|
Cambridge 91 (yes ninety one) Waterloo 0
 Strange coincidences produced the highest league football and rugby scores yesterday. I made early morning contact with the Waterloo team and Manager Richard Baxendale as they travelled south along the M6. On time, bathed in sunshine and the prospect of a tough game against a side that accounted for one of their two victories at home this season. With relegation a statistical inevitability, there was much to play for and no reason to assume a homeside walkover.
Then the notorious A14 added drama. At or about the turning to the A6 and Rushden, a bolt sheered and the alternator fell off its mountings. Lay-by marooned, the team waited 90 minutes for a relief coach to arrive - from Ely!! Plenty of time for a team talk, but precious little later for a warm up. Quality referee, Ed Turnill, took early charge of proceedings putting the kick off back an hour to 3pm. The sun obliged to provide perfect lighting as the match ended promptly at 3.40pm. Just a 5 minute break for half time interrupted the procession of tries scored - 9,14,17,19,26,32 minutes in the first half and 42,46,61,63,69,72,79 in the second. So there was one occasion where the brave Waterloo defence held firm for 15 minutes. Brave they were indeed with the stretcher carried on twice, one blood exchange and all 5 replacements attributable to injury.The battle of Waterloo replayed in Grantchester Meadows.
But back to the beginning of this saga. Rusden and Diamond FC were meanwhile playing away at the seaside, another coastal W, Weymouth their hosts. To quote from the home side website:
"WEYMOUTH boss Alan Lewer has seen his squad obliterated ahead of this afternoon’s Blue Square Premier clash with Rushden & Diamonds at the Wessex Stadium.
The majority of his first-team stars collected their belongings and left the Terras yesterday after they were told that the future of the troubled club was still no closer to being resolved. "
Such is the current plight of many clubs in both sports, struggling for survival. Rushden managed 9 goals in the circumstances to produce the highest football score on the day. CRUFC also registered the highest rugby score beating Aberavon and Hillhead by a decent margin. Elsewhere in National 2, Redruth and Birmingham added to their points difference by 40 +. Thus the extra 50 points for the "blood and sand" will provide a vital cushion as the race for the top spot intensifies.
Get on with it. What about the game itself? In no sense as enjoyable as the London Welsh nailbiter, Cambridge stuck to their task of ruthless execution. It is just as difficult to twiddle your thumbs waiting on the pitch as seated on a coach. Matt Miles struck first, gliding over in the corner as a lookalike Handre Schmidt. not easy for our match commentator to pick out the difference, part blinded by the brilliant glare of the sun. Matt was everywhere in first half then rested for namesake Matt Otter who slotted in neatly to a 7 try second half.
Handre Schmidt scored try number two, adding his second midway through the second half. He should have added a third but pulled a hamstring in full flight. Hopefully fit and back with us for the challenging Wharfedale game on the 7th March away. Luke Fielden then scored the first of his four tries, always there on the elbow for the telling pass and break into space. Rugby Roundup (www.rugbyroundup.com) confirms Luke in joint second position in the try scoring league table with 15 so far. Our other Boks, Liebenberg and Lombaard added tries to Luke's fist half couple, to end the first half with a comfortable margin of 42 points. Sensible therefore to replace early with Tom Laws giving way to Os Ross only to return later for Mike Guess retiring injured. Both props were visible in the loose, a factor that has made a big difference to the mobility of the full XV this season. Dave Archer was also rested and his replacement, Matt Edison marked an impressive debut with devastating breaks from midfield, two of which produced tries under the posts. No excuses for mistaking Matt for Dan Legge, stature and scrum cap being just two of the similarities. Dan Legge did score a try of his own, fair reward for a consistently improved performance. My Man of the Match at Old Deer Park, Dan's versatility at lock or flank gives us many more options in selection and deployment.
There is little more to add. Ben Patston and Dan Hunter came on in the 52nd minute completing the replacement options. Ben scored a try, deserved for his patience on the bench in recent matches. Dan gave the Waterloo defence something different to think about and two more tries were added with the home side down to 14 men.
Could you ask for anything more. The substantial support cheered every break, their voices heard half a mile away in Newnham Croft, carried on the rare gentle westerly wind. Derby Stores in Derby Street, and the heart of the Newnham village could even pick out big Dave's encouraging deliveries. The Barry White factor is now a national legend and one of the dozen reasons why Cambridge will stay up with Redruth and Birmingham as the League season reaches its climax in early May.
One final word on our Man of the Match Craig Evans. His clinical care in slotting over 13 kicks was the most faultless aspect of the day. He has a pivotal role to play in attack and yet manages to compose himself for a consistency in kicking from either side and every distance. Goldielocks, as he is and will be for me until the next fashion change, will feature one day at international level. Hopefully his seasons at West Renault Park meanwhile will be many.
Good to be back and not a word said about the pleasures of NZ.
Mal Schofield
Click here for Photos
|
Teams 
