CS chose the first game of 2018 to serve up an eight-try extravaganza that Brighton were powerless to resist until CS conceded three second half yellow cards; with the visitors taking full advantage scoring four tries of their own whilst CS had players in the bin. Overall it was a timely performance for CS ahead of their visit next week to now fourth placed Chichester.
Many thought that this match would be tight, Brighton having, in recent matches beaten two of the other top four – Chichester and Havant, but CS were straight out of the blocks and into an early lead. They kicked off and won the ball and following 18 phases of play with the forwards prevalent, when scrum half Adam Nixon received the ball near to the line he needed no second chance and dived over the line to score under the posts, full back James Houstoun converted 7 – 0 after three minutes. Following the restart CS were back in Brighton’s territory, but the visitors were relieved to receive the first of twelve penalties and used it to clear their lines. The opportunity came to nothing as Brighton conceded a penalty, and to their credit, the only penalty they conceded in the first half. It mattered not; CS took a quick penalty and ran hard at the visitors but when tackled held on too long to concede another penalty. Brighton again used it to clear their lines but in the first half their line out was struggling and CS regained possession. On twenty minutes the CS backs ran a purposeful move, Nixon to fly half Tom Bugge, then outside centre Ryan Martin who fed Houstoun to score in the corner, 12 – 0.
The next ten minutes were dominated by CS giving away five penalties. The first four were well defended by CS, and therefore for the fifth Brighton opted to kick at goal but the attempt was hooked narrowly wide. With five minutes to go until the break CS broke up field and centre Martin scored in the left hand corner which Houstoun converted 19 – 0. Before the break tight head prop Ollie Full-James barged his way towards the line and looked certain to score, however a great last minute tackle stopped the score but the ball was worked to right wing Pumulo Banda who scored in the right corner; the half therefore ended 24 – 0 and the try bonus point already in the bag.
Although the visitors kicked the restart, the second half started in a similar manner to the first. Brighton had promising possession but a poor pass went to ground and was kicked by CS deep into their territory. Despite Brighton deliberately knocking on to prevent a try, the referee played advantage, the ball was moved from left to right where left wing Mike Walker cleverly scored in the right corner 29 – 0. The sixth try, probably the best, was a length of the field score. When the ball was received deep in their own half blind side flanker Tom Williams set off, he fed Houstoun who veered right and straightened towards the posts, he then fed open side flanker Will Scott who finished with a sprint and a dive under the posts, Houstoun converted 36 – 0.
The visitors now had a period of pressure and when they were deep into CS’s territory; Houstoun was yellow carded for not moving away after a tackle. Whilst down to 14 CS missed touch and Brighton scored down the wing 36 – 5. Back to 15, CS scored two quick tries, the first when Full-James rampaged through the cover to score and then replacement back Toby Guyatt broke down the right wing to score 48 – 5. To Brighton’s credit they stuck at it and after replacement prop Darragh Kelly was yellow carded for dissent despite the penalty initially being awarded to CS, Brighton scored their second try, and then Guyatt was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on which the referee correctly determined as a penalty try and finally whilst CS were down to 13 men Brighton deservedly scored their fourth, and bonus point try.
With the exception of conceding 19 points in the last 5 minutes CS were pleased with the way they performed in this their first game for 3 weeks, and considered it fair preparation for the visit to Chichester.
Head coach Mark Jackson said “We started excellently and our ball control throughout was good and to score 8 quality tries is never to be scoffed at. Brighton are a strong side and have had some good results in the lead up to the Christmas break and to go 48 - 5 ahead was impressive.
We must however concentrate for the full 80 minutes and control our discipline better if we are to fulfil our potential and I expect the boys feel exactly the same. This section of league games come thick and fast and next week away to Chichester is a huge game for both sides so I expect another tightly contested fixture.”