This contest was expected to be a competitive contest, as CS possess the tightest defensive record in the league and the hosts, Sevenoaks, have a very impressive home record. Thirty years after the storm blew away six of the town’s famous oak trees, CS, in just under thirty second half minutes, blew away any chance the home team had of taking anything from the match.
CS had first use of the considerable wind and after eight minutes had breezed into a 0 – 14 lead through tries from scrum half Adam Nixon after six minutes with much help and sharp interplay with Tom Bugge, who was on for full back James Houstoun, who was having treatment for a broken nose received in the first play of the match, and then within two minutes second row Tom Proctor broke down the left wing, avoided all tackle attempts, to score; both converted by Andy Hall.
Instead of taking further advantage the game stagnated and became one where the ball rarely made it out of the forwards. CS were unable to avoid a tactic that was not in their interest, as the Sevenoaks front row was, in terms of size and weight, more than ample, and one of the largest that CS had encountered during the current campaign. However it was not until the twenty seventh minute that the hosts got themselves onto the scoreboard when their number eight fed the left wing to score which was not converted 5 - 14. During the next 15 minutes CS conceded 4 penalties, all of which were kicked to touch for attacking lineouts. Each was well defended until CS, having won the ball, and despite having a huge wind on their backs, decided to run it from their own line and following a forward pass conceded a five metre scrum. From the scrum Sevenoaks scored, and the conversion would prove to be the last play of the half as well as the hosts last score of the match 12 – 14 was the half time score, with all to play for and CS facing the wind.
CS’s domination of the second half started after 12 minutes when they received a penalty near their own line, and unperturbed by their unsuccessful attempt at the end of the first half of running out of defence they did so again. This time, however, they broke at pace, avoided tackles and retained the ball, and following several quick phases of play flanker Will Scott scored in the left corner, which Hall was unable to convert 12 – 19. Straight from the re start CS again ran it, with Paddy O’Halloran and Robbie Boswell two of the key players in the move, and when the line was crossed it was hooker Josh Forrester who had scored and the try bonus point in the bag, Hall converted 12 – 26. The left wing was a popular target for tries in this match and so it proved for the fifth try, which after good work by Dazeley was scored by Houstoun; 12 – 31. Thirty minutes into the half the Sevenoaks hooker lined up a tackle which resulted in a tip, and, under the new laws and guidelines he may have been fortunate to receive only yellow, but CS had a man advantage for the next ten minutes. Shortly afterwards Dazeley crossed the line, another try that was unconverted. The final score of the match went to right wing Tyson Evans Peters which was also unconverted by Bugge. The result was therefore 12 – 41; the CS players had in the second half decisively sorted out how the game needed to be played, much to the relief of the travelling supporters.
CS therefore retained their second place in the league, and also their record as the team with the tightest defence. They will however need to select appropriate strategies during matches rather better than they did during the second quarter of this match. The next match is at home this weekend to Tottonians.
Next week CS are at home to Tottonians another team with justifiable ambitions for finishing at or near the top of the league.