#bleedpink

A new season, new players, same product, same result. In ECRFC’s first match in Division 1 in recent history, the boys in pink bullied Caius up front and managed to take away an impressive bonus point win that will surely send shock waves around division one. Early on, a dominant scrum, courtesy of Fortress’ bulking and Mack’s 4 pints of milk diet, gave us possession and territory, leading to an unstoppable driving maul for new Welsh openside Leonard to flop over the try line.

Caius came back at us with some astute kicking, and despite digging deep around the fringes, their outside centre powered over to score a try. Down 7-5, some big carries from Vare (recently spotted in Emma gym – big George is getting bigger) and Captain Green, brought us back into their 22, and varying it up, Richards slid through to score after some nice quick hands from Wade-Smith and McCleery. Following another couple of powerful line out mauls Simon touched down to extend the lead before halftime.

Having gone to uncontested scrums towards the end of the first half due to an injury to a Caius prop and a lack of back-up on their part, we were pegged back in our half (and our 22) for much of the second period. Defending heroically, Dewhurst was flattened and more out of it than at Junction, leading to a debut for four eggs Shamekh.

After a lovely outside break from debutant Raby-Smith, (his father?) Richards then cut an outstanding line back inside off McCleery to canter under the posts unopposed from 30m. The try was duly converted but rumours still persist that kicking trials may take place following the next social. Unfortunately, a series of penalties at the breakdown, resulting from a all-round lack of fitness and match sharpness, renewed the assault on the Emma line, and once again their 13 again powered over out wide.

With an Emma scrum on our 5m line and 2 minutes left, Caius still believed, despite the ten point deficit. Vare off the base started the rumble, full of offloads and big carries. The carries kept on coming from the ever-impressive forward pack and some 80m later Wade-Smith sniped over the (blue?)whitewash from scrum half, capping off an impressive debut.