ALL GOLDS LEAVE IT TOO LATE
BRENTWOOD EELS 30 – 26 BRISTOL ALL GOLDS
Christopher Wilson at Brentwood Sports Club, Pilgrim’s Hatch
SUMMARY
Two tries in the final few minutes from the Bristol All Golds failed to rescue anything from a game that they seemed to be in control of in the opening quarter as they went down 30-26 to a Brentwood side that showed better cohesion and discipline in an intense and tough game.
The All Golds had raced to a 16-4 lead with tries from James Boyles and two from captain Callum Merrett before, helped by a lopsided penalty count, Brentwood struck back with five tries either side of the break to lead 30-16. The All Golds rallied in vain, Boyles adding his second try to one by Ed Tait.
However, time ran out on their comeback and, for the third season in a row, the All Golds returned from Brentwood without a win.
FULL REPORT
What is it about Brentwood? In each of the last two years, the Bristol All Golds have returned from Essex defeated. In 2023, there was a 68-0 shellacking; then the Eels snatched a draw with the last play of the game last season.
In 2025, the All Golds had the game in their control, but discipline let them down and the Eels took full advantage to secure a long-overdue win.
Following a decent showing against the Wests Warriors last week and fielding almost the same squad, the All Golds were hopeful that they could put the record straight and secure their first win at the Eels’ home ground.
However, despite a strong start, they needed a comeback similar to last season’s effort against the London Chargers to take the spoils. The All Golds crossed twice in the final few minutes but ultimately failed to rescue anything from a game that they seemed to have won in the opening quarter.
After Louis Birch did well to prevent the kick-off going into touch, the All Golds powered upfield with strong carries from Mike Ward and Oli Winterbottom that led to Josh Fitzgerald’s kick forcing a goal-line dropout. On the end of the next set Callum Merrett placed a pinpoint kick into the arms of James Boyles for an unconverted try in the corner.
Five minutes later, Merrett dummied twice to cut through the defence for a try converted by Winterbottom to increase the lead to 10-0.
The All Golds had trouble with the Eels’ restarts from the tee all day and when they allowed the ball to go dead after Merrett’s score, the home side immediately got back into the game working the ball wide from the resulting dropout for Ryan Whitcombe to score in the corner.
The All Golds, though, responded immediately as the Eels’ Liam Ferrier ignored a huge gap he had created, chose to pass and Merrett grabbed a trademark interception try that he converted himself for a 16-4 lead.
The Eels responded well and went close to scoring as their captain Harry Creed was held up over the line before they had a try disallowed by the referee.
However, Winterbottom also had a score chalked off and, as the half wore on, the All Golds’ grip on the game began to slip as they conceded a stream of penalties from a referee more used to military discipline on the field of play.
With five minutes to go to the break, Ryan Whitcombe was awarded his second try despite appearing to lose the ball in the act of scoring. Ferrier added a good goal from the touchline before dummying through for a well-taken try right on the half-time whistle. He was unable to tie the scores from the tee and the teams changed ends with the All Golds holding a slender 16-14 lead.
That lead came under pressure right from the restart and Carl Thompson was lucky not to see a card for a late hit as the visitors were forced to withstand constant pressure thanks to poor decision-making and the continuation of a lop-sided penalty count that saw the Eels receive nine penalties in the first half and three more early in the second.
On the back of that possession and field position, the Eels created chances, and Callum Whitcombe forced his way over the line. Ferrier added the goal to edge the Eels in front 20-16.
Just prior to that try, Boyles and Ryan Whitcombe were sin-binned for an altercation over a loose ball, but the Eels maintained their momentum and extended their advantage as Callum Whitcombe scored direct from a scrum move.
Callum Whitcombe then twice saved tries by bundling Leon Atherton into touch and just past the hour mark, Matt Toothill produced some superb skill to slip through the All Golds’ defence and race away from Winterbottom to the line. Ferrier’s goal extended the lead to 30-16 with just under a quarter of the game remaining.
The All Golds finally received their first penalty of the game after an hour’s play and on the back of it recovered some of the momentum from the opening minutes of the game.
Ed Tait drove over from dummy half after the All Golds had recovered the restart. Merrett added the goal and, five minutes later, provided a carbon copy kick for Boyles to score in the corner.
However, Winterbottom missed the goal, and the All Golds ran out of time to grab another score.
Amazingly, this was the Eels’ first win for almost exactly a year when they defeated London Skolars in April 2024 and they deservedly celebrated the victory. The All Golds now have a fortnight to begin again the rebuilding process from the match with Wests Warriors before they play their opening home fixture against London Chargers on 10 May.
Match Stats
Teams:
EELS: Callum Whitcombe; Ryan Whitcombe, George Treffers, Simon Wood, Joshua Smith; Liam Ferrier, Tomas Scarsbrook; Alfie Adams, Connor Gascoigne, Jamie Impey; Finley Margetts, Connor Perry; Harry Creed (Capt).
INTERCHANGE: Mathew Tootill, Alexander Corby, George Riley.
SCORERS
Tries: R. Whitcombe (11, 34), Ferrier (39), C. Whitcombe (47, 52), Tootill (62)
Goals: Ferrier 3 from 6
ALL GOLDS: Oli Winterbottom; James Boyles, Mason Ball, Henry Symons, Joe Capener; Josh Fitzgerald, Callum Merrett (Capt); Ed Tait, Adam Turner, Carl Thompson; Louis Birch, Brandon Lamb; Mike Ward.
INTERCHANGE: Tega Rume-Tabiowo, Leon Atherton, Morgan Lewis, Angus Parkin.
Scorers:
Tries: Boyles (3, 76), Merrett (8, 14), Tait (65)
Goals: Winterbottom 1 from 3, Merrett 2 from 2
Scoring sequence: 0-4, 0-10, 4-10, 4-16, 10-16, 14-16 (HT), 20-16, 24-16, 30-16, 30-22, 30-26 (FT)
Penalties: Eels 16-2 All Golds
Referee: Daniel Lampert (Army/RFL)
All Golds Player of the Match: Tega Rume-Tabiowo provided some powerful runs and stern defence and was always a danger to the Eels defence.