6-try CS cut loose against Brighton
On Saturday CS made the trip to Brighton who have first class facilities and at this time of year an excellent pitch; could CS do it justice? Three tries in each half proved that they could, and eased CS to their third bonus point win from three this season. CS therefore returned to top of the table, on points difference, from Chichester, next week’s opposition, who also have three bonus point wins.
CS scored their first try, well worked after nine minutes through prop Jonny Miles, following great work by the forwards looking after the ball and keeping the defence occupied with their successful short game, followed just six minutes later by scrum half Adam Nixon, lively throughout and keeping the opposition on their toes, diving over from close range. After Tom Hodgson had converted the second try, CS had a handy 12 point lead. Brighton, who appeared undaunted by conceding 12 points in 15 minutes, then worked the ball into space and scored in the left hand corner 5 – 12. However the seven point deficit was short lived. Following a penalty, and a yellow card for the Brighton blindside flanker, after repeated team infringements in the crucial zone, CS kicked to the corner for a 5 metre line out. The line out was cleanly won and after a purposeful drive, hooker Josh Forrester was the scorer with Hodgson again converting 5 – 19. There ensued a period of yoyo rugby, not kicking, but with each team handing play back to the opposition after knocking the ball on or forward passes, which only ended when CS kicked the ball dead. From the resulting scrum Brighton worked the ball wide right and scored in the corner after creating an overlap and at least two missed tackles by CS to leave the half time score 10 – 19. A nine point lead was handy enough, but by no means safe, but CS were comforted by the knowledge that at least two first half scores had been left on the pitch.
After the restart, kicked off by the hosts, CS were soon pressurising the Brighton line, and despite two penalties, struggled to turn possession and territory into points until number 8 Tom Williams grabbed the initiative to dive over from good build up play by the forwards; after Hodgson converted, the score of 10 – 26 was beginning to look decisive.
However it was now time for Brighton to again seize the initiative, assisted by three consecutive penalties, but when they crossed the line the CS defence held firm. When CS were awarded a penalty of their own they cleared to touch. The pressure on CS was only released momentarily, as they lost the line out and Brighton took the play straight back again to pressure the CS line. This pressure ended abruptly when CS were given a penalty after one of their forwards had been pulled illegally from the maul. On their own line, spectators expected CS to again kick to touch and regroup from the line out, but Nixon took a quick tap and darted off, he soon fed Williams who returned the pass to Nixon, who then found right wing Pumulo Banda who sped down the right wing, and then he picked out full Back James Houstoun who carried on and soon returned it to Banda; left wing James Dazeley was the next recipient, followed by Nixon who touched down under the posts. Hodgson converted 10 – 33. Rarely are such tries scored outside of the sevens circuit and even the Brighton supporters were admiring the quality of this end to end score.
After a long break for a Brighton injury CS again had an attacking line out and rather similar to the successful one in the first half ended up with Forrester scoring. There was still time for Brighton’s inside centre to score to make it 17 – 38 and for the home team to mount a determined effort for a try bonus point, but despite three penalties and a yellow card for Hodgson the CS defence held firm. This was a workmanlike away performance by CS who must now raise their game for the home fixture against Chichester who last season played in what is now called London Premier one.
The seconds also had a great win, 83 – 24 against Blackheath with several players making successful returns.