East Devon Eagles travelled to Yeovil to play Weymouth-based newcomers South Dorset Giants and came away with a 44 –12 victory.

 

The kick off was delayed as referee David Lowe was held up in the Bank Holiday traffic and the game was cut short when the ref pulled a hamstring.

 

The Eagles started the game the stronger team, scoring 6 tries in the first half of the game.  Mark Wathes played the ball on to Shaun Lovett and Tony Emmins was on hand to receive the pass the go over in the far corner.  From 5 metres out skipper Dave McCarthy crashed his way over the line wide out.  A Rich Cadywould high kick towards the corner was caught high by Matt Ryan who touched down by the corner flag, Cadywould kicking the extras  and minutes later, Lovett broke through the Giants defence to score by the posts, again Cadywould converting.   Cadywould scored 2 tries in 4 minutes, the second a superb kick ahead and chase for him to ground the ball wide out giving the Eagles a 28-0 lead at the break.

 

Eagles were on the scoresheet again straight from the interval when a fine run by Paul Flower saw him tackled just short of the line but he passed the ball out to Cadywould, who touched down for his hat trick but the conversion failed. 

 

Giants then came into the game and in the next 15 minutes scored 2 tries, one of which was converted, and a penalty kick.

 

This spurred the Eagles on and 20 minutes into the half, a break by Mike Catris saw him taken down by the Giants defence but he offloaded the ball out to McCarthy onto Cadywould and Ryan was on hand for the final pass and his second try, touching down by the posts, Cadywould converting .  On 29 minutes, Paul Morgan took the ball on and with Cadywould shadowing him, Morgan jinked his way over the line, again Cadywould adding the extras making the final result on the whistle  44-12 to the Eagles, keeping them in  top place in the South West League.

 

Player coach Tony Emmins said after the match that even though the score was one sided, the South Dorset Giants earned the respect of the Eagles for their relentless efforts in defence.

 

The Eagles would like to thank their shirt sponsors Simon Cox Building & Construction,  Number 9 American Pool Hall and Diner,  Hartopp Garage,  Solve Technology, Four Seasons Air Conditioning,  Get Plastered,  Baines & Co and J Sharland & Sons for their support

 
Eagles Squad:  Shaun Lovett, Jascha Saeck, Paul Morgan, Jack Downie, Matt Ryan, Rich Cadywould, Mark Wathes, Darren Bowden, Dave McCarthy, Paul Flower, Jack Westlake, Mike Wilson, Tony Emmins, Andy Melbourne, Michael Catris, Ben Damen, Nick Smith, Clark Dalton, James Holman, Richard Guy.

 

Tries:  Cadywould (3) Ryan (2) Emmins, McCarthy, Lovett, Morgan
Conversions:  Cadywould (4)