Ports edge close cup game

Rye Ports 28 Brighton & Sussex Medical School 22

Rye Ports Squad 1 Dale Wilson 2 Tristan Howell 3 James Langridge 4 Joe Webster 5 Tom Poulter 6 Adam Bigg 7 Ben Sinclair (Capt) 8 George Simm 9 Tom Coneeley 10 Tom Martin 11 Gaz Rylatt 12 Jacob Isteed 13 Finn McCabe 14 Oscar Trabby-Rubin 15 Ross Kearney 16 Stephen Cooper 17 Andy Brown 18 Dave Smith 19 Chris Edwards

While Rye Ports did hold on to win a topsy turvy game, grassroots rugby was also a clear winner in this super competitive cup clash. The visiting medics were short of players so Rye first team stalwarts Charlie Clark, Will Nunn, Dylan Vetara and Josh Emberson all started the game for the Medics. They were also bolstered by Uckfield forward Charlie Rumary. This ensured that Ports had to work for every point. Clark and Nunn both scored tries for the medics, and the physical Clark was a key player. The first half saw Ports score through the fleet footed Jacob Isteed who exploited a gap to score and Tom Coneeley who read a pass perfectly to run home an interception try. Finn McCabe slotted both conversions. Ports appeared disjointed in the half and four tries from the visitors placed them in control. Despite this Ports showed some quality around the park. George Simm and Tom Poulter both carried aggressively and prop James Langridge showed some sweet footwork. Captain Ben Sinclair and Adam Bigg were also key players in defence. The second half saw the momentum swing to Ports. They begun to dominate the set piece and this gave them greater possession. Isteed added a second after bumping off tacklers to dot down under the posts. Chris Edwards adding the extras. With ten minutes to go the game could have gone either way before the mercurical Isteed found a gap to run home his third. McCabe added another two points. However, the hosts had to work hard to hold on to their lead Sinclair and Simm both making vital tackles to hold on to the narrow lead and move forward to the semi-finals.

Team Manager Gavin Thomas was evidently pleased with the result and the day “It would have been quite easy to take the walkover and not play the game but we are firm believers that games should be won on the field. We gave Medics some key first team players and they were quality themselves that meant this was a tough game that we had to work hard to win. The win is important but the fact the game went ahead is equally important”.

A number of players shone. Simm was everywhere in attack and defence, Isteed was a constant danger and James Langridge carried physically throughout. However, the player of the match award went to the hard running Tom Poulter. Rye Ports return to league action away to Hellingly on 14th November, while the 1st XV host Faversham in the league.