There would have been no doubt on the outcome of this game had the hosts held on to their unbeaten run at Sedgley Park a week earlier. Shock vulnerability away however rarely translates into exploitable weaknesses at home. Esher did not disappoint their fans or allow Cambridge even a sniff of a surprise win on the day. A well drilled and disciplined side demonstrated enough confidence and composure never to be troubled by their opponents. That a 4 try winning bonus, for the full five points, proved out of reach on such a dominant day might yet have a bearing on the final run in fight for league leadership.

Elsewhere Value V took on an entirely different meaning. Here the full five points did go to the David not Goliath, David Haye, disregarding a 7 stone weight and 12" height advantage beating the Russian giant to take the WBA world heavyweight title, disadvantaged by a probable broken hand. I would struggle to find that Cambridge were handicapped in any sense, other than by self inflicted errors on the day. Not that the overall performance lacked either promise or potential. This was not a repeat, apparently, of the mistake laden misadventure in the Yorkshire dales two weeks earlier. Referee Adrian Hartwell, on a day when many referees managing National league 1 games were putting down markers, gave Esher 10 penalties to 3 in the first half, adding 2 yellow cards against Cambridge after half time. The penalty count finished 14/9, too many but hardly one sided, and the yellow cards, fully deserved for foul play for the first and of no issue for the second, handed out, as it was, on the 80th minute.
 
I will give the credits later, but to chronicle the game concisely relies, for a change, more on a description of odd incidents than magic moments. For example I cannot recall a recent game with so many 22 metre drop outs, the equivalent in my playing days of a team "on the ropes" or corners conceded in the other game. Five scrambled by the visitors in the first quarter then a sprinkling later for both sides. Penalties awarded average 16 in today's game; Mr Hartwell contrived to find 23 on a perfect day for flowing rugby. The dominant side, Esher made the greater number of mistakes, particularly spilt passes and lost line outs. Cambridge demonstrated neither confidence nor composure, the only try conceded in the first half coming from a sequence of handling errors in midfield. Scored by Seb Jewell, the Esher inside centre, no doubt eager to demonstrate his worth, returning from the Quins bench a week earlier. The Esher backline was firing on all cylinders, wave after wave of attacks ended by error or spirited last ditch defence.
 
Cambridge derived much from the failure of their opponents to cross the line. Sam Ulph, the Esher full back did his bit, 3 penalties from 4, with 2 struck from long distance. The third penalty struck two minutes into the second half, pulled Esher clear of their opponents. Chasing the game away from home is the worst nightmare of all. It requires summoning team spirit and resolve, non renewable components when facing opponents in overdrive.
 
At least the 39th minute event delivered a promise of some recharging and change of fortunes to come. Esher's dominance of the midfield was shattered by a Handre "hands on" interception, his superior pace keeping his pursuers in his wake for 50 metres. Craig Evans curled in a kick from the touchline to put Cambridge back in touch for the changing room chat.
 
Half Time Esher 13 Cambridge 7
 
"Everything to play for?” Not really given the ease at which Esher were controlling the game. Their opponents defence was hard worked but effective. Esher is a fully professional outfit in the sense that their coaching and administrative support is fully integrated into the business of winning. Attention to detail is evident throughout from the 4th official's 4 stop watches to the Page precision of the Match Result Card. If there are any benefits from exposure to the game at level 2 then this seamless extension of the squad to the key back up team, paid or otherwise is of first priority. We have this still to learn yet alone apply.
 
The consequence was a much more purposeful display from the Esher team. No replacements/substitutes were used or needed until the 78th minute. In contrast the first yellow card given against Cambridge prompted an appropriate change, to be followed by 3 more as we strived to find a means of correcting all round dominance. Esher, could have, should have scored a handful of tries from the possession gifted to them. That they came away with only two, credited to forwards Tom Warren and Rob Anderson leads me to conclude simplistically that the Cambridge defence was effective enough in spite of the second half disruptions.
 
Full Time Esher 28 (3 tries) Cambridge 7 (1 try)
 
Lots to learn from an event that all other teams in this league will find daunting. London Scottish repeated our success one year earlier winning by a point at Redruth and move comfortable into second place in League 1. From now on we can prepare for manageable challenges away from home this year as well as notching up 3 solid victories at West’s Renault Park. With Adam Barnard, my Man of the Match, safely through a full 80 minutes for the first time in 19 months, Robbie Hurrell back in action and Karl,Tom,Tom and Darren likely to feature soon, our twin selectors should be spoilt for choice. For now my thanks to Esher for setting the standard in performance management, and with the cheek to ask £2 for a sausage roll. They certainly know what pursuit of the professional game is all about. I suspect though that secretly they would prefer another level 3 side to take a step towards the Championship beanstalk. My confident prediction for the season, at least registered in 2009, is that it won’t be Cambridge. Though we will be there or thereabouts.
 
Mal Schofield