Southend RFC 32 - Ealing Trailfinders 32
Sep
A Heart Stopper.
Southend took the field in this National 2 South game full of confidence after their successful start to the season. This time however they were up against Ealing, last seasons third place finishers and without a win against them.
They were soon to be reminded what a decent side Ealing are, conceding two penalties in the first six minutes. Both were converted by their very good kicker Neil Hallet and the home side were 0 – 6 down.
It wasn't until the 18th minute that Southend got a score on the board, a penalty of their own from Andrew Frost who had unusually missed one earlier. 3 – 6.
The play continued with Southend having to defend and unable to retain the ball for any length of time. Something had to give and it was no great surprise when Ealing's stand off Ben Ward collected the ball 15 metres out. Avoiding tackles he touched down under the post, Hallet converted and the score moved on to 3 – 13. He then rubbed it in by converting another penalty and Southend were in trouble at 3 – 16.
The spectators were quite, needing something to encourage them and the team responded. Straight from the restart they gained possession and attacked. The ball moved swiftly from hand to hand until it reached Mark Billings on the wing, he stretched his legs, stepped inside and touched down over the line. Frost made the conversion and they were back in touching distance at 10 – 16.
Hallet hadn't finished though and he kicked Ealing into a 10 – 19 lead just before half time with another penalty.
Southend came out for the second half with it all to and the hill became steeper straight away when Ealing prop Dinos Alexopoulos barged his way over for their second try and Hallet converted. The gap widened to a daunting 10 – 26 and Southend were looking defeat in the face.
Head coach Andy Holloway decided to react with some changes from the bench, Simon Hoult on for Frost, Sonny Gay for Dan Boughtwood and Jo Van Der Molen for Lee Guess. Mike Stanley moved to fly half and the team responded immediately. Again quick handling saw Mark Billings race in for his second try of the game, the conversion was missed from wide out but the score moved to 15 – 26.
Southend continued to press, Ealing conceded a penalty 40 meters out and Sam Arnott, Southend's new scrum half, took a quick tap penalty and darted down the pitch with Chris Green in support, drawing a last ditch tackle he shipped the ball to Green who dived over. Hoult converted and the score became more manageable at 22 – 26.
With the spectators roaring them on Southend strived for another try but ended up conceding yet another penalty. Hallet converted and Ealing moved further away again 22 – 29. With only ten minutes of the game remaining Hoult stepped up and nailed a penalty of his own 25 – 29.
The crowd were baying and expecting a Southend penalty after a nasty, off the ball, kick from one of the Ealing players. The officials must have missed it because the referee let play move on and then awarded a penalty to Ealing. That man Hallet maintained his afternoons hundred percent record and the ball sailed between the posts, 32 – 25.
With only seconds left it looked all over but Southend had different ideas, they turned the ball over near the Ealing line. Picking and driving they moved ever closer until big Chris Waring went over the line virtually under the posts. Hoult bludgeoned the successful conversion and they had pulled the coals from the fire, 32 – 32.
With four try's in the game Southend finished with three points to Ealing's two, so a victory of sorts that leaves them in 3rd position in the league two points behind leaders Henley.
Next week sees us away to Shelford in Cambridgeshire.
Penalties against Southend 9 – Ealing 6
