Mersea Island 17-7 Beccles Bulls

Eastern Counties 1

16/02/02

It would be easy to say that the uncertainty surrounding this fixture up until Thursday night when the location was confirmed contributed to the Bulls defeat, and it may well have done, but at the end of the day even though the Bulls started terribly they should still have scraped through against a determined Mersea side.

In a re-enactment of the earlier fixture between these 2 sides the Bulls again produced more scoring opportunities in a tight game of limited chances, however, they failed to convert them into tries when it was most needed. The reason for this was simply dropped try scoring passes with the line beckoning. The occasional one now and then can be excused, but on Saturday the Bulls managed to do this three times and given that the winning margin was 2 unconverted tries need we say more.

Mersea Island started the game at a roaring pace playing as if their season depended upon it, which it did. Unfortunately the Bulls were slow to react and seemed out of sorts and their hosts made the most of it racking up all their points in a period of only 15 minutes early in the 1st half. The Bulls defence was lacklustre and gaps appeared all over the place which considering they played against a very similar style of rugby the previous weekend at Bury but defended excellently on that occasion is difficult to explain.

A stern half time lecture by skipper Owen Hadridge and the tactical substitution bringing Danny Carter on helped turn the game and the Bulls played with much more vigour in the second half and too be honest were played the rest of the match in deep in Mersea's territory, most of it on the edge of their 22 meter line. A midfield break by Stuart Dawson from this area, excellently supported by open side flanker Chris Hinsley allowed him to claim a try under the home sides posts. Fly-Half Jon Puxley slotted the extra points and the Bulls started to gain dominance.

Unfortunately they generated overlaps and scoring opportunities on both sides of the pitch but could not hold onto the crucial scoring pass. Mersea defended desperately and limited these chances to such an extent that clinical finishing was required when they came, but the Bulls finishing on Saturday was anything but.

The Bulls still sit at the top of the table and their promotion prospects are still very much alive, but this defeat means they cannot afford another slip-up if their ambitions for London League rugby are to be realised.

Andy Warnes.

Beccles Press Officer.