This week saw Manor welcome rival Essex side Brentwood RFC to Nutter Lane, a fixture that was postponed in December due to the Covid pandemic. It was a poignant day at Nutter Lane as front row stalwart George Cosma achieved a personal landmark with his 100th 1stXV Cap.

Head Coach Connors made several changes to the side that was so convincingly beaten by Southend the previous week. In the pack, Clem Harrison made his 1stXV debut at hooker, Jack G Sullivan came in at second row, a late injury to Jack Scorer meant the pack took another late re-shuffle with Frank Sullivan starting at 6 and young back row, Alex Kamara taking a bench spot and with David Ogufere unavailable, Jesse Liston started at 8. In our back line, it was good to see Christian Squire return at 13 after international sevens duty and a 1stXV debut was handed to our newest player, winger, Lloyd Anderson replacing the injured ire Onabajo. Returning from a short-term injury, Jake Kane completed what was a very high impact bench.

The weather for the match was overcast with the odd bright spot and a consistent strong westerly wind blew directly across the pitch. The ref for the game was James Mabey from London Society who had returned to Nutter Lane after officiating our earlier league match against Chingford. Brentwood’s captain James Vogel won the toss and chose the Nutter Lane end, Manor’s captain Nick Horton took the Kick off.

A good-sized crowd at the Manor saw George Cosma lead the side onto the field, but after two consecutive losses, it was important for Manor to get back on track and start the game well, and that they did. After several exchanges from the kick off, a poor exit kick from Brentwood 10 allowed fullback Toto Odulaja to counterattack, Manors pack were quick to get onto the front foot allowing centre Christian Squire the space to attack inside the Brentwood 22. Ruck formed, Captain Horton directing the play saw the ball through the hands for Jesse Liston to straighten, drawing in the last wide defender, he then pinged an accurate pass to winger Lloyd Anderson who with the try line at his mercy, made no mistake, Horton then added the conversion.

From the restart the game begun to swing from one side to the other, with both sides contesting hard and fierce at the breakdown, both sides eager to win control of the gain line. Manor’s second row BJ Tunde started to roll his sleeves up and get into the game and with his now trademark big shots, one of which forcing Brentwood ‘s tight head prop to leave the field. The game then re settled into the same mix of play, if anything, Manor holding the lion’s share of territory, with neither side really gaining the upper hand, honours shared at scrum. When Manors back line did have clean ball, it was not connecting, several passes being knocked on and perhaps guilty of being too flat at times to inject any serious pace onto the ball.

After nineteen minutes of play, Jake Kane replaced Scott Smith at centre. The game continued in the same mode of paly, until a deep kick into the Brentwood 22 from Horton was well taken by Brentwood’s young fullback, who with good pace took the ball down the wing and deep into Manors 22, and with Manor struggling to get a defensive line, the ball was recycled twice to then create the space for the Brentwood 14 to score their opening try. The conversion was completed leaving the scores at 7-7.

The game again went back to its default pattern, most of the play in Brentwood’s half, but Manor not able to run through enough phases to create scoring opportunities and now the penalty count was starting to increase against Manor as well. With 28 minutes of play gone, Manors influential back row, Jesse Liston was forced out of the game, allowing former Manor Colt Alex Kamara to enter the game for his first taste of 1stXV league rugby, Manors pack adjusted itself. An excellent 50/20 kick from Horton allowed Manors pack to get its first effective catch and drive, controlled by hooker Clem Harrison, the play stayed in Brentwoods 22, the ball moved across the pitch as manors captain Horton pulled the strings and directed the pattern. Brentwood hand in ruck, another penalty, kicked to touch for a Manor attacking 5m lineout, which was won by Brentwood, but spilled forward off the scrum half, allowing Manor back row Alex Leo to pounce first and grab an easy try. Horton missed the out wide conversation.

The rest of the half was played out in the same way, Brentwood now gaining a little more territory, Manors well organised defence standing firm, 10 minutes of play punctuated by very average play and a series of knock on’s and penalties was all this author had to report on, the ref blew his whistle and both sides retired to the changing rooms for halftime. Rumour quickly spread that assistant DoR Ian Edwards blew a gasket at the halftime chat and a few home truths were dished out on what was a very undercooked Eton Manor first half…

The second half got underway, and it began to make sense very quickly that there was some truth in the halftime rumour! Manor started with a much higher tempo than the first half, and with good fast, clean ruck ball, scrum half Donovan O’Grady was able to dart and get behind the Brentwood defence, linking up with winger Jordan Sullivan Warner, who with his fast feet & step, caused the defence to become fractured and in he went for Manors third try of the game. Horton missed the conversion. The next restart was taken in by Manors pack and they started to exert some powerful direct running. Punching up through the middle, Brentwoods defence became narrow allowing O’Grady space to get the ball wide to centre Squire who linked to Lloyd Anderson and from just inside the Brentwood 10m line, he raced past his opposite winger, stepped inside the fullback, running a full pace arc, he sprinted in to score his second try of the game. Horton delivered the conversion.

Manors pack began to smell blood, Coach Connors reacted efficiently, bringing on hard running prop forward, Nikolai Abramishvili to replace Brad Burrell and Manor upped the ante on the game. Despite the constant pounding, Brentwood kept their shape and yet another unforced Manor handling error saw Brentwood retain the ball, opt through some phases, and score their second try of the game, it was not converted. Manors pack got back to work, and the damage was starting to tell. With forceful, direct running from BJ Tunde, Abramishvili and Cosma taking their toll, the gaps were starting to appear in Brentwoods defence. Manor began to put some decent phases together and spotting a disjointed defence at a ruck, Jake Kane used his quick feet to dance his way through two tackles and driving over he scored Manors fourth try and the bonus point was won. Horton completed the conversion.

With the score at 26-12, the pack now completely dominant, Manors back line started to enjoy itself, awesome attack running from three quarters; Anderson, Sullivan-Warner and Odulaja regularly split the Brentwood defence. From a defending scrum at the halfway line, Manors pack drove hard, forcing the error, back row Kamara seized the ball, which was then pinged swiftly along the line to wing Anderson, who with work to do, fended and blasted through three attempted tackles to sprint clear, round the full back and score what was a fine debut hat trick. Horton added the conversion.

The game was now all Manor, the final try scored and arguably the best was started by winger Anderson stripping the ball, ruck created the ball went to Horton, out to Squires who easily rounded his opposite number, drew the cover to set winger Sullivan Warner clear, an inside pass back to Horton made sure the score was closer to the posts, but Horton could not add to his points tally with the conversion. A fine home win for Manor and a good starting point for the party that came later in the clubhouse!

After the game, Director of Rugby Mark Farrell said.

“After a couple of difficult weeks for us, I was really pleased to see our squad react in the positive way it has. Our training this week was crisp and numbers strong, the players eager to get back on the field, to put these losses behind us & return to winning ways. A solid enough win for us after an indifferent first half today, but it just shows that when we do connect, how efficient and deadly we can be. League leaders Sudbury up next, players returning from injury, excellent debuts today, our 2ndXV putting 50+ on Chingford II’s in their Essex Cup Quarter Final, I think its fair to say our selection will be difficult this week!”