U85 rugby team top the JC Bowl competition

With their centenary just a week away, the Eastbourne RFC U85kg side sits atop their competition, with seven wins from seven matches played for the JC Bowl. Included is the 39-7 hiding dished out to last year's winners, the Upper Hutt Rams, which their charismatic and inspirational leader, Dan Hewson, says was one of the proudest moments for the club in recent times, having not beaten the Rams for several seasons.

Dan himself, is still recovering from a knee injury received last season in the semi-final of the National Cup, against the Eden Lizards. But he has been active on the sideline this season helping out coach, Barry Luke and the management team.

Barry says that the side has built some great momentum from previous seasons and in 2021, they have a big squad of talented players. Top try scorer is Cahon Holden with six, including three against Avalon in an 18-12 win at Fraser Park three weeks ago.

“I love being back after a season off,” Holden says, “love being back into it and alongside such a good side.”

Last Saturday Eastbourne put Poneke to the sword with a resounding 51-5 victory at Kilbirnie Park in Wellington.

With the centenary celebrations to follow that evening, the Eastbourne side will face Hutt Old Boys-Marist at HW Shortt next Saturday and they are hoping to attract the biggest crowd to the park in some seasons. Will Dan Hewson be back? The team would love to see him return to the playing field.

“I’d love to play,” says Dan, “but we have a lot of talented props going round at the moment.”

The ERFC centenary celebrations begin in earnest on Friday, June 4th with the ‘Captain’s Run’, a registration meet and greet at the ESSC

Clubrooms. All junior grades will be playing at home at HW Shortt on Saturday, plus the U85s match against HOBM, followed by the ‘Test Match’, a dinner and auction hosted by rugby commentator, Scotty Stevenson.

The Satisfactions will provide music to round out the evening. Recovery on Sunday is also covered. Brunch and farewells at 10am.