London Irish 20 CS Rugby 1863 23

Enjoying the craic and the dark stuff.

CS played their previously twice postponed league fixture against London Irish under the lights at Sudbury on this Friday evening in what was the club’s first ever completely floodlit league game.

A healthy crowd saw a highly entertaining encounter between two sides initially keen to put width on the ball and both at this point in time operating at seemingly break neck pace.

The early exchanges went the Stags’ way and two Scott Hadden penalty goals were fully deserved and indeed only some scrambling Irish defence had prevented CS securing more rewarding scores. Finding themselves behind seemed, however, to be just the spur the much younger Irish side, clearly containing some academy prospects, needed as they went on to dominate the rest of the half comprehensively and at the interval a thoughtful CS contingent were supping their Guinness and enjoying the generous hospitality but contemplating a 13-6 scoreline in their hosts’ favour which frankly could have been a whole lot worse.

The Stags had had little possession and very little opportunity to go through any phases for pretty well half an hour and only their much tested but effective defence had left them still within touching distance. Matters had been made just that little bit more difficult – as if it was not tough enough already - by the loss of centre Tali MacKay, making his first appearance of the season for the Stags, to the sin bin for a late tackle after twenty minutes.

The second half was a much more even contest with the CS pack appreciating that they would have to up their game to match their muscular opponents and more than rising to the challenge in what was now a thrilling contest. The pack’s hard work was duly rewarded: after a long series of well marshalled pick and gos had sucked in the opposition, the ball was eventually moved wide and a long bouncing pass was expertly picked up by James Houstoun for a fine try, converted by Scott Hadden.

This score early in the half tied the scores at 13-13 where the sides remained locked thereafter for quite some time. It was the Irish who finally broke the deadlock, however, with a converted try and the game appeared to be slipping away from the Stags who also had scrum half, George Woolford sin binned for a dangerous tackle with only fifteen minutes remaining.

A third Scott Hadden penalty brought renewed hope, although with the deficit still four points and time running out, only a try was going to be enough to take the spoils. And - in a glorious piece of sustained pressure and keep ball - that is just what the Stags’ pack delivered. After a number of line breaks there was another clinical demonstration of pick and go, on and into the Irish 22 and all the way to the line with Cameron Reed ultimately being driven over.

The conversion was kicked and the referee blew - there was no injury time at all to play it seems – and Irish eyes would not be smiling. There would only be more of the the dark stuff to give them solace. With the exact same score line in reverse as in the home fixture it was the Stags who had triumphantly come marching in.

CS Rugby 1863 scorers:

Tries:
Houstoun
Reid

Cons:
Hadden(2)

Pens:
Hadden (3)