Sat 9 Sep 2023, 15:00
So, for the second week running the CABs were on their travels and in this instance it was the formidable Weston-Super Mare (WSM) pack and front row in particular awaiting them. To counter this weapon, the CABs selected 4 props; Charlie Short, Mitch Hawken, Ethan Pearce Cowley and Greg Thomas (the latter making his much awaited return to CABs colours. The plan was for Charlie and Mitch to take some oxygen out of the WSM lungs and for Ethan & Greg to then capitalise at the end of each half and this worked perfectly as all four props did their jobs to enable the rest of the team have decent set piece and move the larger, heavier WSM pack around the park and come away with a very impressive, hard worked 7-28 win.
As at Ivybridge the temperatures and humidity were at unseasonable levels and water break were very much the necessity. CABs kicked off and set about establishing the tempo and pace of the game they were more productive at, however, a string of unnecessary penalties (breakdown infringement, tackle height and constant appealing) resulted in WSM having more possession and control the pace than the CABs wished for. Despite the frustrating ill-discipline the CABs defence continued from where it left Ivybridge and WSM were getting zero purchase and game stayed at 0-0 right up until the last minute of the half. A series of close drive plays resulted in Thomas bulldozing over to dot down & Dan Pearce converted to give the visitors a 0-7 half-time lead.
The key message, at half-time, was to be touch more smarter at breakdown, let the referee make the calls and go more shortened lineouts to get the pace at the level the CABs wished for. This time it didn't take as long for the CABs to extend their lead and within 15 minutes of the re-start a smart grubber kick by Glenn Coles (using a pre-planned variable kicking game) was picked by Jamie Chapman to dive over for his first try. Pearce again slotted the extras. By now, the CABs were controlling the pace and getting plenty of set-piece lineouts, with WSM falling foul of the referee, and also the territory. From a WSM clearance kick, 15 Ben Bryant collected the ball and set off on a sharp break, beating a couple of players before off-loading for Pearce to go in near the sticks and convert his try.
By now the CABs were in effective control and the back row of Duke, Bebbington and Rowley were making in-roads with their carries. Eventually, a series of close play was finished off by Cam Fogden, from a 100th appearance pass from Adam Collings, to stretch over and get the bonus try with Pearce making it 0-28. Unfortunately a virtual last play try by WSM gave them a consolation score and at the final whistle an exhausted CABs team were able to look back on a very hard-worked, impressive away victory.
Next week, the CABs host Lydney for their first home game of the season and a chance for the wonderful Polson crowd to help push the players on.
Please enter your page detail here. This can be HTML or text. To edit click the first menu icon on the small HTML menu that appears when you click on this text. Please use the elements on the right if you wish to construct a richer page content with headers, images and layout grids.
