Facing each other for the third time this season, a close encounter was almost assured given that a combined total of just three points had separated the two sides in their previous two encounters. With both teams also looking to return to winning ways following some indifferent recent form, the scene was set for an entertaining match.

A new-look Sils side took to the field, with prop Pat Howes returning from injury and skipper Lee Jones reverting to hooker. Jim Cooper completed the new combination up front. In the backs, Jim Roper was once again assigned to pull the strings at ten with Joe Brawn marshalling the troops from full-back. Centres Si Clarke and Si Doherty were also starting back following weekends away.

From the kick-off the home pack took the game straight to the visitors, making excellent use of the rolling maul and pushing Earlsdon back some twenty-five metres off the back of a line-out. Despite an early penalty attempt going wide, the Sils continued to pressure and shortly afterwards secured the first points of the game; another fine forward surge allowing Lee Jones to peel away and go over for the score. Harry Law’s fine conversion made it 7-0.

As the first half progressed, Earlsdon slowly worked their way into a groove and soon had the Sils on the back foot, with a succession of quick phases that left the home defence scrambling to get back. Camped on the Sils line, the visitors enjoyed scant time on the ball in the face of a well-organised defence, and their reversion to the chip-through ultimately met with little success. Where they did find space, several last-ditch tackles in the corner, notably by winger Pablo Hollier, prevented a score and ensured the home team made it to half-time with their lead intact.

An enthralling second-half was to prove once again that there is very little between these two sides, as both sought to play attacking rugby in spite of the wet conditions underfoot. Fifteen minutes in and Earlsdon finally managed to find a chink in the Sils armour, good ball retention and quick hands allowing their outside backs to take full advantage of a hard-earned overlap and shrug off the covering defence to score. The conversion made it 7-7 and very much “game-on”.

This lead was soon extended with a penalty on the back of some poor Sils discipline, and when another successful shot at goal followed soon after it appeared that the game was in danger of drifting away from the home side. Not to be undone, however, the Sils upped the effort and almost immediately hit back. Jim Roper’s clever chip through led to a foot-race between Si Doherty and the Earlsdon full-back to secure the ball. Doherty’s grubber kick cannoned off the advancing defender, only to fall agonisingly short of winger Nic Powell in support.

With the clock ticking, the Sils put together a string of phases that were to eventually bring that elusive score and with it the game. Joe Brawn’s bursting run up the middle of the pitch got things going by sucking in the visiting defence, before centre Si Clarke secured the ball and broke through. Clarke’s offload in the tackle to the supporting Cam Law saw the Sils’ blindside hauled down just metres from the line. A couple of pick and go’s from Pat Howes and Laurence White consolidated the attacking position, before Lee Jones again drove over from close in to ground the ball. Harry Law’s excellent conversion made it 14-13 to the home side.

The Sils had one last agonising moment to endure, as Earlsdon were awarded a penalty thirty metres out towards the touchline. It was with a collective sigh of relief, therefore, when the team and its supporters saw the ball dragged to the left of the far post. A charged-down drop goal attempt and a knock-on shortly after brought an end to the proceedings and with it two points to the Sils.

Sils travel to Spartans on Saturday in what promises to be another exciting league fixture. When the two sides met in November Sils lost narrowly 13-14.