MARCH 15: FRIENDLY

FINCHLEY 45 EIRFC SENIOR ACADEMY 24

The Senior Academy, buoyed by their league win over Harrow, are steadfastly refusing to lie idly in dry dock, and their quest for continuous improvement saw them square up to the two divisions higher Finchley for the third time this season, writes Jonathan Landi.

The visitors to Summers Lane have failed to bridge the gap on each occasion but, at the half-way stage, but encouragingly, EIRFC looked to have given themselves a fighting chance of getting back into contention in the Mother’s Day friendly.

As despite having the elements against them, tries by scrum-half Luke R and Emmanuel, kept them firmly in the hunt at 19-10 down.
However, the visitors, despite some good performances, went off script. As Finchley opened the scoring in the second period, and although Luke R pulled one back (converted by Ben), the hosts successfully moved up a gear or two.

It opened clear, blue water between the sides, as Finchley’s three try salvo, carried them 45-17 clear, before Emmanuel, who has looked promising at senior level, provided a late consolation score (converted by Ben).

The loss of Josh C, following a knock, midway through the half, didn’t help matters and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Head coach Andy Roper said: “We took on a mixed Finchley side (A and B sides) and I was very pleased at half-time {having kept the score down}, as conditions were against us, and I thought that we would go on and win the game in the second-half.

“However, we didn’t make the most [of the elements] and didn’t play well enough in the second-half. Mistakes cost us. However, Dalton played very well and is clearly a much improved player.”

As we await for the final positions in Herts-Middlesex Colts Division Five to unravel, the Senior Academy have a Friday night friendly against Saracens in the pipeline. It’s possible, too, that another friendly, possibly against Letchworth, may also be on the agenda.

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