Recent visits by CS to Gravesend’s Rectory Field have not been lucrative, the last victory being in February 2013, but this was an altogether different day. The challenge for CS, following last week’s poor second half against Cobham, was to play for a full 80 minutes and that is pretty much what they achieved, and was instrumental in keeping the opposition off the scoreboard, the first time any team in this league, this season, has done so.
Gravesend kicked off and very soon their loose head prop Charlie Cutting, making his 100th appearance for the home side, with ball in hand, made some good ground before being stopped, he was the last player up and stumbled in the process. The referee was concerned that he might have been concussed in the tackle, and determined that he was not fit to continue, and with the match barely started Gravesend had to use the first of their replacements – no team wants to lose a player who has a 100 caps. Gravesend restarted the match with a scrum, which CS shunted backwards and took the opposition’s ball. A penalty ensued resulting in a chance for right wing Pumulo Banda to score but the ball was lost. For the home side, it was only a short reprieve, as the next attack initially looked promising but the ball was placed on the ground, after a last ditch tackle, giving Gravesend a chance to defend the situation, however the ball was tapped forward, and depending on your view: with either the skill of Sergio Aguero or alternatively with the luck of the Irish, either way the ball had enough weight to gently cross the line and it was Banda who had the simple task of tapping it down for the first try. Full back James Houstoun had started his run up to attempt the conversion, when the ball rolled off the cone; there was virtually no time left, he therefore picked it up and nonchalantly drop kicked it, the try and the conversion were both unusual ways of registering the first points 0 – 7. Five minutes later outside centre Ryan Martin was on hand to complete a good move by the backs. Houstoun was unable to convert it 0 – 12.
The next opportunity fell to Gravesend when on 20 minutes they received a penalty after the CS forwards had infringed. However their attempt to set up a five metre line out failed when the ball was kicked dead. CS therefore had a scrum on their own 10 metre line and from the resulting possession they themselves were awarded a penalty from which they set up a five metre line out. After excellent work for the catch and drive by the forwards, hooker Josh Forrester was the scorer 0 – 17. Although CS were in control of the match on 41 minutes the home side were awarded their 7th first half penalty, and opted to take play deep into CS territory by a kick ahead. The CS backs love playing with ball in hand, in space, especially on a large well-kept pitch such as Gravesend’s and a pretty ideal day for running rugby. Left wing Toby Guyuett received the ball, his first pass was to Houstoun and when he needed support Banda was on hand to take the ball further up field, he then found inside centre Paddy O’Halloran on his inside, who evaded a couple of would be tacklers before finding Houstoun again, who left a prop on the floor before scoring the bonus point try which he also converted 0 – 24, which was also therefore, the half time score. The half time question for the CS supporters was - would CS continue in the second half as they had in the first, or fall away as they sometimes have in the past?
CS kicked off the second half and started as they had finished the first with both territory and possession, although conceding two quick penalties, the first for crossing and the second for infringing when on the floor, which enabled Gravesend to twice kick to touch and clear their lines. However the CS forwards stole the second Gravesend line out, drove play up field with No 8 Tom Williams, and flankers Ross Keane and Will Scott significant, and the ultimate beneficiary was centre Martin who scored and Houstoun converted 0 – 31. The next twenty minutes was dominated by many injury stoppages. Once patterns of play were resumed fly half Liam Cleary who had had a number of attempts to breach the Gravesend defensive line made an excellent break and when faced with a two on one fed Houstoun who scored, although he tweaked a hamstring in the process, Cleary took over the kicking duties but was unable to convert 0 – 36. Four minutes later the seventh try was a carbon copy of the third; a five metre line out following a penalty resulted in a drive over the line with Forrester scoring 0 – 41. There was still time for a further score this time Cleary deservedly scored 0 – 46. With 10 minutes of time added on Gravesend had an opportunity to get some points on the board when they found an opportunity to take play almost up to the CS line but were unable to score and the match finished 0 – 46.
Afterwards Head Coach Mark Jackson said “I am very happy with our physicality today and how we were more clinical when in scoring positions than in previous weeks. Also we can take pride in not conceding any points to a Gravesend side who are a tough side especially at home”.
Next week CS are at home to Thurrock, and the support of as many as possible would be very welcome for what should be another fantastic match, and both the last of the first half of the season, as well as the last home match before Christmas, there will be a lunch beforehand so contact Nick Alway to make your booking.