Seaton Rangers couldn’t have asked for a better start to life in the National Conference as they thumped Eastmoor Dragons 42-0.
It was a fine performance from the West Cumbrians on their Third Division debut, and the Wakefield side could not match their hosts enthusiastic and committed approach.
Coach Ryan Campbell was delighted with the result and the performance, as well as the crowd figure estimated at over 500.
“It was a big day for the club and I thought the players handled it really well. I was hoping to start with a win, but to do it so well was a big bonus.
“I thought we controlled the ball well and our competition rate was excellent. They did test us on a couple of occasions but our defence was excellent,” he said.
Seaton got off to a flying start with a try on five minutes. John Chisnall wrote himself into the club’s history books by scoring the first try in the National Conference and Dom Smallwood landed the first of his seven goals.
It stayed that way, with the Dragons showing more fire in the opening quarter, until Stewart Gallagher crossed for the second try on 26 minutes.
Then came the explosion. Prop forward JJ Key broke from his own half and rounded the full-back like a winger in full cry for the line, to go over.
JJ is the grandson of a former Workington Town legend Andy Key, who would certainly have enjoyed how he bagged the first of what should be a tidy collection of Seaton tries.
Smallwood tagged on a penalty two minutes before the break and with a half-time lead of 20-0 Seaton were well on their way.
Six minutes after the resumption Ryan Heron crossed, quickly followed by Ellis Nixon and Levi Wallbanks, and with a quarter of the game left Seaton led 36-0,
Credit to the Dragons, though, they dug in and the home side could add only one further try before the end as Smallwood took his personal points tally to 18 with a touchdown in the 76th minute.
Skipper Lewis Brown, who has played with Salford, Whitehaven and Workington, but is now back with his first amateur club, was named Seaton’s man of the match.
Coach Campbell said: “The only downside was a head injury for new full-back Garry Taylor which means we will have to follow concussion protocols. We play at Hensingham next Saturday.”
Les Smallwood the former Workington Town chairman who has returned to his former club to join the committee said: “ It was a fantastic day which will live long in the memory. Alan Rumney presented the match ball to the referee as a memento and all the players took onto the pitch our youngsters from the junior section.”
