As the game commenced there was a real anicipation from both touchlines as there always is between these 'frienly foes'.

The arm wrestle began and boths sides showed their commitment.

First to score was the home side when a swift one-two from Barnaby Teasdale and Callum Tranmer resulted in the latter scorching over the visitors try line, and the dependable Joe Rustill knocked the extra two to see Easts in front by 6-0.

The visitors built well with some nice movement across the park but undone when Easts attacked with a strong drive by Jack Brown taken on by Elliott Jones and after a powerful burst by Callum Tranmer - Marley Lewis Potter sprinted over down the right wing for Easts to lead 10-0.

The young Bulls worked well for each other and the home side found themselves very lucky when the visitors knocked on when the try line beckoned although the defence may say it was because of the pressure exerted.

A wonderfull move from the home side began when Curtis Willimason flipped a peach of an inside ball to support and despite the tryline looming over-elaboration resulted in the ball being dropped.

Another great move from Easts down the left saw many hands in the movement with the Steeden spun right and Williamson, Reese Smith, 'Captain Jack' Brown, Tranmer's short pass to Jones, onto Rustill and Rhys Smith in for a great try own the right flank. Easts 14-0.

From the high Skirlaugh re-start Potter picked up on the bounce and won the footrace 70m for a wonderful individual try and the extras made easy for Rustill under the posts. Easts coasting at 20-0.

The restart from the visitors difficult to take but Jones made light work and Tarran Lovick difficult to stop, the move continued with a nice little-run-around with Smith and Rustill and a well judged offload saw Smith strole under the sticks before a defender could intervene. Rustill no problem with the extras and the home side 26-0 up,

In virtually the last move of the first stanza a towering up and under on the last by the Bulls saw the ball fumbled by the home side and picked up by the industrious Harrison Morrow for a well deserved try for the visitors. With the extras added the young official blew for half-time with the home side's noses in front!

Half-time Easts 26-6 Skirlaugh Bulls.

Easts coaches must have been happy with their charges who looked accomplished and swift, and probably asked for more of the same.

The challenge for the visitors was to get some real momentum, and in this they didn't disappoint.

Rustill kicked off proceedings in the second half and there was some stiff defence from the home boys with Brown, Lovick, Tranmer and Teasdale at the fore.

However as good as the home side were in the first half the Mr Hyde came out in the second period and the performance littered with errors. Fortunately the visitors didn't have the strike to make Easts pay and this something the home management will be disappointed with.

Reese Smith ran with purose and his wingers Rhys Smith and Jack Wilson helped too with some nifty acting half-back scoots.

That man tricky 'Benji Marshall' Smith dummied his way over from the back of the scrum after a visitors error to see the score line 30-6 to Easts.

After another Bulls high kick on the last Williamson picked up the pieces for the Blue and Whites with a weaving run, Wilson took the ball forward then visitors found themselves penalised for an infringement on their own 20m, and Jones needed no invitation as he quick tapped to restart and dummied his way past three static defenders to score under the uprights. Rustill eased the extras and Easts stumbled along to lead 36-6.

The visitors had plenty of the second half with some smart drives by Josh Oliver and swift breaks by Harrison Morrow with the later scoring the final points of the game whne he dissected some weak home defence at pace following a penalty for another well deserved but unconverted try. Easts 36-10.

The visitors did well and there was a couple of last ditch tackles by an enthusiastic Jordan Wynne to prevent further points be conceeded.

And that as they say was that.
The official blew for full time and both sides shook hands at the end of this hard fought game.

Full Time

Easts 36 Skirlaugh 1o.


In Summary:

Skirlaugh played much better then on the previous meeting and this is something their coaches should be happy with and look to build on.
Well done to all the players.

For Easts there was some good work by all the team but inparticular Taz, Barn and Marl and the coaches will no doubt look to improve the performance for the next fixture.

Onwards and Upwards.