A Large Crowd was expected for the Official opening game on Egremont’s new pitch at Gillfoot Park, The game was always going to be a tough one for the home side with the visitors; East Leeds looking to cause an upset on Egremont’s big day.
This looked like it could be the case when from the first kick off a mistake from Egremont allowed the ball to bounce into touch, gifting the ball to East Leeds on the Egremont 10m line, however resilient defence from the home side stopped the considerably larger East Leeds from crossing for the first time on the new pitch. The game was becoming a real battle when the first break of the match came from Egremont’s returning Centre Leon Crellin broke up the touchline only to be bundled into touch.
Never the less it was Egremont who did make the first break through on the 9th minute when scrum half Paul Corkhill found a gap in the defence and offloaded to the supporting hooker Matthew Henson who strolled in under the posts for the First Official try on the New Pitch, marking his name well and truly in the history books. The resulting conversion was goaled by Ross Brookes making it 6-0 to the home side with only 10 minutes on the clock.
It was another 10 minutes until anymore score was added when on 19 minute Egremont were awarded a scrum on their own 10m line, from the back winger Jack Stainton was able to poke his head through the line to then offload to supporting centre Ross Brookes scorched up the touchline before cutting in to cross once again under the posts giving himself an easy conversion 12-0 the home side and a perfect start on the new pitch.
The defence from both sides was brutal with neither set of players both teams then had their opportunities to get points, however neither were able to capitalise. However on 39 minutes East Leeds were able to breach the Egremont defence when after some slick play out wide the winger Ash Stephenson was able to dive over in the corner bring the away side right back into the game, the resulting kick was missed and the ties went into half time at 12-4. The game was well and truly still in the balance.
The second half started off in similar fashion to the first with both teams denying each other an inch, however after an East Leeds mistake Egremont were in a great position on the East Leeds line, a quick short pass and pure strength and muscle allowed Egremont’s Prop Tom Horner to cross the line next to the posts on the 41st minute and with Ross Brookes behind the cone the kick was a formality and it was soon 18-4. This was a big blow to the East Leeds side when after all their hard work to get back into the game just before the half was so quickly wiped away and the lead was now extended to 14 points which would never be bridged, however the visitors never dropped in intensity and were still determined to get back into the game.
However on 55 minutes the East Leeds armour took another dent when after some sublime play from the home side allowed returning centre Leon Crellin to get on the score sheet pushing the score line out to 22-4, the resulting kick converted by Brookes to keep up his 100% record with the boot 24-4 to the hosts.
It didn’t take long for the home side to extend their lead with the heat and game intensity obviously showing stand off James McDonald was like a wizard when out of nothing he was able to transport himself to the under the sticks crossing with what looked like considerable ease. Resulting kick converted 30-4 to the home side and a big score looking likely with 20 minutes left on the clock.
However all credit to the away side they started to come back into the game and were starting to contain the Egremont side and forcing the mistakes however Egremont’s defence was still standing tall and not allowing East Leeds a sniff of the try line. It wasn’t until the 78th minute when more points were added when Egremont Substitute Matthew Bewsher slotted over the one pointer from just in front of the posts 31-4 to the hosts.
Never the less it was to be East Leeds who were to have the last say when from the resulting kick off from the drop goal they were able to re-gather and run 40m through second rower Benjamin Walkin to cross under the posts, the resulting conversion was successful by stand off Nathan Conroy to make it 31-10. This was pretty much the last action of the day as the final whistle was blown soon after.
It was finally over the big day had ended in a big win for the home side and a great start to life in this New Era at the club.
Official MOM’s
Egremont – Peter Bewsher
East Leeds – Benjamin Walkin