Tring Ding Dong
The Stags go into the Christmas break in their highest ever Yuletide league position (6th) but very much aware of the challenging fixtures that lie immediately ahead in the New Year.
There was Christmas cheer in good measure on Saturday but our visitors gave it a mighty rattle belying their lowly league position. Games between these two sides are usually hard fought and rarely dull and this was no exception. Tring took an early lead after barely three minutes through a try from their formidable No 8 Lawrence Tauasosi and with fly half Tom Newton , better known as a full-back from previous encounters, adding the extras the Stags knew that it was game on. They struck back some eight minutes later with a try from centre Stuart Peel, restored to the side after a few games’ absence, and Scott Hadden's conversion levelled the scores at seven apiece.
It was very much nip and tuck throughout most of the first half as a further Tring seven pointer was cancelled out by a Paul Whelan effort also converted by Hadden - but by the end of the half the Stags appeared to have wrestled the advantage and it was no great surprise when mounting pressure told and wing James Houstoun scored his ninth of the season just before the break. That really should have been it for the half but instead there was still time for the home side to put itself under some quite needless pressure, concede a penalty and see the lead reduced to 19-17.
Tring by now had more than a sniff of an upset and came out for the second half fired up and ready to give it a lash and - whilst CS was having slightly the better of the play territorially - it was the away side who went into the lead for the third time on 54 minutes with a second Newton penalty. There were signs that they were beginning to tire, however, and judicious use by CS coach Stefan Smith of his three rolling substitutes from the bench - all forwards - certainly assisted in the wearing down process.
What proved to be the last score of the game and a bonus point one at that went again to James Houstoun on 63 minutes. Territorially it was all CS now and - whilst a lead of just six points is never comfortable - in truth Tring had by now all but burned themselves out and there was rarely any reason for serious concern as the home side controlled the game through the last quarter. That said Tring's losing bonus was well deserved with their defence otherwise resolute until the end.
The Stags' next league fixture on 5 January is their maiden visit to Guernsey and if you are interested in making the trip ( Saturday morning flight from Gatwick and overnight stay ) we have places available. Contact Mike Lee on 07768 026472 . Next home game is Barnes on 12 January.
CS scorers :
Tries:
Peel
Whelan
Houstoun (2)
Cons :
Hadden (3)