Eastern Counties 31 Essex 5

Eastern Counties U20 played their second pool game at Colchester on Sunday and won away with a convincing win. Essex played the first half aided by gale force winds and should have made more of the wind assistance. They played most of the first half in the Counties half but were unable capitalize on the territorial advantage. Both teams tried to move the ball about but long passes were not going to hand.

After twenty minutes of play, having spent most of this time in Counties half, Bedding scrambled over from short range to score for Essex. At this point Counties changed tactics and tightened up their game, pop passes and bringing the forwards into the game paid dividends and they made more progress into the Essex half and for the last ten minutes of the half tested the Essex defence. From an 5 scrum to Essex Counties won the ball and Ben Cooper touched down after two phases of play to level the score.

For the second half Eastern Counties were playing with the elements and were quickly deep into the oppositions’ half, determined defence could not prevent Counties crossing the try line twice but did prevent the score but eventually at the third attempt Joe Srokowski scored. The try was converted by Adam White. Ollie Watson was next to score as Essex soaked up the pressure with another conversion by White. A penalty try increased the lead and a second try by Cooper in time added on completed a good afternoon’s work by the Eastern Counties side.

The next game in the series is away in Kent.