A VALLIANT EFFORT FROM AN UNDER STRENGH MILFORD TEAM WAS ONE OF THE KEY PARTS OF THE GAME AS EASTS BOOKED THEIR PLACE IN THE FINAL OF THE LEEDS AND DISTRICT CUP. HAVING TURNED UP WITH ONLY 11 PLAYERS MILFORD WERE ALWAYS GOING TO STRUGGLE AND IN THE SECOND HALF THEY EVEN WENT DOWN TO 9 PLAYERS AT ONE STAGE, BUT THEIR HEADS NEVER DROPPED AND THEY TRIED THEIR BEST WHICH MUST BE ENCOURAGING FOR THEIR COACHES AND PARENTS.
IN THE FIRST HALF REECE SHONE FOR EASTS FIRSTLY WITH A CRACKING LINE BREAK AND DRAWING THE FULLBACK THEN SENDING A CLEVER PASS TO TYLER WHO WENT OVER FOR THE FIRST TRY OF THE GAME, CONVERTED BY SPRATTY.THEN IN ALMOST THE SAME FASHION EASTS CROSSED AGAIN, SAME PLAYERS SAME MOVE BUT THIS TIME THE TRY WAS DISS ALLOWED BECAUSE OF AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE BUILD UP. THEN SHAUN SCORED THE FIRST OF HIS 4 TRY'S,REVELLING IN THE OPEN SPACES IN FRONT OF HIM. CONVERTED BY GINNER. THEN GINNER CROSSED BUT LOST THE BALL IN THE MOVE,HE REGATHERED THE BALL BEFORE IT HIT THE FLOOR BUT THR REFEREE GAVE NO TRY. THEN JOSH RECEIVED THE BALL NEAR HIS OWN LINE AND TOOK THE WHOLE MILFORD TEAM ON ONLY TO DROP THE BALL AS HE RACED TO THE LINE,
THE SECOND HALF SAW EASTS RUN THE BALL AND WITH ALL THE SPACE THEY HAD MORE TRYS WERE SOON TO FOLLOW. SHAUN WAS FIRST WITH A LONG JINXING RUN CONVERTED BY GINNER.THEN FROM THE KICK OFF LIAM RACED AWAY TO SET JOSH UP FOR HIS TRY. THEN SHAUN RACED AWAY FROM DEEP IN HIS OWN HALF FOR HIS HAT TRICK TRY CONVERTED BY LUKE H, SHAUN THEN CROSSED AGAIN WITH SPRATTY ADDING THE CONVERSION. REECE WAS THEN REWARDED FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK WITH A TRY AS HE BROKE THE MILFORD LINE AND BEAT THE FULL BACK IN THE RACE FOR THE LINE. THE GAME WAS WRAPPED UP WHEN JORDAN POWERED OVER FROM CLOSE RANGE,LUKE H ADDING THE CONVERSION. ANTHONY WAS VOTED MOTM FOR A STRONG DISPLAY IN ATTACK AND DEFENCE.RHYS ALLOTT WAS UNLUCKY TO BE PULLED UP AS HE RACED FOR A TRY,THE REFEREE GAVE A FORWARD PASS.
JACK,RYAN AND LIAM ALL PLAYED THEIR PARTS WELL, AS DID THE WHOLE TEAM.
OULTON AWAIT IN THE FINAL AND EASTS WILL HAVE TO RAISE THEIR GAME AGAINST THE FAVOURITES IF THEY ARE TO WIN BUT IT'S NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.FINGERS CROSSED.