Barnes outplayed by skilful G-Force.

In the first minutes East Grinstead scored one very good try then not long after their pack drove over from a line-out following pressure on a opposition scrum. They added a penalty in the first quarter. Barnes seemed to have to kick away most of their possession. The visitors' kicking from hand gained them significant advantage throughout. Barnes got little advantage from the wind in the 2nd half. Before the half-hour Barnes charged down a clearing kick to get their only score. The visitors got 2 tries from three-quarter pressure early in the 2nd half while down to 14 men giving them a 22 point lead. 2 more came later in the 2nd half.

The visitors kicked off with the wind in their favour and when Barnes kicked back they kept ball close before a 30 metre break initiated the first attack. The defence held to get a line-out and after that kept the ball in to get a penalty. At the next line-out they did the same to get another penalty. They were still in their own half when Grinstead stole the 3rd line-out. Barnes charged down a kick and got the ball before losing it again. After some moments of chaos a very good almost lateral cross-kick to the far side by fly-half Meakin made it easy for wing Dunn to get and score at the corner on 4 minutes. The conversion was wide. Barnes regained at the restart and soon got a penalty that they kicked for a line-out at the 22. From that the released wide without advancing then were penalised for not releasing. A good touch-kick took Grinstead deep into the other half then an error in the line-out gave Barnes the first scrum put-in. They were under pressure in the scrum and just got the ball away to clear to touch but having gone backwards and the kick skewed, this was just 12 metres out. From the line-out Grinstead's pack drove to the line and over with hooker Standfield on the ball before 10 minutes. Meakin's conversion was very good.

Again Barnes regained at the high restart but a dropped ball was hacked on by the visitors into the other half to where they got the put-in. After that there was a very minor confrontation without the ball then Barnes got a free-kick at a second Grinstead put-in. Their forwards ran this before the ball was recycled then kicked out on the full. From the line-out the visitors kept ball mainly close and advanced to get a penalty that was kicked for a line-out 19 metres out. Soon after the line-out Barnes forced a turnover and broke out of their 22. Possession was lost at the breakdown and gained by the visitors; they recycled a couple of times before the defence was penalised just outside the 22 in centre field and Meakin kicked the 3 points at 17 minutes.

Grinstead kicked back the longer restart; Barnes the kept ball in hand and recycled several times before kicking for territory. This was returned, with interest, to touch just outside the home team's 22. From the line-out Barnes launched an up-and-under; the visitors dealt with this then kicked laterally and regained and advanced into the 22. Barnes forced a turnover and kicked well into the other half only to have the ball returned to touch back inside their 22. From the line-out Barnes moved up field to an opposition line-out still 9 metres inside their half. Grinstead sent another lateral and diagonal kick wide and Barnes cleared this one to touch in their 22. The visitors tried a chip though the line from their line-out and this resulted in a put-in for the defence. Barnes soon kicked to touch and not long after the line-out Grinstead dropped the ball. Kicks were exchanged resulting in another line-out for the visitors at Barnes' 10 metre line. They kept ball tight recycling until the defence forced an error to get the next put-in 15 metres inside their half. After the scrum fly-half McIntyre kicked long and good backing up got Barnes their only score. Fullback Henry charged down a kick near the 22 and hooker Crossley was quick onto the ball and got to the line to touch down wide out at 28 minutes.

Barnes returned the restart with an up-and-under; the visitors dealt with this and recycled well until penalised for not releasing. The kick took the home team into the other half where the line-out was stolen. More recycling now got Grinstead a penalty at a ruck. The subsequent line-out was inside Barnes' 22 and this one was stolen then cleared to touch. After the visitors' line-out they tried an up-and-under. This was secured by the defence which ran out of their half and got the put-in at the breakdown 5 metres into the opposition half. Barnes released to centre where the ball was dropped. After the next scrum Grinstead soon passed forward and at the next put-in the home team's pack, looking more solid, kept the ball in to get a penalty. They kicked for a penalty into their opponents' half and released wide to get another penalty. This was kicked for another line-out, now 10 metres out. The forwards set for a drive and got to 2 metres out where they got another penalty and a man advantage for 10 minutes. Again they tried for a drive from a line-out but the defence held this; they recycled 7 times before Grinstead were able to hack away a loose ball. Barnes recovered and again recycled well but were forced back to the 22 until an error resulted in the halftime whistle.

East Grinstead secured the second half restart; the ball was recycled once tight and one of their forwards made a very good break. Barnes forced an error to get a put-in on halfway. After the scrum the visitors caught the opposition no. 8 and held him up to get the next scrum. From that Meakin kicked diagonally then Barnes recycled once before a terrible forward pass gave Grinstead another put-in. From this one the ball was released to centre then the line was broken by a good three-quarter break to 5 metres out. The ball was swiftly recycled to lock Turnwald who scored comfortably after 3 minutes. The conversion missed. The visitors secured the restart and centre Ellia set off running and sent Dunn through a gap; a flanker took the ball on and it was then got back to Dunn who went to the line for his second within 2 minutes of the restart; Meakin added. These 12 points came while the visitors still had a man off the pitch.

Grinstead secured the restart and launched an up-and-under that was dropped by the opposition. Advantage was played and the visitors chipped through to touch 5 metres from Barnes' line. The home team advanced from their line-out to a scrum 26 metres out after breaking blind and regaining a chip ahead. They were under pressure at that and it was immediately followed by another for Grinstead just inside the 22. Barnes got a free-kick at that and ran it; they recycled twice without advancing to get another put-in then a penalty not long after that. This was kicked for a line-out in which they got another penalty that was kicked for another line-out just inside the opposition 22. From this line-out Barnes did not opt for a drive but recycled strongly through 10 phases but without having made ground until penalised for not releasing. The visitors kicked for a line-out then advanced well before being turned over. Barnes then made yards releasing to their three-quarters until Grinstead's defence forced an error and got the next scrum at their 22. From this the visitors sent ball wide then broke out to the other half recycling through 7 phases before kicking to touch 26 metres from the opposition goal line. From their line-out Barnes launched an up-and-under; Grinstead kicked wide and regained then recycled twice sending the ball wide for Dunn to score his hat trick wide-out after receiving a slightly forward pass. This after 22 minutes and the conversion missed.

The restart resulted in a scrum for the visitors from which they quickly broke out wide into the other half. After an error from each team the visitors were penalised. Barnes ran this but another error gave possession back to the opposition. Not long after Barnes forced an error to get the next put-in then another penalty soon after that. The kick took them into Grinstead's half for a line-out. They varied their options through 4 phases before kicking to touch. The visitors took a quick throw-in and then kicked out on the full before stealing the line-out. They were forced back by Barnes but won a penalty deep in their 22. They confidently ran this to get another that they kicked to touch. From their line-out they chipped through and a more adventurous Barnes made yards with wide ball until the opposition forced an error and regained. The home team dropped an up-and-under to give Grinstead a scrum 13 metres into their opponents' half. They got a free-kick before the put-in and ran this to the 22. Barnes then broke out to Grinstead's 22 varying their plays. After more recycling but going backwards they got another penalty which they ran. Grinstead forced an error and lock Groenen broke away and offloaded to Dunn who went to the posts for his 4th, after 76 minutes, which Meakin converted. The visitors secured the restart, recycled well before kicking diagonally to touch. Barnes tried a quick throw-in and soon won a penalty. They kicked for a line-out in the other half; an opposition error in that was the last event.

The pitch wet & soft from rain before the game; dry during, 100% overcast, quite a bit of wind.