Drab playing conditions did not stop UCL from scoring eight tries in this home match for the BUCS Men’s South Eastern Tier 1 League.
UCL were able to set the tone of a high scoring game from the onset. Leading by example, skipper Olly Brown charged to the try line and a regulation conversion from Elliot White allowed the hosts to lead 7-0 two minutes after kick-off.
Somewhat capitalising on the bleak weather, UCL created a hostile environment for Brighton, with full-back Rio Waddington and inside-centre Millan Verwoert also scoring tries within the first ten minutes of the match.
Already conceding three tries after 15 minutes, the visitors were hit with further misfortune, with one of Brighton’s flankers falling to injury. The Panthers only brought a playing XV, therefore were subject to one less player on the pitch.
Unsympathetic to Brighton’s reduced team, the speed of left-winger Harris allowed the prop Bruno Jesney to score a try at 17 mins, contributing further to the already intimidating UCL score.
With no threat of a close game worrying the purples, outside-centre Brown and flanker Namhka Dorjee both contributed with tries within three minutes apart of each other, thus further amounting to a big lead against the visitors.
Brighton were becoming noticeably frustrated (shouting terms The Cheese Grater would rather not publish) whilst another conversion piled onto UCL’s score.
Playing conditions became increasingly cruel, as another Brighton player was burdened with injury, still with five minutes remaining before half-time.
In the final play of the half, Brown displayed impressive skill to grubber kick the ball from Brighton’s 22m line, with his pace allowing him to touch down for a try (his hat trick) before any defender could get near him. Quickly after, a try from Jesney and a successful conversion tallied the score to 54-0 at half-time.
With a depleted Brighton team standing at just 13 in-tact players, and increasingly miserable playing conditions, the second half of the match was called off. In an impressive team effort, Brown scored three, Jesney scored two, Waddington, Verwoert, and Dorjee each scored one try to contribute to this mammoth score. The reliable kicks of Elliott and Waddington led seven out of eight successful conversions.
A very smiley captain, Olly Brown, told The Cheese Grater he was pleased that his team executed his intention to “win the game within the first ten minutes.”
In reality, they only needed that try within the first two minutes to secure the win!
Though dreary weather and Brighton injuries cut short this masterclass at Regent’s Park, Brown enjoyed the “good half-match” his team performed.