Under 16s : H&B RFC 12 v East Grinstead RFC 12

The second of the days games was against a well organised EG team that convincingly beat Tonbridge. Despite East Grinstead ramping up the physicality, H&B matched them in every area and put them under pressure in their 22 with crashing forward runs testing the defence, as the ball was spilled and kicked clear it found its way into the hands of hooker Jack Whyte who ran directly to the corner and crashed through the EG defence to dot down the first score. Charlie Glasper converted from the corner. As half time approached H&B were unlucky to concede as a clearing kick was stopped by a last gasp tap tackle, the spilled ball resulted in an easy try for East Grinstead, however the conversion was missed. The second half continued in the same vein with both teams putting in crunching tackles and playing at a breathtaking pace in the high temperatures, a high clearing kick was fielded brilliantly by the EG winger who ran in an excellent score which was converted to make the score 12-7. As has become a signature of this H&B team, their heads did not drop, and instead the intensity increased with the forward phase play meaning EG could not cope in defence giving away penalties, Charlie Glasper reacted quickest from a tap and go and evaded the scramble defence to score the equalising try. With the conversion missed and the scores tied the last couple of minutes were played out until Jack Whyte stole a ball at the base of the EG lineout and ran from halfway to be stopped just under the posts, EG kicked the ball into touch to end a game that saw H&B finish the strongest.