Six elements came together for this encounter, two formidable packs, two speedy sets of backs, a brisk east north east wind and Mr Vertigan. The Vertigan verdict at 4.45pm was a resound success for the game of rugby. Twelve tries and two penalties evenly spread over the game. Honours even with both sides equally scoring and demonstrating devastating superiority over their opponents. Victory for the visitors with the narrowest of margins, 5 to 4 successful conversions. Ben Patston once again delivered the goods.

 

In such circumstances you would expect the losers to greet the final whistle with disappointment; so near and yet so far. Blackheath were however euphoric. Another win and five secure league points for Cambridge produced little joy from either their players or supporters. Anxiety for forty minutes just transformed into expressions of relief. The match, so ruthlessly dominated up to half time, became the siege at Rectory Field. Many of us were subjected to an involuntary health check as the minutes slowly ticked on by. What a bizarre 24 hours!

 

Where last week’s game was even this was as odd as it gets. Cambridge began with an early score after two minutes, a straightforward penalty. 100% Cambridge possession had to deliver tries and so it did beginning in the 7th minute and ending 7 minutes before half time. Rampant and ruthless Blackheath, were humiliated in front of fierce partisan club supporters by an exhibition of meticulous flowing XV man rugby. A joy to watch and record, the procession of scores accurately confirmed by the excellent Blackheath commentator. The game had 80 points + written all over it as Blackheath just never saw anything more than a couple of minutes decent possession in the half. In contrast Cambridge attacked again and again, no unforced errors from any phase of play. Smooth operators delivering exhibition rugby. Chris Fell captures the action well and the statistics speak for themselves (Cambridge in red) 

 

Pos	Player	Stat	Time	Score	Stat	Pos	Player
			1	0 - 3	PEN	14	Ben Patston
			5	0 - 8	TRY	14	Ben Patston
			6	0 - 10	CON	14	Ben Patston
			15	0 - 15	TRY	12	Craig Evans
			16	0 - 17	CON	14	Ben Patston
15	Tom White	PEN	17	3 - 17
			23	3 - 22	TRY	15	Luke Fielden
			24	3 - 24	CON	14	Ben Patston
			25	3 - 29	TRY	10	James Shanahan
			32	3 - 34	TRY	15	Luke Fielden
			33	3 - 36	CON	14	Ben Patston

 

A point a minute, Ben Patston contributing 16 and Luke Fielden 10. Craig Evans scored between the posts and Shanners popping up wide to add to his season's tally of 7 tries. More about lucky Luke later. Enough said except that Blackheath woke from their nightmare as half time approached. Steve Hamilton was gifted with enough space to sprint easily through to curve and place the ball under the posts. The easy kick somehow missed as I recorded a certain 7 points for the home side. Such a late sign of life from Blackheath gave their supporters the faintest glimmer of hope for a better show second half. Andrew Vertigan was masterminding the exhibition once again, going with the flow and avoiding distractions from any quarter. The final run in games matter and the maestro was firmly in charge of affairs. The Blackheath forwards seemed worn out, possibly because of their midweek exertions. Cambridge were crisp and alert, the clean collections from drop out balls by Rob Hurrell, Karl Rudski and Dan Legge just another master class in how it should be done. It was far from easy, the kick into wind and the sun in the catcher's eyes. Stefan Liebenberg was fast feeding his backs and the lines of running cutting to ribbons the frail Blackheath defence. Out coaches had more than done their homework. The first try, for example, brought strong Ben Patston in for his first game on the wing. He cut inside the Blackheath open side flanker, whose habit of breaking wide had been one of the weaknesses identified.

 

Mention of the wind is now crucial to explain the odd configuration of this game. My later journey home cycling across Grantchester Meadows from Harry's cottage was cold and into a stiff headwind. Such was also the condition at Rectory Field. Bitter cold sat in the stand tempered by the warm sunshine on the pitch. An unusual condition, not the prevailing wind and one that even the home side found extremely difficult in defence. Kicking to safety was nigh impossible and driving out fine but only as far as the first error. The ease with which Cambridge had dominated the half must be explained in part by this constraint upon their opponents.

 

What else explains the dramatic turn around as the procession of scores reversed in Blackheath's favour? Slack Cambridge midfield defence or untidy scrummaging perhaps. Conceding 6 penalties in the half and a yellow card didn’t help. Blackheath on the other hand were on best behaviour putting their energies and adrenalin to good use as the scores below show. Luke Fielden was there on hand once again to deliver a fourth hat trick this season, a score that was crucial as Blackheath progressively narrowed the gap. Home supporters were ecstatic, neutral observers fascinated and the Cambridge contingent just flabbergasted by such a dramatic change of fortunes. That Blackheath missed a vital conversion in the 75th minute that would have earned them a draw extended the Cambridge winning run by one more game, kept them in the promotion race, albeit still 7 points behind the Bees, and gained yet another first with a win away against the "CLUB". All were deserved if only for the sheer brilliance of the first half hour. That and more have to be delivered for longer against Stourbridge next week. We live healthily and regulation points penalty free to fight another day. I for one will be very happy, sleep soundly and content with a secure second place.

 

12	Steve Hamilton	TRY	39	8 - 36
14	Dan Caprice	TRY	41	13 - 36
15	Tom White	CON	42	15 - 36
13	Richard Windsor	TRY	57	20 - 36
15	Tom White	CON	58	22 - 36
			59	22 - 41	TRY	15	Luke Fielden
			60	22 - 43	CON	14	Ben Patston
			70	22 - 43	YC	12	Craig Evans
7	Dave Allen	TRY	70	27 - 43
15	Tom White	CON	71	29 - 43
9	Ben Ibrahim	TRY	74	34 - 43
10	Matt Leek	TRY	80	39 - 43
15	Tom White	CON	81	41 - 43

 

Now to the West Midlands for the last two games of the season.

 

Mal Schofield