CS Rugby 1863 61 Brighton Blues 12
Following last week’s first defeat of the season CS targeted a quick return to winning ways, and so it proved, and in some style, but a good day at the office was marred by an exceptionally high injury account; for both teams, which included a horrific broken leg for CS back row forward Robbie Boswell, who, until that point had been having a fantastic match, winning turnovers and a lot of loose ball. Everyone sends Robbie their best wishes. Robbie’s injury was after just four minutes of the second half, and rightly, the referee immediately stopped the match, which had to be moved to a vacant spare pitch.
Brighton had started the match by kicking off to the left wing, and after winning a penalty with only seconds on the clock, the Brighton fly half converted beautifully from the left hand touch line, and from 48 metres. Brighton went on to repeat this play, all from kick offs, another three times before CS learnt the lesson; namely that the opposing fly half would punish them from more or less anywhere, if they conceded penalties.
The measure of the quality of the CS team, despite missing several key players for this match, was shown when they scored the first of nine tries after three minutes to go ahead 7 – 3, Tom Hodgson scoring the try which he also converted. This lead they never surrendered, although for the second time, from the kick off, CS conceded a penalty and another three points.
After 8, 12 and 18 minutes CS were awarded penalties and attacked the Brighton line with determination, twice via five metre lines out and once by a five metre scrum, but in each case failed to cross the try line, or crossed it but the referee was not able to see whether or not the ball had been grounded. On 23 minutes Josh Forrester scored the try that CS had been looking for which Hodgson converted. From the kick off CS again conceded a penalty, 45 metres from goal, which Brighton converted 14 – 9. With half an hour on the clock the CS backs attacked with great deal of pace, and many involved in the move and CS fullback James Houstoun was the last to receive the ball before crossing the line for the third try and for Tom Hodgson’s third conversion. To be consistent CS again conceded from the kick off for Brighton to score their fourth penalty. However this was the last time CS conceded a penalty in such circumstances and Brighton were not again to trouble the scoreboard. The fourth, and bonus point winning try came on 31 minutes and was scored by right wing Joe Heslop, who showed a considerable turn of speed to beat both the Brighton full back and hooker.
In the second half CS were attacking when the injury to Robbie Boswell occurred and play was suspended for five minutes to move pitches. Play resumed with a CS attacking scrum but as the line beckoned unforced errors enabled Brighton to clear the line. A short while later one of the Brighton props received an anterior cruciate ligament injury and play stopped fort another 5 minutes. Brighton did not have a fit qualified replacement front row and further scrums would now have to be uncontested which initially, at least, was to the advantage of Brighton, enabling them to clear their lines several times. It took CS a while to adjust, but when they did they attacked fluidly and with purpose and scored another five tries, first James Houstoun, and then second row Ollie Fulljames crossed near the posts, Josh Forrester scored his second, followed by James Dazeley’s on the right wing, and finally James Houstoun scored his third try following a break from his own half.
A very good victory therefore for CS Rugby, whose second team also gained a bonus point win against London Cornish. However quite a few players will be having medical checks before the next team is announced, with the next CS fixture being on 8 October away to Gosport.