The Eels travelled to Ballyfermot in Dublin on the weekend to play the Ballyfermot Bears in the inaugral
Cross Border Challenge Shield. This is a 2 match series against the two teams, who otherwise would never play each other.
The Eels won this match with an awesome display and 14 try haul with the final score being 76-10, with Man of the Match JJ Baird scoring 4 tries, 3 in the first half.
The game started of with the Eels scoring 3 quick tries to take a 16-0, 2 by JJ Baird and 1 by Gareth Byers.
The bears respeonded and after some sustained pressure scored a try themselves to make the score 16-6.
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This seemed to wake the Eels up and they then went on to score tries by JJ Baird, to completehis hat trick and Michael Smith. The bears scored right on half time
which left the score 32-10.
The second half started off pretty tight with the bears attacking the Eels line right form the kick off but resolute defence cuase the Bears to knock and so releive the pressure on the line.
From resulting scrum, the ball went wide to JJ Baird who broke the line and ran in for a 50 metre and his fourth.
The Eels then capitalised on a tiring Bears defence and a brace of tries from Peter McWhirter and Niall McGlade puu the Eels out of sight.
There were further tries for Gareth Byers, Michael Smith, William Smith and prop Andy Chestnutt who ran in for a 40 metre solo effort.
Benji Cathcart had a good day with the boot scoring 20 points and Gareth Byers converting 2.
Final Score 76-10.
The return leg of the Shield is being played on the 4th August at the Allen Park KO 1400.
Eels founder, Pascal Mulot said “This was an awesome performance by the Eels in both attack and defence and to be able to leave any team scoreless in the second half, as we did,
is testament to the boys attitude towards defence and hard work, I am immensely proud of them.
We are looking forward to the next match at home and try and bring the shield to Antrim for the first time.”
