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May & Baker 34 East London 3
Gary Bird13 Feb 2015 - 17:30
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Plucky display proves in vain
A plucky performance from East London failed to stop May & Baker from clocking up a 34-3 win on Saturday (7 February) – their 14th of the season that maintained their spot at the top of Essex League 1.
Solid tackling and strong defence frustrated the home side for long periods as the visitors denied their opponents space and time on the ball.
It was East London who should have had the lead on five minutes when centre Adam Brown pulled a penalty kick wide of the posts. The game remained scoreless for 30 minutes until May & Baker won a scrum against the head close to the visitors' line. East London conceded a penalty as they defended desperately. The home side took it quickly and scored the first try, but missed the conversion.
East London's woes continued when number eight Billy Clayton was yellow carded for foul play as the try was scored and while he was off the field May & Baker scored a second try and conversion on 36 minutes to lead 12-0 at the break.
Full back Kwesi Scantlebury kicked a penalty from in front of the posts five minutes into the second half to offer East London hope. Constant probing by scrum-half Joe Kelly and the pace of wings Tommy Little and Jason New continued to give the home side some anxious moments but without reward.
The defensive effort was by now beginning to take its toll and as East London chased the game the home side scored four more tries – two in the final five minutes.
East London coach Adrian Boyce said: “May & Baker are a good side but knew they had been in a game. The final score flattered them a little in the end. All of our players stepped up to the mark but we couldn’t turn our good possession into points.”
East London are next in Essex League 1 action on Saturday 21 February with a home match at the Memorial Ground in West Ham against second place Epping Upper Clapton.
East London 1st XV vs May & Baker: 1 Gary Pearmain; 2 Will Masters; 3 Mirko Zemanovic; 4. Oto Hejmala; 5 Michael Groombridge; 6. Nick Parrott; 7. Hugo Chanson; 8 Billy Clayton; 9 Joe Kelly; 10 Alister Gonse; 11 Jason New; 12 Pierce Young; 13 Adam Brown; 14; Tommy Little; 15 Kwesi Scantlebury. Replacements: 16. Ryan Roberts; 17; Felipe Ramirez.
Solid tackling and strong defence frustrated the home side for long periods as the visitors denied their opponents space and time on the ball.
It was East London who should have had the lead on five minutes when centre Adam Brown pulled a penalty kick wide of the posts. The game remained scoreless for 30 minutes until May & Baker won a scrum against the head close to the visitors' line. East London conceded a penalty as they defended desperately. The home side took it quickly and scored the first try, but missed the conversion.
East London's woes continued when number eight Billy Clayton was yellow carded for foul play as the try was scored and while he was off the field May & Baker scored a second try and conversion on 36 minutes to lead 12-0 at the break.
Full back Kwesi Scantlebury kicked a penalty from in front of the posts five minutes into the second half to offer East London hope. Constant probing by scrum-half Joe Kelly and the pace of wings Tommy Little and Jason New continued to give the home side some anxious moments but without reward.
The defensive effort was by now beginning to take its toll and as East London chased the game the home side scored four more tries – two in the final five minutes.
East London coach Adrian Boyce said: “May & Baker are a good side but knew they had been in a game. The final score flattered them a little in the end. All of our players stepped up to the mark but we couldn’t turn our good possession into points.”
East London are next in Essex League 1 action on Saturday 21 February with a home match at the Memorial Ground in West Ham against second place Epping Upper Clapton.
East London 1st XV vs May & Baker: 1 Gary Pearmain; 2 Will Masters; 3 Mirko Zemanovic; 4. Oto Hejmala; 5 Michael Groombridge; 6. Nick Parrott; 7. Hugo Chanson; 8 Billy Clayton; 9 Joe Kelly; 10 Alister Gonse; 11 Jason New; 12 Pierce Young; 13 Adam Brown; 14; Tommy Little; 15 Kwesi Scantlebury. Replacements: 16. Ryan Roberts; 17; Felipe Ramirez.
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