The Boars did what they had to do and more in this table topping clash at Waldron and in doing so avenged their only league defeat of the season so far. It was probably the Boars best ever display of rugby as a very strong side were aggressive and organised in the forwards and incisive in the backs (well done to manager Tony Rose for getting everyone out on the same weekend).

The Boars won the important Waldron ‘toss’ and elected to stick with tradition and play uphill in the first half. This turned out to be a hard fought affair with the Boars taking their half chances while the visitors missed theirs.

Within 5 minutes Jim Cumming took advantage of an early lapse in tackling as he ran 20 metres to score a converted try then giving a classic Cumming excuse of “I just couldn’t pass”. It took 15 minutes of midfield battling before the next score. From a lineout on the Grinstead 22 metre line a very well controlled maul was moved 23 metres to the line for Ian Schleider to score. Shortly after that East Grinstead drove into the Boars 22 and won a penalty that they opted to kick and score. The game was still tight until Brady Burdett called for a move that saw full back Rob Woods hit the line at speed and glide untouched the 30 metres to score between the posts. This showed the threat that centres Duncan Hesketh and Julian Wates were posing as all the defenders had lined up to halt them as usual. This took the score to 19-3 at half-time.

The Boars half-time team talk was a reminder to stay focused and not to think the game was over just because we were leading going uphill. The second half began much as the first ended with heavy hits and not much width being used. Then substitute prop Nick Kerr burst through the defence to score after a scrum near the Pirates line.

East Grinstead fought back and pummelled the Boars line for a 10 minute spell before a breakaway try for Woods seemed to swing the game. The rest of the match saw a tiring East Grinstead side trying to contain a buoyant Boars side playing at the top of their game. The last 15 minutes saw two tries from Dave Cook, a second from Cumming and a solo effort from Burdett as the Boars counter attacked at every opportunity.

Man of the Match was Brady Burdett for a controlled performance that brought others into the game, winning a maul and for actually tackling the opposition players.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod (N. Kerr – 45), C. Jones (J. Sharp - 70), L. Marshall (A. Sutton – 60), J. Cumming (P. Hookway – 65), T. Rose, M. Brown (K. Lewis – 55), Ian Schleider, D. Cook, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, J. Wates, D. Hesketh, S. Hollingdale (A. Farrell – 60), M. Barber (J. Salmon – 50), R. Woods

Match report by Mike MacLeod

1/19/2008 3:56:23 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)