Edenbridge went ahead after 2 minutes when Bobby Weaver taking advantage of a Lordswood knock-on ran 50 yards to score. After 25 minutes Chris Dobson, recently returned after 5 years in New Zealand and playing inside centre, made a good break and when challenged by the full-back timed his pass for Jez Edmonds to score. This was quickly followed by the first of Chris Norris’s tries. With Gary Stevens converting all three tries into a strong wind, the lead was 21 – 0 at half-time.
In the second half, pack changes saw Edenbridge producing quicker ball and Gary Stevens producing his hat-trick within the space of twenty minutes. First a Lordswood spilled passed was seized upon. The second was a neat sidestep round his opposite centre and the third a similar move. What sets both Gary and Chris apart is their acceleration once the initial break is made.
Chris Norris then completed his hat-trick, first coming in off his left wing to take a midfield pass and beating three would be tacklers to cross under the posts and finally chasing a kick downfield, he tackled the full-back and secured the released ball to score. There were good all round performances from fly-half Dave Wallis and open-side flanker, Bobby Weaver. The Edenbridge forwards will need to be quicker to the breakdown and inject more urgency into their play to ensure equal success away from home.
Edenbridge:
Scorers:
Tries: Stevens, G (3); Norris (3); Weaver; Edmonds
Cons: Stevens, G (7)
Pens:
Team:
15. Sedgwick, S; 14. Norris, C; 13. Stevens, S; 12. Dobson, C; 11. Perry, S (rep. Clarke, R) 10. Wallis, D; 9. Edmonds, J (capt.) (rep. Gray, N); 1. Stevens, B; 2. Lucas, P; 3. Coates, M; 4. Barnes, T (rep. Fenner, M); 5. Mussi, J; 6. Batchelor, S; 7. Weaver, B; 8. Cole, S