For the third week in a row the Stags scored five tries but, unlike the Tonbridge Juddian game (lost) and the Gravesend game (won) this was a poor advertisement for the game with mistakes galore and little pattern. The Stags’ performance the previous week had promised much but this second game in two weeks against a relegation candidate was - despite the tries scored - a step backwards for the home side.

Relegation threatened sides can bring a certain amount of baggage with them of course and indeed it is quite understandable in such circumstances for there to be some raging against the dying of the light*. Westcliff certainly had issues both on and off the pitch. Their players, for their part, appeared to be harbouring a continuous smouldering feeling of being hard done by refereeing decisions – they were not - and what I described in my report of last season’s away fixture between the sides as ” the animated postprandial but friendly banter” and the “general good natured raucousness of the [Gables] balcony crowd" appeared to have mutated amongst a small contingent of the visiting Westcliff spectators at least into something not quite so jovial once transported to West London.

The away side’s disgruntlement was fuelled very early on by the yellow carding of one of their players for preventing fair release of the ball after a series of penetrative drives and a second penalty award deep in the opposition’s 22 and with just 5 minutes played CS were 5-0 up and a man to the good. Sky’s Stuart Barnes would have admired the decisiveness of the visiting official from the Midlands in not hanging about and CS number 8, James Gillett, was deservedly on the score sheet.

CS failed to press home their advantage, however, and whilst looking reasonably comfortable their error count was high. The next score proved controversial and had the effect of whipping up the aforementioned small fevered section of the crowd into a frenzy. On 25 minutes winger Ross Yiend was the recipient of a loose kick deep in his own half and managed to elude the chasers when tight to the clubhouse side touchline. It was touch and go whether he would keep his balance but keep his balance he did and LSRFUR experienced touch-judge, Graham Steeden, was in the perfect position to see – as, coincidentally, was your scribe.

The decision, however, was met with howls of derision from a predictable quarter which intensified considerably when the supporting CS cavalry duly arrived on Ross’s shoulder and Brendan Ward was able to touch down seconds later at the other end. When I very reasonably pointed out to those apparently convinced that their team had been done a grievous injustice that I had had the clearest of views and that no part of Ross’s foot had touched the line, albeit that it had indeed been very close, I was told most wittily that I was far too short to be able to see anything at all! 10-0 to CS. Another one of their charming supporters not long afterwards then gave me the finger!

Sadly, this try also marked the end for Brendan Ward whose hamstring again protested, thus necessitating a reshuffle with Tom Bugge replacing Ben Stephenson (who had himself replaced Anthony Dawes who had pulled out during the warm-up) at scrum half, and with Ben then going to the wing and James Houstoun to full-back. This should not have been that significant a change but, on a day when fly-half, Scott Hadden was strangely out of sorts any way, it was not accomplished all that smoothly and the Stags then managed to repeat one of their sins of recent weeks by conceding a score to the visitors immediately before half-time, when their winger went over in the corner: 10-5 then the interval score.

With set-piece possession barely threatened it seemed as if it would be only a matter of time before the Stags cut out the alarmingly high incidence of handling errors and the half-backs renewed each other's acquaintance but it was not until the start of the third quarter that full-back-now, Houstoun, was finally given a bit of room and that CS were able to increase their lead with that try once again unconverted.

Instead of moving away, however, the Stags’ error count, if anything, increased in marked contrast to the previous week and Westcliff delighted their supporters by scoring another decent try courtesy of some good support, also not converted.

So with fifteen minutes to go the door was certainly once more ajar and Westcliff still with hope. That was quickly snuffed out,however, by the thoroughly deserved award of a penalty try, after a maul was collapsed illegally by Westcliff yet again after a series of penalty awards against them, although it will hardly be a surprise that some of our visitors still smelt conspiracy at every turn and made their feelings known! It is difficult to miss the conversion of a penalty try and so that was now 22-10, a lead which was then further extended by another unconverted James Gillett five pointer.

The door at 27-10 with just ten minutes to go was now effectively shut but a further try by Westcliff did just give them a tantalising sniff of possible multiple bonus points at the death but, profligate as the Stags had been, they were in no mind to be quite that generous : 27- 15 then the final score. It had, despite the five league points, been an unsatisfying and slightly ugly afternoon and not just between the touch lines : a shame when the relationships between the members of the two respective committees taking lunch together are so cordial.

* Dylan Thomas : Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

CS scorers :

Tries:

Gillett (2)
Ward,
Houstoun,
Penalty

Con:

Hadden