Second Grade Stunner: What Bez did next...

By Angus Hayman

If there was ever a day to understand what club rugby is all about, it’s this rivalry, this tradition, and the raw, unfiltered passion that fills the air when Easts and Randwick go head-to-head.

The local derby didn’t just live up to its reputation, it roared to life under murky skies and packed stands, as a hostile, tribal atmosphere gripped the ground from the first whistle.  Supporters jostled for space along the fence line and filled the stands in a sea of colour, noise, and banter. Everywhere you turned, it felt personal.

The tone was set before the clock had even reached midday, as club captain James Behringer received a loving right hook flush to the jaw. But in true stoic fashion, “Bez” didn’t retaliate; instead, he looked around, found no penalty and no card forthcoming, and simply got on with it, winning the next lineout.

The rugby swung between brutal and brilliant, but no score could describe what 2nd Grade delivered. Down 17-0 at halftime and staring at a long, miserable afternoon, the Beasties dug deep. There was no panic, as front-rower Hugo Hayman later assured us, "At no point did we feel out of the game." From there, the Beasties exploded, running in 31 unanswered points in a second-half comeback for the ages.

It wasn’t just a game, it was a statement. The Beasties showed what Easts rugby is all about: resilience, spirit, and a refusal to back down, no matter the odds. The scoreline may tell part of the story, but it’s the heart, the resolve, and the pride that truly define this team. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t easy, but it was undeniably Easts.

And that’s a memory that’ll last long after the final whistle.