In what was a back and forth battle between two sides who never looked like backing down it was East London who ran out with the narrowest of wins 26 – 24 with the difference being a Nicholas Botha conversion.

Playing into the strong wind in the first half it was the Steelers who got off to a strong start following a sustained period of ball retention in the East London half. The home side were rewarded as they barged over for a well taken try with Nicholas Graigen slotting the conversion.

Seesaw Battle

In what was a hugely physical encounter the balance of power swayed back and forth between the two sides with perhaps a key moment being a charge down try by Botha in the 55th minute as the Steelers were looking to clear their lines after repelling a promising East London attack. The score and the conversion set the sides up for what would be a tense final quarter.

Ill Discipline

With both sides trading blows it looked as though the Steelers would come out on top but a second yellow card for left wing John Riley meant a red and with that card went the Steelers chances of winning as a 70th minute try by Chris Brown with another Botha conversion was enough for East London to sneak home.

Speaking after the match East London head coach Eddie Gooby was clearly ecstatic with the result “The boys dug in deep today, that was hard. Give the Steelers their due whatever we did or however well we tried to play they always dogged it out with us.”

With the Christmas break coming into quick focus Gooby said “We’ve toughed it out and come out the right side of it and picked up five points, we can look forward to Christmas. There are a lot of sore bodies so let them fest up have a few beers and lots of food, well not too much food and come back unfit I suppose!”

The win was a significant one for East London as it catapulted them up to third on the table just four points behind Harlow who they play at the end of January and with their first match of the new year being against table toppers Chelmsford meaning it is all to play for in 2020.

East London Rugby Club:

15 – 9: M. Stanyard, K. O’Donoghue, C. Reilly, E. Brown, B.Brown, N. Botha, J.Kelly

1 – 8: S. Beattie, B.Hogan, D. Gibson, L .Staples-Preston, E.Kelly, N.Parrott, S.Cassidy, C.Brown

Substitutes: M.Urbonavicius, G.Daniel, J.Eley

Kings Cross Steelers: 

15 – 9: J.Dobias, J. Weisz, N.Okumura, C. Finnigan, J.Riley, S.Jones, N.Craigen

1- 8: R.Surmon, M.McKinnon-Snell, P.Tasker, J.Birch, M.Vondee, G.Farmer, C.Swanston, J.Elvin

Substitutes: C.Clemmow, Phil Miles, E.Yates

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