Spring forward, fall back. A game of one half, a superb start on the opening weekend of the 2009 Formula 1 season.
Then somehow somebody locked the wheels for forty minutes as the pace slackened and the errors multiplied. Cambridge will be hard put to deliver a crisper aperitif. Just a joy to watch as the visitors playing into the wind scored 4 tries in the first half an hour. To quote from the website Rolling Maul and a local supporter "now having seen all 3 (Bees, Redruth the others), Cambridge were the most impressive by some way". I would agree that on the day we were very special for a time, but it will now need the delivery of at least the same for 5 more matches and a doubling of excellence against our nearest rivals, to secure promotion this season.
Referee Mike Tutty began with a light touch, the game flowing freely, penalising only the home side in the first quarter; 10 stoppages in all. The Cornish All Blacks (CAB) have recently trimmed their squad and playing budget sensibly, preparing early for next season and much reduced RFU funding. As a result a young side faced an opposition putting together awesome sequences of open play. The pressure was immense. Even though the defensive line held, wave after wave of attacks suggested just a matter of time before the flood gates opened. But it was down ultimately to the modest stature of the Cambridge hooker, Matt Miles to breach the line and open the scoring. His manoeuvre came in two parts. First drive brought down but not tackled. On his feet immediately for a second drive and dive over the try line.
The second try reflected better the clinical nature of the Cambridge attacks. Just too many phases, strung together at a blistering pace created metres of space on the short side for Baa Baa James Shanahan to shrug his shoulders and stroll through from 20 metres (see photo sequence for this and many other magic moments). More pressure and try number three from a well executed drive, Tom Powell, with perfect timing, collecting at the base and scoring close to the posts. Craig Evans converted two out of three, to build the Cambridge total to 19 points in 19 minutes. Much more to come? That at least was the expectation around the Polson Bridge ground. After all the visitors were playing against a brisk wind, losing some lineout ball through error yet impressing in every other facet of play. The home side were chasing the game, denied vital possession and when offered an opportunity for reversal, failed to retain the ball. It was a one-sided exhibition match, pure and simple, bathed in enough sunshine to confirm that spring had indeed arrived and the summertime hour about to be imposed upon us. The fourth "spring forward" and bonus point winner came on the half hour. Good to see winger Chris Lombaard once more adding to his scoring tally. Fellow Bok Stefan Liebenberg spotted enough space on the left hand narrow side to put his winger away. Chris did the rest, shrugging off his would be tacklers to make the line and run inside. This last conversion kick was missed and the game settled down into a more even affair. Launceston at least were getting a disproportionate benefit from the referees whistle with 5 penalties awarded in the second quarter conceding only one.
Half time CAB 0 CRUFC 24
Fall back we then did. The cause can only be guessed at. Mike Guess our rock of a tighthead was hobbling after a kick on his shin. Replaced at half time, he followed Rob Hurrell onto the bench to play no part in the remainder of the game. I will leave it to the masters to diagnose where the deterioration began. It wasn’t because CAB had gone up a gear. They were defending well but what opportunities did arise were squandered. They matched us, mistake for mistake and needed Mike Tutty's interventions to put them anywhere like close enough to mount a serious attack. The only one such threat that I remember came midfield from lock Tom Skelding who broke cleanly through the first line Cambridge defence.
As nothing of any value seemed to be coming from either side, Mr Tutty took advantage and added some creativity and complexity of his own. Yellow cards for 3 Cambridge forwards and 9 more penalties to CAB, spiced up the final ten + minutes of the game. First sin bin to a prop, then to the hooker leading logically to uncontested scrums. Then finally as injury time approached a third "technical" offence from one of our impressive back row "squad quintet". Down to 13 men twice just stretched the visitor's defence but it held firm. A most untidy ending to a game that delivered so much for forty minutes. The best moment of the dazzling display came from Luke Fielden, doing as he did against Reading 3 seasons ago. He carved his way through the entire Launceston team only to be brought down just short of the line. Hand and ball outstretched to draw the opposition as music draws the cobra. A mesmeric performance once again, hopefully captured on DVD.
Not much more to say. Injuries apart, we will deliver stronger still performances as we strive to extend our unbeaten run of eleven league games. Bees and the Reds will push us hard and the next test falls in one week’s time. Redruth the visitors to Cambridge and the promise of a bumper day out with 6 sponsors supporting the final home game of this season. Could the Bees meet their Waterloo on the same day for the shock result of all seasons?
At least the Bookies are now talking about a two horse trace for promotion, given Redruth's defeat at Tynedale. But a final run in of 4 away games is a tall order for the Cambridge all blacks. Many successes this season to celebrate, including a triple of wins in Cornwall. Perhaps the secret of our away success is in part the all black strip. Maybe that was the missing piece affecting our unity of purpose and producing such a contrasting second half performance. Form allied with circumstance strangely is that fickle and changeable a composite. Jensen Button may well agree.
Mal Schofield
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