Cambridge 32 Nuneaton 13
Just itching to string a few clichés together following our first home game of the season. Like " firing on all cylinders, we can already see light at the end of the tunnel". Better still and with some originality " our fullback had a setback following his comeback" The truth is much simpler phrased. Not "a game of two halves" although a brisk southerly promised that. But as most commented afterwards, "a win is a win". In that the CRUFC squad would find common ground with the coaching team. There was little else in the cryptic invective peppered post match address by Shanners. I took a more positive view of the game. We impressed with lightning counter attacks for eight minutes in spells long enough to capture 4 tries and a bonus point. Apart from that individual talent masked the truth. The team effort at Henley was nowhere to be seen or enjoyed. Fifteen penalties/free kicks were conceded, ten of them in the second half. Nuneaton secured turnover ball, 2:1 in their favour. As with England's inept display the evening before, turnover is often a euphemism for another cliché - "handed on a plate". I blame the RFU for all of this to start a season with just one league game then ask sides to rest for two weekends, is just plain barmy. At least for 8 clubs, it had been only one Saturday off. Perhaps we were also wrong to declare one week's training as a holiday break. Whatever, no excuses. It is the same for both sides. Rather it is the diminished quality of the game, limiting its vital role in delivering excitement to sponsors and supporters alike. In that England failed for eighty minutes and so did the game in large part today.
I feel better already. Now for the credits. Oscar for best player once again to Mr Mercury at scrumhalf. Our South Africans to a man, delivered on the day and no one more so than Stefan Liebenberg. Gareth Cull at 10 against his former club, adds respect for his improving command of the game. Both he and Shanners put in the long raking kicks that should have placed Nuneaton under many more periods of pressure than transpired. No individual credits for our first try although I thought I saw Hoady in the thick of the action. Penalty try, our first awarded in 2007. A double whammy in that the Nuneaton transgressor was yellow carded for attempting to strip the shirt off our support player aiming for the left hand corner. A man down, Nuneaton had to play out just five minutes of the half. Cambridge, adrenalin charged sensed a knockout opportunity. It came in the way of one riposte from the kick off, then another. A double axle loop from our centres gave Shanners a chance to score in the right hand corner. It was a classic winger's try. With Chris Lombaard not yet on the field, a demonstration of his pace and strength was needed and delivered. The second strike came just 3 minutes later, Our best endeavour to look like a team inspired finished with a familiar collect,look and dive from Stefan at the base of a tryline ruck. Gareth with the boot was now nudging closer to the 80% accuracy that we expect these days from our kickers. He had been given a chance to practice with some difficult long range penalty attempts following success from closer in the opening minutes. Two penalties secured earlier had kept us in the game,
As for our opponents, they had stayed with us. A classy try in the sixteenth minute as Ben Griffiths showed Ben Kay how locks should behave in open play with a jinking run through the home side defence. Up to the yellow card and the half time sparkle, Nuneaton had held a narrow lead then the Cambridge collective declaration of intent to go for the kill.
Halftime Cambridge 25 Nuneaton 7
What a contrast then for the start of the second half. The gift of two close in penalties to the Nuns and the points gap narrowed for them to manageable proportions. Still 36 minutes of the half remaining, the sin bin inmate returning and a bit of a wind in the visitor's favour. The game was not dead and buried. Far from it. That it then took us a further 30 minutes to clinch the game says a lot for the Nuneaton spirit and a little for some good defensive work by Cambridge. One ankle tap by Stefan saved a certain Nuneaton runaway score. Credits earned generally by the Cambridge forwards for effort and all deserved a share in Tank's pushover try converted by Gareth.
Fulltime 4 tries to 1 - the score flattering us and misrepresenting the Nuneaton contribution. Thank you neighbours and Paul Vowles in particular for your decency today. Nuns won the penalty count 15 to 8 and would have gained more points had the excellent referee, Darren Gamage been irritated enough by the disruption, to yellow card one or more Cambridge players. His post match judgement was that the errors were carelessness, confirmation that the lay off had contributed to the staccato pattern of the game.
I'll leave you with some thoughts written last weekend for inclusion in the programme under Playing Matters, but squeezed out by lack of space.
"I have never supported England rugby. Europe golf, GB athletics, Lancashire cricket and Manchester United football are a very different matter. There is something odd about the notion of sport Englishness and very much confirmed by the supporters that the flag of St George attracts. No more so than against the USA, greeting the sparse English scores with ecstatic delight. It must be the girlie strip that turns them on. Thank goodness that Bish,Harry Bob Barnes and myself, gave Lens a miss on a spare Saturday, dined at the Plough in Coton and watched a scrappy game at Shelford. Club rugby has always had the edge for me and since the league system was introduced, added spice and subtlety to the tasty dish.
Give me also a melange of a team every time, preferably an exiles mixture of character and origin. It is the blend that is unique and for that memorable. Alex Ferguson's squad formula has always been simple and consistent - one third local lads, one third from the rest of GB and the final tranche from overseas."
The Cambridge team will meet such criteria and come back to good as the season gets underway. There is much still to do but the finer calibre of the coaching will deliver much more success than one year earlier. Prepare elsewhere for shock waves as England falter and the RFU begins the agonies of a post mortem. Then I might be wrong and the sickly sweet chariots transform into chariots of fire. Brian Ashton, at the very least, deserves both a miracle and a medal for his fortitude.
Mal Schofield
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Stourbridge 32 Cambridge 19
There is, as yet, no cure for the common cold. No vaccine to apply and to protect. In an era where high technology delivers Bluetooth, bluetongue strikes back for the viral legions. However there is an effective cure for that other farmyard condition "counting chickens". The brilliant standard setting Stourbridge programme, billed their visitors as "one of the promotion favourites" and "amongst the challengers this year". Recent bullish comments of our own included aspirations of bringing Premier league rugby to Cambridge and to sustaining a solid position in National League 1. Thank you Stourbridge for the reality check. Back to earth with a bump, well vaccinated for 23 games against unfounded optimism and "o'er vaulting" ambition. That we got within a whisker of picking up two valuable points and moving to second in the league confirms a far better start to this season over last.
Unbeaten Cambridge visited Stourton Park for the second time yesterday well prepared to make it 3 wins from 3 matches. Yes it was careless to leave our physio in an M6 motorway services cafe but wry smiles rather than frowns were evident as the reds took on the blues in the Black Country. Whilst at home in Cambridge, another sunny Saturday confirmed September as the ideal early autumn, the game 100 miles to the west began on the coolish side, dull and grey with an advantageous south westerly blowing strong. Stourbridge had the wind first half and for twenty minutes Cambridge knew it, forced on to the defensive well inside their own half. In Ali Bressington on the wing they possess one of the finest kickers in the league. Stourbridge also fielded four of the England Counties team that returned unbeaten from the French Basque country with victories over Spain and Russia plus a draw with their hosts. Jim Jenner at No 8 was England Captain and took command of this game from the outset. He took 10 of the 12 home side lineout, was everywhere in both tight and loose play. An exemplary Captain's performance and reflected by Martin Corry's simultaneous role back row in Nantes. To quote Chairman Jerry "those who dominate the back row play win the game". So it was to be, as the more efficient and mobile side gained the greater possession. The Cambridge midfield was breached up to half a dozen times demanding last ditch defending from the back three. In that they succeeded, none more so than Phil Reed whose crisp tackles gave heart to the retreating Cambridge forwards. Luke Fielden was also sharp and demonstrating to his opponents that the weak links lay elsewhere.
The first try came early. Just 5 minutes and a blind side dart over by Stourbridge scrum half Tom Richardson. Bressington missed the kick but made amends with a clean sheet for the remainder of the game including two first half penalties. The inevitable second score took Stourbridge some time to construct. Full back Hall finished off a centrefield break with a try that had team confidence spelt out in every stride. At 18 points to nil, the game could be seen as a lost cause for the visitors. Half an hour gone and nothing to brag about. We came close with a reversal of play finding Oss out wide with Glen clear on his left. Hesitation and the clear scoring chance evaporated. At such times character counts and James Shanahan had his half time briefing much in mind. Cambridge worked their way into their first scoring position and did just that as the 40 minutes came and went. A second try for our player coach, perfect timing and again looping in from out right to touch down just right of the posts. Gareth Cull missed his fourth kick at goal but was to make amends later with a longer range effort and a clean second half sheet. Not that 2 points here or there mattered. We were back in the game, the wind in our favour and every reason to believe that we could do better second half.
If it were I in the changing room my concentration would be on defensive lapses. I would fine players a fiver for every shirt pulled and tackle shirked (sorry Luke just the once but see Chris Fell's 044jpg and 066jpg for contrasts). I would also expect my back row to be everywhere the ball was and all eight forwards delivering at least two drives apiece in each half. With Henry, driver numero uno, injured after 10 minutes everyone should have plugged the gap by personal example. I noticed drives from Rich and Glen and no one else. Hopefully the DVD will show that failing eyesight rather than memory loss proves me wrong. We need the yards guys and Redruth next week is the ideal opportunity to build your personal score. I am counting and one day very soon from the vantage point of a classy balcony seat at D45.
Anyway, halftime score Stourbridge 18 Cambridge 5.
Not content with early back row dominance, the home side had a clever tactical card up their sleeve. To counter Cambridge inevitably closing the gap they waited for the concessionary try before playing their trump cards. Chris Lombaard scored, following a well-worked movement initiated by a Glen Remnant break, twelve minutes into the half, as Cambridge camped on the Stourbridge twenty-two metre line. Our most consistent player is always there when needed. The gap was down to 6 points and "game on" rather than "game chasing". Then the cards, played on the sixteenth minute of the half as effective flankers were replaced by a fresh set of two pairs of legs. And so the back row dominance returned, mobility once again established and Stourbridge stepped up a pace. A quality try was delivered immediately, winger Martin Freeman producing a worthy personal effort jinking infield from the half way line to score under the posts. Injured in the run in it was a solo effort of the highest class, one to replay over and over again as the memories fade. That look to be the end for CRUFC unless generosity or divinity intervened. It did but went the wrong way. Adam Barnard our fresh replacement gifted replacement prop Tom Jarvis with the ball. A front row man out wide who, with 50 metres to go, intercepts and scores, questions the need for a replacement back on the bench. Now we were chasing the game and two decent scores to salvage two points. Darrell Burchnall on for Sam Hoad scored his first try for his new club. Darrell born in Johannesburg has the demeanour of a Bok with a British passport. He will just get better.
Gap narrowed to thirteen points and one final converted try would gives us equal 4 tries with our hosts and a gap of just 6 points. We tried. PK narrowly missed in the corner. Stourbridge reduced to thirteen men with overlapping yellow cards got out of jail as we called long ball and failed with three line outs in as many minutes. Clear heads and decisive tactics are needed and we offered neither as the minutes ticked away.
No matter we now know where we are heading this season. Forget the challenger stuff. From ninth place we can now aim for fifth with the ambition of eight wins by Christmas. That should more than satisfy our dress circle at Wests Renault Park. Something to look forward to, something more than a good lunch to savour and what memories to take into our future together. The appetite for success remains whetted. Roll on Redruth for your second journey east this month next Saturday (29th September) and our determination that we will record our first ever win against serious Cornish opposition.
Mal Schofield
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France 20 New Zealand 18
How do you describe a game like that?. Time ten minutes to ten this evening and a breathtaking last twenty minutes as France clawed their way back into the lead holding on to the final whistle. Impartial but once again in the early morning on my way to Grenoble, I have just witnessed and experienced one of the most riveting periods of competitive cup rugby. The northern hemisphere is back in business. The southern hemisphere, eastern zone, are on their way home.
Southend 26 Cambridge 22
Elsewhere and earlier it was the Southend that prevailed over their more northerly neighbours.Oh yes we do like to be beside the seaside especially on a sunny autumn day. Ignore the industrial estate as you approach the Southend ground. Over the bridge is an oasis of rugby, a quality venue and a genuine warm reception. Southend RFC joined National 2 this season as champions of 3 South and deservedly so. From their website to tables laid for lunch their organising skills and attention to detail are a model for any ambitious club. On the day we were beaten by a good side. They will play better and probably did in their drubbing of Redruth two weeks earlier. Redruth felt the pain having managed 16 consecutive wins up to then. But Cambridge also know that there is much better to come. A lack-lustre first half contrasted with the dominance at home a week earlier. Southend stamped their authority on the game, a penalty secured and a handful of turnovers in the first five minutes. How fragile is composure once the errors creep in. "Not in straight" at lineouts,losing kicking duels for distance, failing to find touch and a lack of forward authority gave Southend players and supporters the confidence to believe that here was a second home game to be won comfortably. Midfield breaks of brilliance produced two tries for Frost and Soolifai in a dominant 5 minute spell, 15 minutes into the half. That Cambridge came back with a quality try of their own by "PK" Kendall. A well struck penalty from Shanners, just before half time, narrowed the difference to 7 points. Ed Turnill the referee had been firmly in charge of a match with only 7 penalties awarded in a game flowing from end to end.
Southend's half without any doubt and much to address by the visitors at half time. Could do better, but how?
Half time Southend 17 Cambridge 10
Start the second half with a bang. Southend's kick and an immediate riposte, loose ball hacked upfield and a near try for Chris Lombaard or James Ball as the bounce avoided both of them. Missed headline chance - "on the ball" but for those seeking publicity good or bad a yellow card is the ready option. Thus Baller found himself in the sin bin alongside his sparring partner, Southend's lock Mike Rosam. As in chess its interesting to weigh up advantage here, a 6 for a 5? As two turnover lineouts followed for Cambridge you have to say better lose a 6 than a 5. but points were needed and provided by the magic boot of Mr Frost. He did not put a foot wrong with 6 out of 6 for the afternoon, including four penalties. No further recorded tries for the home side although a well worked overlap on the left produced enough space for the Southend 14 to loop in and put down between the posts, except that his put down was a forward pass. dropped from his hands as he reached towards the turf. Shanners and Chris Lombaard know better. Shanners deserved his try as the post protector became the last line of defence for Southend. Chris, Mr Consistent, deserved his for another 80 minute display of pace and strength. That it came in the eightieth minute was justice, given his hat trick against Redruth, unrecognised and unrewarded by the bizarre changing room turn of events. Simple addition tells you that the match ended with the gap closed to 4 points and it could, rather than should, have been two ---- or even a draw. The difference was the Frosty boot and with the sight of our trusty Dafydd Lewis, now at Southend, ready to step into the breach. Points count and Southend gave us a lesson in accumulation without speculation.
We must take heart for the good things. We are missing key players. Macca stepped in for Luke and defended bravely. Our new centres are beginning to express themselves. The second half brought enough possession to win the game but we need greater forward mobility to reach the breakdowns. The faster the backs the more ground to cover. We have yet to meet a fitter side but given the attacking patterns we need to be fitter still. Some of our play options have become repetitive and therefore predictable. In slow motion they looked contrived and are. At speed they look like individual brilliance and intuitive play. They are neither. More practice at the practise. Inspiration from perspiration.
On balance another shaky start but an impressive final fifteen minutes. We are 8th in the table with a game in hand over the majority of other teams. The league is beginning to divide already into three parts. Upper middle will do whi;st we sought out a few things, enjoy our new dress circle stand, sort out the abandoned match with the authorities and for the first time welcome Waterloo and Blaydon to Wests Renault Park. On the road south first to Blackheath next Saturday then to Westcombe Park and north to Otley and Wharfedale. Awesome challenges and just impossible to imagine just 3 seasons ago.
And so to bed.
Mal Schofield
oh and England squeezed a win for Brian Ashton and the charioteers.
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Blackheath 32 Cambridge 24 elsewhere the narrowest of wins for Brian Ashton's hearts of oak. France 9 England 14
Yesterday's matches of football significance, rugby footb&ll that is, hammered home two simple rules. Be - "first out of the blocks" and "loath losing". Andy Gomersall's precision box kick, Josh Lewsey's rapid follow up and the near perfect bounce of the ball, producing the only try of the match just 3 minutes after the start.It was to be the final scoreline difference between the two sides. Elsewhere Blackheath impressed immediately turnover ball was gifted to them. A try in under 3 minutes, quality interpassing in its build up, and clinical in its final execution by their No 8 John Aseme. Followed up inside 7 minutes with the gift of a second try, from scrum half, Joe Simpson's interception on the halfway line. Blackheath 15 points adding a long range penalty in the fifteenth minute. A testing time for habitual slow starters. The home side had found themselves in a similar predicament down at Redruth a week earlier. They came back to win. Perhaps Cambridge could do the same.
France in Paris inched their way back into the game to go ahead on penalties where Cambridge In London built up more and more pressure as the game progressed. But we failed to narrow the gap sufficiently to force the home side into making fundamental changes to their game plan. The losers came close. The explanation for our last three sloppy starts away from home, is beyond me. That we are sluggish in both thought, action and reaction is apparent to all our regular away supporters. It cannot however still be baffling our coaching team with DVD's to brain scan again and again. My notes simply state that we make early mistakes from indecisiveness - gifts to our opponents who at this league level are alchemists of the highest order. Thus an insignificant turnover lineout ball is transformed, converted and processed into an impressive score 50 metres away between the posts in just three minutes of play.
It is as though some masochistic genetic defect in a team believes that slow starters win races. They rarely do.
Character is something else and in that the present Cambridge squad is a step improvement, game to game, on last season. Given the margin of points to chase after the first quarter, the chances to attack and counter attack were well taken. The error rate fell and with it came territorial advantage and the greater proportion of possession. A Blackheath coach commented later, on the lines of "we will never play so badly and still win". There were fewer and fewer holes in the Cambridge defence and a self belief in attack that there was time and the tries would come. They did, but it was to be just too late to secure that illusory away win. Yet once again a bonus point, this time for 4 tries, two down to Phil Reed who deserved such record book recognition last season. One more for each of our half backs Shanners and Stefan. All the points hard earned and once again vital points lost as the essential skills deserted our kicker. Our first try came in the 25th minute one more attack sweeping left the right to find Sam Hoad in the line. He stepped inside creating space enough for Phil Reed to collect the pass and score. The comeback had begun with time enough for a second score before half time. It came from a drive over, the lighter Blackheath pack demonstrating that brains can rule over brawn when it matters. If there is ever a time to nail down the coffin lid on your opponents, on or about the fortieth minute is worth double points
Half time Blackheath 22 Cambridge 5
There is a strange vacancy now when teams retire to the dressing room. Also a nervousness for me that one or both may never return to complete the match. The empty feeling may not exist if the margin of points is well in your favour. We don't yet know but wait to see what Waterloo bring to our third home match of the season next Saturday. At the very least there will be the new balcony to admire and experience in the ten minute interval.
Through the bouncy castles the teams returned. A cartoon setting for a serious second half. It proved to be exciting rugby and for all those present worth every penny they had spent on the day. Penalty first to Blackheath's Frankie Neale. Five well struck kicks out of six. How we have missed a kicking specialist these past few weeks. Luke Fielden's first attempt had hit the post, enough to unsettle him for the rest of his game. Now twenty points ahead, Blackheath could afford to offer opportunities. They made enough errors in open play to provide openings for Phil Reed's second, A Shanners clean break from inside the Blackheath 22 metre line to score again by the posts and a final try in the closing minutes from Stefan Liebenberg in a similar position. Stefan was my Man of the Match in the amount of space he covered, defending long range kicks yet still there for at the base of the scrums and rucks. Cambridge dominated the scrums taking 17 to 10 with just one turnover. But Blackheath took the lineouts 3:2 including 5 turnovers in the early stages. The composed referee, Richard Phillips kept the penalty count down to 16 now the pattern of the past 4 games and no yellow cards. Yes errors were missed but the game flowed and Cambridge needed as much game time as they could get. Had not Blackheath preceded our last two tries with an efficient score of their own from replacement Rudi Thirion then the gap would have narrowed to just 1 point. There were some breathtaking moments - a brave collect at speed from Altus following up a well directed kick sticks in my memory as the best in the closing stages. Strangely our other "Johannes", Chris Lombaard found himself isolated from the action out wide. An exocet inexplicably not called in to use on the day.
Much to reflect upon and to prepare for only our second effective home game this season --- and November beckons. It is good to see Tom Powell returning to rugby after such a long injury interval. Gareth will be back soon and our squad has shown itself capable of producing the best rugby ever by a Cambridge side. Hearts of oak are about winners not losers. There are no silver medals. In that Shanners and I share the same sentiment. He hates losing and so do I. He stops eating and I stop sleeping. Only footb&ll in future please
Mal
late news flash. The first try was PK's all along. Chris Fell's long angled lens spotted the difference as Hoady makes the telling break and pass. Look for yourself on the CRUFC website
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Cambridge 15 Waterloo 3
From my perspective at least, rugby in England is alive and well, full of promise and potential. Not surprising perhaps, considering the 600,000 active players, many of whom saw profit in not being available for selection rather playing away in Paris. Club rugby from the Premier League downwards can more than cope with the ultimate global competition - the World Cup. England proved it yesterday and so did Cambridge. Decisively beaten in the line out and the rucks, England were put to the kicking sword by a disciplined Springbok side. Waterloo here for their first league match in Cambridge were subject to sustained pressure for the first and last quarters of a gruelling match. That they were beaten by two tries scored by two of our South African sextet says much about the skills difference between the two nations. South Africa beat England in their heartland: up front. Discipline and sound technique in set pieces produces possession. Loose kicking and passing gift hard earned ownership of the ball to your opponents. And so England lost in spite of "a gritty performance" and "playing their socks off". South Africa were the more effective side on the day and five secured penalties says it all. We may well have had a valid try disallowed, something to carry forward to New Zealand in 4 years time. The premier clubs are packed with young potential England players such as Matthew Tait. The real evolution under Brian Ashton begins today.
Rugby, at its most physical, is not a pretty sight. Put a fabulous clubhouse and balcony as a backcloth on one side and the view across Grantchester Meadows on the other and it is easy to dwell on the best and ignore the defects. For the Waterloo President, Colin Fisher the glass was half empty "sh--- against might" to paraphrase and rhyme his words and be more than generous to the home side. His precise description of the blood and sand was "beef and lard". Colin if you are reading this, both sides produced some sparkling rugby yesterday. The DVD provides ten times the excitement of the dour struggle under Parisian lights.
Let's begin at the beginning. A perfect autumn day, no wind but the glare of the sun making it awkward for Cambridge as the game started. Much was at stake. Our visitors badly needed an away win. How well we know their predicament having suffered the same last season through to February. For the first 25 minutes of the game Cambridge camped inside the Waterloo 22 metre line. The only score came early and with justice was delivered by our most effective defence destroyer, JAC Lombaard. Chris took the final pass as the sheer pace of the Cambridge backs matched the transfer speed from corner to corner. No conversion from out wide and into the sun. Gareth will be back next Saturday, but even for his specialist boot the glare would have proved challenging.
Facing such dominance of territory and possession Waterloo could only hang on in there. With no supporting wind to help ease the pressure, it took a resolute defence to keep Cambridge away from further scores. The DVD shows a dominant side suffering from both consternation and constipation as the minutes ticked by.
Then the break out. A couple of turnovers and Waterloo were playing in the unfamiliar landscape of the Cambridge half. And did they know it. Their offensive drills came into action immediately. A side transformed and looking dangerous. Where the Cambridge forwards drove with modest expectations, Waterloo saw gaps and tries within tempting metres. They came close but were held back by the same defensive discipline seen at Henley on a similar sunny day. Our try line defence was to be similarly tested in the closing stages of the game. A penalty conceded and secured by the Waterloo 10, Alex Davies, took the pressure off Cambridge and normal service resumed.
Half time Cambridge 5 Waterloo 3.
You would have expected the visitors to take a lot from the scoreline. Everything to play for. Not so. Cambridge came out apparently inspired by the sun on their backs and took 8 penalties from Andrew Vertigan the excellent referee as badges of honour. Luke Fielden missed a long range attempt then made amends closer in. Pulling ahead slowly but more telling playing with more purpose and fewer errors. Waterloo must have felt the chance of an away win literally slipping away. They were obliged to attack from deep, their probing kicks returned with interest by man of the match, Luke Fielden, their errors converted into slick smooth phases of running rugby. Chris Lombaard alone made over half a dozen runs to be brought down just a metre or two from the Waterloo try line. No disgrace here, Waterloo tackled like demons inspired by something other than protecting a decent lead. Just put it down to pride Colin. It wont be easy for us at Blundellsands in mid February that's for sure.
A count up now of the set pieces says much about the game. The only difference from a week earlier was 21 penalties awarded of which Waterloo conceded 13. At Blackheath we conceded 9 of 16. The other set pieces in both games were 31 to 21 in our favour. The conclusion has to be that Waterloo have a better defence than Blackheath and they meet next weekend up north.
Cambridge just had to score and did so with class. The dominance was in every area except the long line out ball. Waterloo's anxiety was beginning to show in their error rate in open play. The final quarter was well underway. The Cambridge back row were prominent as links in attack together with Sisa Naqasima on for James Ross. An awkward line out ball fell our way and interpassing on the right came close to a score. A further five phases of play was again impressive in the close accurate passing with Chris Lombaard once again the last to be brought down. Waterloo were yellow carded for a frustrated attempt to tackle across a try line ruck. A scrum was preferred, Glen Remnant collected and curved infield. Christo Blom on his debut game was proving to be very effective blind side flanker. He had also curved away from the scrum five metres further out and took the first pass with strength enough to go over by the left hand post. Luke converted to put the game one full score away from Waterloo and 14 men on a mission impossible. Later down to 13 men and the task seemed beyond them. Then miracles can happen or rather give a half chance to the desperate and don't be surprised by the outcome. The 13 then camped on the Cambridge line. A conceded scrum on half way as the kick off failed to travel 10 metres. That should have meant another Cambridge attack. Instead poor handling on the ground gave Waterloo turnover ball and they broke through the ragged home defence. One more yellow card for punching this time but still the pressure. Glen Remnant became the referee's third victim and the line pressure continued. We did break away only to be punished for simple handling errors.The Waterloo thirteen were playing fluent rugby that had seemed beyond their full side in this half. A series of drives should have produced a consolation try but the Cambridge defence, with its commanding officer in the sin bin, held firm and the game was won
Wharfedale in the distant Yorkshire dales is our venue next week. They are a true community club nestled in a delightful valley. We need to remember the "footb" & "ll" way to winning away. A chance to prove that Henley was not a freak result.
Mal Schofield
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