament to the incredible efforts of the club in developing the juniors, girls and women's team. Huge congratulations to Gabi and Angie on a stunning performance, we're very proud to have you as part of our club!

How did the game go? Read all about it here: Match report

To see Ben’s pics, click here: Match pics

Next week is a rest week for our men, but our Women travel to Dorking on Saturday. An early KO for this one - 12.30!

JUNIOR RUGBY
After 2 weeks of extreme weather making our 2025 return impossible, after a week of favourable conditions, our juniors were able to return to rugby. It was a hugely busy day at the club with all sections turning out except the U9s who were away at Uckfield.

Despite having 4 weeks off, all the coaches reported that the players were not too rusty as everyone set about getting back into the groove to prepare for the 2nd half of the season. It was great to see so many new faces in the clubhouse afterwards enjoying the facilities.

On Sunday, nearly 30 of our U9s travelled up the road to meet our friends at Uckfield RFC for some joint training and matches. On a chilly morning, the boys got stuck into some tackle bag drills to blow the cobwebs away after a 4 week break from training. Several quick-paced matches followed with our teams showing their trademark tenacity and competitive spirit against an opposition who were clearly up for a battle! All in all it was a great morning of rugby and we are already looking forward to our next inter-club fixture with Burgess Hill in a couple of weeks’ time.

Next week, we have some visiting U10 teams from Haywards Heath coming to Saint Hill for an interclub fixture.

INTERMEDIATE RUGBY
G’s U13 Blues 10 - Haywards Heath - 25

Sunday saw EG Blues back for their first game in their new group, having been promoted in the Waterfall league following their emphatic wins during the first half of the season. Much like our loyal spectators on this chilly morning, the game was slow to warm up with both sides sizing each other up.

Haywards Heath had brought along a sizeable centre, who was no slouch, and EG found him tough to handle when he broke through in space to score, before proceeding to score a further 3 tries during the first half as EG struggled to find a solution. EG regrouped with some monster tackles coming in from the forwards and Haywards Heath were unable to find any answer to our dominant scrum.

Jack Harley, in particular, played like a man possessed and seemed be everywhere on the pitch at once, his fitness and determination causing all sorts of problems for the opposition whilst, in the backs, fly half Rory Collins and centre pairs George Shepherd and Billy Hodge made valiant attacking charges whilst working together in defence to cover and neutralise the opposition’s running threat.

As the first half progressed EG eventually found their rhythm and were rewarded with a score after the backs and forwards worked together, moving the ball to enable Rory Collins to find enough space in the disorientated HH defence to finish off a well worked team try and EG Blues were on the score board. With the first half having ended on a positive note, and with heads held high, EG came into the second half with a renewed vigour and looking like a different team.

Following some ferocious defensive work, that involved almost every member of the EG squad and led to the opposition fumbling the ball, a second, opportunistic, EG try came from Billy Hodge, who showed great strength, pace and determination off the back of fantastic support play from Nathan Ashley and Braeden Minter.This renewed confidence was, sadly, not enough to sway the game back in our direction and the final whistle blew as the final try was scored by the HH giant to end the game 10-25.

Whilst their first game back may have resulted in a loss, all players involved should be incredibly proud of themselves and realise that, whilst the level of their competition has increased following promotion into the higher group, they are all capable of meeting this new challenge. With big lessons having been learnt, the boys will be better prepared for their next game.

Good job boys!

PRE-MATCH LUNCHES
With only two home league matches of the season left, here is some early warning to get them in your diary. First up is always my favourite fixture of the season, G’s v Eastbourne on the 15th February. Another nail-biter coming up?

Then we welcome Cobham on the 22nd March which will also be a belter! Both these matches will be well attended, so don’t hang about.

More details coming, including our online booking, but feel free to get ahead of the crowd by e-mailing us at: events@egrfc.com or calling the office on 01342 322338 and asking for Julie.

TATE WILLIAMS
It wasn’t long ago we watched Tate running with the G’s all conquering U15 and U16 squads. Even getting him in a senior top on a couple of occasions before Quins snapped him up. He has been making the 8 shirt his own in the Quins U18 squad over the last few weeks.

Last Sunday, Tate started against a strong Bath side, with Quins eventually overcoming the West Country side 35 - 25 in an awesome encounter. To watch the game, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU5VyJvzA-Y

RFU GAME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
I’m sure you are all getting bored with us going on about your GMS membership entry, but the club now relies entirely on the information in the RFU GMS system for compliance with rugby rules and ensuring the safety of all player and members.

As you see below, a recent survey from the system showed that we have a number of missing data points and we would really appreciate it if everyone could check their GMS entry ASAP (495 of you are shy of your age?).

Click the ‘Membership, Subs & Joining EGRFC’ button in the black menu bar at the top of our website, or click this link: EGRFC GMS Then log in using the tab at the top right to get to your info.

Please help us, and the RFU, by checking your entry is complete today!

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!!