Canvey 8

Pegasus 17

RUGBY: THIS friendly match gave Pegasus an opportunity to blood some young players – several of them from the second string.

Making their first team debuts were brothers Sonny and Quade Brotherton, along with second row Dave Tester.

Pegasus director of rugby Jim McCann-Berry saw several of his players playing out of their preferred position.

James Polelack played his first game in the 15 jersey. And third team captain Alec Branton staked his claim for the number eight shirt after injuries to veterans Whyman and Winch.

In a tough opening quarter Pegasus defended well, and they were a little lucky that two kickable penalty opportunities were missed.

Despite playing against a larger pack Pegasus were winning both scrums and lineouts.

The more mobile Peg back-row of Branton, Brown and captain Greg Bramwell began to enjoy some exciting gain line carry’s. It was through these regular on-going breaches of Canvey’s defence that Pegasus began to find more and more attacking success. Collier and Barker stretched their tiring opponents defensive line.

It was during this period of attaching phases of play that Pegasus began to dominate.

The first points came from Bramwell who scored out wide.

The score remained 5-0 for the start of the second half until Neil Brown scooped up a below the knee pass to push the score to 10-0. The Canvey onslaught came after they made six changes to the pack. This put Pegasus into defensive mode, and when Quade Brotherton was sent off the score went to 10-3 and Peg had to endure a hard 10 minutes with just 14 men. Another unconverted try from the hosts straight after Peg were restored to their full 15 knocked Pegasus’ spirits. Pegasus concentrated on the open side wingers channel and a mixture of expansive attacking play and old school up and under rugby proved fruitful.

Pegasus sensed Canvey’s frustration and it was from a Canvey line out on half way line, that the Pegasus backline squeezed their hosts in defence, forcing a knock on.

Michael Barker produced a smart kick and chase display, gathering up his own kick to sprint in under the posts, giving Jason Collier the extra two points conversion to seal an impressive away victory.

This week Pegasus host Thames in their Essex 2 league encounter at Herd Lane. l Stanford lost 29-0 to Millwall in Essex Two.