The Brigands travelled to Old Elthamians for a derby game that was terrific for the neutrals but no good for the heart.
Starting brightly the club looked to work phases but the hosts soon began to wrest control, helped by Club indiscipline and the home fly half’s excellent kicking game. However, it was a Club counterattack that led to the first score. OE’s knocked the ball on with an overlap begging, and Nathan Brindle – taking a break from increasing his tackle count for the season by 1000%, launched a fine break to set wing Jonny Moore away. Brindle was good with the extras.
Despite a largely dominant set piece, with several scrums taken against the head, the Brigands would find little more joy with the ball in a first half spent largely camped in their own 22. Nevertheless, the Club’s suspect discipline at the offside line was matched only by their determined defence on the goalline – exemplified by Andy Lock (by both name and position) extending a gibbon-like arm to yoink the ball from the grasp of a bemused OE’s pack following a 5-metre lineout to allow the Club to momentarily relieve the pressure. The resilience could only hold out for so long though, and eventually the hosts found space on the blindside, and an excellent touchline conversion ensured honours were even at the break.
Early in the second half the hosts saw yellow for a high tackle, but even a man light managed to burst over to nudge ahead on the scoreboard, although an uncharacteristically shanked conversion attempt kept the lead to 5.
Brigands struck back with a beauty when converted three-quarter Tommaso Simpkins, deployed on the flank, ripped the ball in contact and set Moore free with a stellar offload, the latter beating the defence around the outside and stepping the last man to go under the posts from halfway for a sensational second of the game, Brindle again good from the tee to regain the lead.
Both sides squandered chances to pull away but it was the hosts who again struck back, moving the ball wide and racing down the wing. A tough conversion drifted wide to leave the Brigands 17-14 down with 10 left to play.
This time it was OE’s discipline that was found wanting, and after a frenetic series of attacks the Club finally breached the line, vice-captain Conor Mitchell burying over from close range and Brindle completing a perfect day off the tee.
There was time enough for a few last nervous moments as OEs kicked a 50-22 with seconds on the clock, but a fumble from the ensuing breakdown saw the Brigands emerge victorious 17-21 at the final whistle.
Jubilation was only tempered by the all-too-familiar sight of captain and player-of-the-match Kai Roper-Blackman limping from the field with a hamstring strain.
A high quality and closely-fought match was fitting to reflect the second year of league rivalry for two competitive sides – the Brigands will look forward to hosting the return fixture on 24th January.
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