Fielding a side made up of young players who have graduated from the club’s recent Colts sides and Eltham College plus several more senior players returning from injury, they secured an emphatic 61-12 victory over ODs.
 
The game was played in four 20-minute quarters and the opening quarter was a close fought affair with ODs exerting pressure early on and the new-look OEs side taking time to gel and get into their stride.

Eventually the breakthrough came as OEs opened the scoring through Marc Muhlemann who carried well all through the game, Ollie Hobman converting. ODs hit back shortly before the end of the first quarter to cut the deficit to two points, 7-5.

Elthamians upped the tempo at the start of the second period and quickly added tries through Ali Mane, after a strong run from Renford Bennett and Cameron Hancock who finished off a break by James Golledge.

Hobman jinked his way over under the posts for Elthamians’ fourth score and then Golledge got on the scoresheet after good work from Tom Adamson, Hobman successful with four conversions and hitting the upright with the fifth.

OEs lost No.8 Joss Morgan towards the end of the first half with a recurrence of a knee injury to be replaced by another Academy graduate Joe Watkins who made an immediate impact as the Development XV ended the half leading 33-5.

Elthamians made eight changes after the break and after taking time to settle, they began to stretch the ODs defence again. Charlie Dee crashed over for the first try of the second half, flanker Ryan Munnelly finished off a clever run from Sean Triana and further tries from Hobman and Triana completed a comprehensive display from the club’s fledgling side.