This game, postponed a fortnight earlier, was - because of the downpours earlier in the week – still in doubt right up to the Friday afternoon and even then - if it was to be played at Tonbridge - reliant on there being no further rain. In the event it was played on a surface that - whilst undoubtedly still very heavy – was much better than had been feared and, indeed, rather than the predicted arm wrestle in a mud-bath this was a ten try frolic with those tries, at least, evenly shared.

The jog from TJ’s club house to their most distant and driest – or should one say least wet - pitch must have unsettled the Stags in some way as within barely two minutes they had conceded a try to a driven line-out. This was shrugged off not long after when a Stags’ line-out steal was followed by quick hands and a clever inside ball to centre Tim Wells who went over unmolested for the try: 5-5. And only minutes later he was at it again as good ball again from a line-out was swiftly moved and despite being the smallest man in the backline he was able to use his low centre of gravity and dynamism to good effect, breaking through in the middle for his second.

TJs were soon back on level terms with their forwards once more the providers . With CS pinned in their own 22 there were numerous thrusts for the line beforeTJs’ tight head prop eventually found a way through. The scores were not level for long though as a clever chip through by Scott Hadden was perfectly weighted for James Houstoun, helped by the kindness of the bounce, to run on to : 12 – 17 now the score and not yet half an hour played.

The period just before and after half time was to prove a disastrous one for the Stags. TJs had already reduced the deficit with a penalty awarded in bizarre circumstances. Debutant scrum half Tom Bugge had at this stage of the game been having a somewhat uneasy time of things at the base of the Stags’ set scrum but on this occasion he had clearly been played rather than the ball as it squirted out : yet somehow or other he ended up being the man penalised and indeed this was a day when some of referee Shawn Spilsbury’s decisions proved equally baffling to both sides.

Bugge fortunately was able to recover his composure and his slick service was later complemented by at least one sniping break.

If the Stags felt hard done by by that score, they had only themselves to blame for the next as the ball was offered up in a pass to no one in the middle of the field with “ Grab me please“ written all over it and Tjs needed no second bidding. With a minute to go now to half time it was difficult for the away supporters to believe that things could get any worse but they could as, after a first-up tackle had been missed and TJs allowed in behind the defence, they were able to recycle quickly and register another seven pointer so that at half time the score had raced on to 27-17 and TJs already had a bonus point in the bag.

As the Stags had hardly been outplayed in the first half and their backs - when not giving ball away on a plate - looked dangerous there was still reason to hope that all was not yet lost but the Stags needed to register the next score and this did not happen. Indeed this was the period when TJs took the game by the scruff of the neck . They scored another converted try following a clever chip over the top that was re-gathered and, recognising the latent threat that CS still posed, kicked the two further penalties that came their way. That they were wise to do so was borne out by two further CS tries, one down to Scott Hadden’s opportunism as he hacked through and scored, the other to slick handling along the back line finished off by Ross Yiend. There was still a little time left and even a glimmer of hope that a now resurgent Stags might yet take even more from this game than their own four try bonus point but it was not to be.

It had been another entertaining and high scoring game typical of the Stags’ season to date but the visiting support still had to go and seek solace at our hosts’ excellent real ale festival - this day had been designated a blank Saturday originally of course – and, with the exception of Doug Stuart whose allegiance lies elsewhere, in watching England’s triumph at Twickenham in the Calcutta Cup match. The Stags, though, had now lost four tough games in a row.

CS Rugby 1863 scorers :

Tries:

Wells (2)
Houstoun
Hadden
Yiend

Conversions

Hadden (2)