Jekyll and Hyde performance from St Albans Centurions before Eels are trapped
Adam Russell attacks the Eels line - Credit: Archant
It was the proverbial game of two halves but St Albans Centurions Rugby League Club eventually ran away to a 44-24 win over Brentwood Eels.
Scott Clewlow scores his second try - Credit: Archant
The visitors to Toulmin Drive went into the break 18-14 to the good after a ‘shambolic’ first half but five tries in the second period, and nine in total, gave Centurions the win in the East League.
Jake McLoughlin, Scott Clewlow and Myles Costello both scored twice with Joe Shaw, Brad Webber and Josh Lawrence getting the others.
Nick Woolley converted four kicks.
The Centurions management had to reshuffle due to injuries and a number of players started out of position.
Josh Lawrence tries to break free - Credit: Archant
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That didn’t stop them taking the lead three times in the first 40 minutes but three times the Eels came back to go in ahead, converting on each occasion as opposed to the one successful kick by Cents.
But the second half was a different story.
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St Albans began to gel and put moves together that in the first half would not have worked.
Webber, filling in on the wing, received the ball 40 metres out, beat two tackles and out sprinted the chasers to score in the corner.
Myles Costello scoring his second try - Credit: Archant
Shortly after McLoughlin scored his second, finishing off a Tim Rangihuna break, and then Lawrence touched-down after Woolley had chipped a kick forward.
Cents Scott Clewlow touched down for his second try before Eels grabbed their fourth try.
But two from Costello in the last 10 minutes cemented the win.
Team manager Tony Bottomley said: “The first half was a shambles; the second half was very good.
Sam Bucknall breaks the line - Credit: Archant
“In that first half we had a completion rate of 50 per cent, and you cannot win games like that.
“However, in the second half we had a completion rate of 85 per cent and that is a match winning level.
“If we continue to play like we did in the second half, we will have a good season.”
Cents are at home against the Milton Keynes Wolves in the quarter finals of the East Rugby League Cup on Saturday at 3pm.
