Eastmoor Dragons 18 Crosfields 32

CROSFIELDS warmed up for their crucial derby with Woolston Rovers by defying a half-time deficit to win at Eastmoor Dragons.

The win ensured Soap remained unbeaten and stayed top of the National Conference League Division Three, three points clear of Rovers ahead of their crunch clash on Thursday evening.

It was the home team who came out all guns blazing and, with the aid of a slight hill threw everything they had at the visitors, blasting into a 10-0 lead inside the first ten minutes. Soap needed to regroup and show character to fight back and the tide started to turn on 15 minutes as both Matt Mahoney and John Pickersgill went close before the ball was shifted wide for impressive centre Chris Hull to force his way over out wide. The conversion was missed but Soap were on the up and settled into more of a rhythm and set completion forced Eastmoor on the back foot with good hands from Billy Sheen, Jack Reid and Chris Hull sending Kieran Thomas over for his 10th try of the season.

A period of Eastmoor dominance, assisted by Crosfields ill-discipline, allowed the hosts to wrestle the advantage back once again as their player-coach chipped through for Kevin Brown to cross under the sticks to give the home side a 16-8 Half-Time lead.

Joe Moore, Matty Barber and John Pickersgill burst strongly into the second half with formidable drives setting a platform for Billy Sheen to force his way over and reduce the deficit to 2 points.

Crosfields were by far the dominant force in the second half, but the home side kicked a penalty with a rare foray into the visiting 20 to stretch their lead to four points. That was the last time Eastmoor troubled the scorers as the tide started to turn in Crosfields’ favour.

Hull who showed incredible strength footwork and determination to bag his brace out wide, before Ash Cornelia gobbled up a Jack Reid chip that took a favourable bounce to go under the sticks unopposed.

The best was saved for last as a Jack Reid offload led to a moment of Billy Sheen magic, chipping over the top on half way regathering and feeding the marauding Lewis Bani who sprinted 50 yards to cross to seal the game and bring the important two points back to Hood Lane.