East Hull A.R.L.F.C

Like the week previously a Castleford team came to St Richards and they too worthy opponents.

The game was played with good pace and on a bright breezy day.

The game was organised as a tribute to Bert Rustill, a stalwart of Easts U12s and with the passing of a young Panthers player only last week there was a tangable sadness prior to kick-off. The U15s players joined with the U12s to carry out a minuets applause.

From the KO the Panthers put a good set of six together but this was matched by strong home defence. Easts had their turn ball in hand and on a last play an up and under from Easts the ball fumbled by the young Panther - from the scrum it was Callum Tranmer who scored a trademark try from the base of the scrum. Joe Rustill converted well.
Easts 6-0.

There was plenty of offence from the visitors and their passing prowess was clear.

Another last tackle punt from Easts saw the visitors lose posession and Ellliott Jones picked up fed Jack Brown who powered forward and the ball made to Joe Rustill who scored a good try on the right flank.
Easts 10-0.

It was obvious both sides like to pass their way through their opponents and there was some excellent skills on view from both sets and this perfectly illustrated when the visitors scored a smart try of their own down the right side.
Easts 10-4.

Bradlee Cox was distributing well from hooker and Reece Smith a consistant threat.

The final score of the half came when the ball was whipped from right to left and Curtis Williamson did well to score at the apex of the try and touch line.

HT Easts 14 Cas Panthers 4.

Refreshments on board and coaches comments still ringing in the ears Easts were the first to score in the second half when a nifty short pass from Jones was taken on the bump by Tranmer and his power and pace did the rest making the tryline with ease. The under the sticks conversion saw the score Easts 20-4.

Easts seemed to struggle getting back on side and the official was having non of it. From a penalty the visitors were determined and scored a fine 4 pointer and the conversion made the scoreline 20-10.

The Panthers were making a real fist of it and playing with skill beyond their years and scored another excellent try on the left.

The game was really in the melting pot and could have gone either way - the young home players though stepped up a notch. Tranmer caught a visitors kick well and the offload to Barnaby Teasdale saw him skirt the defence and run 70 meters down the left wing for an excellent try with the score moving on to 24-14.

The next try was a beaut and came when Lewis Cooke and Lewis Foyston made a couple of powerful drives, halbacks Smith and Jones combined with the later dropping a short ball to that man Tranmer again and it was try-time. 24-4 to Easts.

Rustill, Brown and Tranmer was dominant in defence throughout and Smith and Jones combining well in attack.

Liam Barnett Major made some signficant runs into the heart of the opposition on a number of occasions.

Cooke drove out from Easts 20 after a good attack from the visitors was repelled, and from the play the ball Marley Lewis Potter took flight down the right to leave four defenders in his smoke to score a tremendous effort that earned applause from both touchlines. Rustill converted and the scoreline ticked on to 34-14.

The final play of the game was very apt as Rustill, who had a wonderful game, Bert would have been so proud, punt the ball low and hard down the right flank for a fast running Smith to score judging the bounce to perfection.

And that was as they say that.

F/T Easts 38 Castleford Panthers 14

In Summary:

Both sides have a similar style of play, using the ball well ball in hand.

The visitors played some very attractive rugby and will be a match for each and every opponent.

For Easts there was plenty of good performances with Callum, Jack, Joe, Reece and Elliott all making life difficult for the visitors and easy for their team mates.

To be fair this was a much better perfomance for Easts on last week.

There is plenty of positives for the coaching team to work on prior to season start.

The presentations afterwards saw both lose forwards pick up well desereved Man of the Match awards and well done to them... however the time had come to present the main award and it was an emotional moment when Jeannete presented the Bert Rustill Memorial Trophy to Easts Joe Rustill.

Thanks go to Castleford Panthers U12s and U15s for making the trip over and it is hoped to make the event annual.

Thanks also to Soccer Sensations for their hospitality.

Although Easts took the spoils the game was in the melting pot mid second half and realistically could have gone either way.

For the time being though thoughts are with family and friends who have lost loved ones, they will never be forgotten.

Onwards and Upwards.