Sat 18 Nov 2023
The CABs were edged out in a thriller, at the Rectory, with Devonport maintaining their 100% home record and at the same time inflicting the CABs first loss on the road. It was a game that could have gone either way, right up until the last play when the Services winger intercepted to stretch the lead and take away a losing bonus point from the CABs. The CABs made one change with Cam Fogden returning to the centre, meaning that Ben Bryant was shifted one out onto the wing and it was this combination that opened up the scoring within the first 5 minutes of the game. Fogden made a break through the Services midfield and then it was a case of picking off the covering defenders for Bryant to score in the corner. Dan Pearce missed the tricky conversion for an 0-5 lead.
The game then settled into what was going to the trend for the game. Services taking advantage of the CABs unusually getting penalised for a range of infringements and going to the lineout and setting up their driving maul. One penalty for offside (the first in three games) gave Devonport and easy 3 points (3-5). Really smart and strong defence by the CABs forwards meant that Devonport weren't able to hit the middle and tail of the lineout and make the most of their most effective weapon. Whenever, the CABs did have possession they looked dangerous with Glenn Coles, Fogden and James Tucker creating space and holes for the CABs to force Devonport into desperate defence and a cynical deliberate knock on gave Pearce an easy 3 points and yellow card for a Services centre. Unfortunately, this would be the only score the CABs achieved in the power play period, and Daniel Goldsmith with a lineout maul infringement gave Devonport field position and some desperate play to get the scores level. It looked like the CABs had weathered the half, when a Services player was held up over the line. However, the referee decreed there was time to re-start, on one of his watches despite his main one indicating time up and Services were able to throw one last attack. This time they were successful and the half ended all square (8-8).
The key message, at half-time, was to not look to off-load/get over-excited by the clean breaks that the backs were creating and to go through the phases. The other area was clearly to give the referee a clearer picture on penalties. Unfortunately, a lineout infringement in the first play of the second half allowed Devonport to take advantage and go over for their first driving maul and take the lead for the first time (13-8). The CABs now started to go through their phases and cause the Devonport defence some stress and an easy 3 points was taken by Pearce to close the gap (13-11). It was now the CABs turn to get back to back scores. A turnover, in midfield gave the CABs backline space and numbers to put Pearce away and into the corner and convert his own try for a 13-18 lead.
Devonport were now the ones chasing the game and some deep kicks and more penalty infringements gave Devonport the chance to even the game up with another driving maul. Then came the crucial turning point; more phase play by the CABs created the opening and a 3 on 2 chance, but the pass to Brandon Rowley was too high and the loose ball fell to a Devonport player to hack through and cause Ben Bryant and the chasing CABs defenders to be penalised at the breakdown. Concerted pressure was initially held off, but another penalty gave Devonport the chance to get in front which they took for a 21-18 lead. The game was now about whether the CABs could force their way up the field and create either a penalty for a draw or a winning score. Unfortunately, a series of phases was repelled by the home defence and the telling interception taken.
Overall, it was a game that the home side deserved to come out on top for their better management of the referee and capitalisation on all the lineouts they had compared to the CABs. The last time the CABs experienced defeat, they responded in brilliant fashion and the challenge is to replicate that when they travel to Brixham for their surprisingly re-arranged fixture for the only game in the league next weekend.
