Romford crushed by strong Eton Manor

Eton Manor visited Romford for a friendly game; both teams were evenly matched with a number of 15 and 16 players a side. Romford knew they had a hard job playing a team from the division above.

Manor opened the game kicking to Romford and went on the attack. With good rucking and mauling they soon took the game to Romford’s five metre line. Romford had a lucky break and turned the ball over, making every attempt to break through Manor’s defence. Soon the ball was back with Manor being passed through hands to their winger who raced towards the try line with Romford in pursuit who forced the ball into touch.

Manor won Romford’s line out and with their forwards keeping the pressure on, the ball was kept in Romford’s half. Romford was working very hard in defence and again forcing Manor’s ball into touch. Again Manor won Romford’s line out and with a quick ball passing through hands, a fast run to the try line and they scored their first try ten minutes into the game, unfortunately this was not converted. This set the scene as to how the game would progress!

Within the next few minutes from their line out Manor executed the same moves and scored another try, again not converted.
For the next 15 minutes of the half Romford worked hard with their attack and defence. The ball was stolen on a couple of occasions with quick thinking moves by Nathan Anscomb and Michael Avraam-Stephenson but unfortunately they were met with a strong defence. Both teams were demonstrating attacking and defending play. Colby Dobson, Jacob Pritchard, Connor Flower and Conor O’Brien were tackling hard at every opportunity. Line outs and scrums were won and lost by both teams then suddenly a gap opened in Romford’s defence and with quick run Manor scored their third try. Another two tries followed in close succession with successful conversions that closed the first half with a score of 29-0 to Manor.

The second half opened with Romford kicking to Manor and the game continued in the same genre as the first half. Manor kept up the pressure in defence and attack. Romford made it to the 5 metre line on a couple of occasions, forwards Charles Debenham, David Baker, Joe Hill, Daniel Francis, Jack Price and Bradley Lucock on his debut for the team worked hard to achieve this but strong defence got the better of them and turned the ball to their advantage. The centres, Adam Dickson and George Smyth tried to swing the ball out to the backs passing through hands to the wingers Zeeshan Ali and Michael Avraam unfortunately to be taken into touch, each and every way they met Manor’s defence.

Manor gained another three tries in the second half with one conversion to win the game 46-0.

Overall Romford were outclassed by stronger team, however a great number of lessons were learned and they can take away valuable experience. The boys never gave up and continued to battle for the elusive try. Many thanks to Eton Manor for an excellent game.

Squad: Ali, Anscomb, Avraam-Stephenson, Baker, Debenham, Dickson, Dobson, Flower, Francis, Hill, Lindsey, Lucock, O'Brien, Price, Pritchard, Smyth.