CS were made to pay for a lacklustre start on their first ever visit to East Grinstead’s picturesque and well-appointed Saint Hill ground for this National League 3 game.

Because of concerns about the surface of the first team pitch the encounter took place on the adjacent second team pitch where the going certainly still remained heavy and soft.

Given those conditions the skill levels on show in this game – a spirited encounter - were a credit to both sides. The Stags were rueing their somewhat dozy start as they conceded 13 points ( penalty, converted try, penalty ) in the first ten minutes but they slowly found their feet and a try by scrum half Ben Turner narrowed the gap to 13-7. It was still East Grinstead who had most of the play, however, and it was only courtesy of some sterling defence that the third placed side were kept more or less in check. As it was they notched up just one further penalty in the first half for a 16-7 interval lead.

East Grinstead had lost only three times previously this season: to the Stags, top of the table Dorking and Guernsey and it was clear that they were very keen to turn round that early season and rather unexpected reverse at Duke’s Meadows.

Immediately after half time they did stretch their lead further with another converted try but this was soon cancelled out by a Jon Webber effort – his eleventh of the of the campaign, and at 23 - 14 both sides were very much on their mettle and the Stags - for whom debutant fly-half Michael Ward was distributing well and varying play intelligently, showing no signs of his long injury lay-off nor the to be expected unfamiliarity with those he was playing with for the first time – were giving as good as they got.

Lock Claude Springer was particularly energetic with a number of strong carries coupled with a highly impressive tackle count. Indeed the front five as a unit, with Craig Bellringer an eventual replacement for Darragh Kelly who had given it everything, were all going toe to toe with their illustrious opponents and this was a full-blooded encounter keeping the crowd fully entertained.

It was a sign of the continuing closeness of the contest that when a penalty chance eventually came the home side’s way with ten minutes to go they had no hesitation in kicking it and - with the final try count a miserly 2-2 - putting a little more daylight between the two sides was no doubt their main priority and the correct tactical call. The Stags were game throughout but the further try that would have been necessary to give them something out of the game proved to be just beyond them.

It gets no easier for the Stags : top of the table Dorking visit next Saturday, followed by a trip to second-placed Elthamians and then a home game against fourth placed Tonbridge Juddians.

CS scorers :

Tries:

Turner
Webber

Cons:

Ward (2)