Sat 2 Mar 2024
The CABs left Polson, in bright, warm sunshine for their final away game of the season with both teams looking to respond to defeats in their last run-outs. For the CABs it was a case of righting some wrongs regarding taking the game to the opponents and being aggressive and assertive and for Chew it was bouncing back from the most bizarre result of the season; losing 43-19, at Ivybridge (despite being 3-19 up!). Both teams had changes to their line-ups; for the CABs George Bone was back in the squad and Jack Statton was making his first start of the season.
By the time, the CABs arrived at Chew the weather had changed and had had a significant impact on the pitches. The main pitch was out of action and there was standing water across many areas of the third pitch. However, the CABs were insistent on not having to come back the following Saturday. Referee, Joe Binfield, made both camps aware of the potential issues and the game the was brought forward to accommodate. It wasn't long before everyone soon realised that handling & scrums were going to be a lottery and that territory would be the best method of capitalising on any advantage. Not to mention it was virtually impossible to differentiate either set of forwards! The other aspect that players had to respect was the value of not giving away penalties as this gave the opposition free ball and easy metres up field. Frustratingly, the CABs were a touch guilty of backfoot discipline on three occasions; the latter which enabled Chew to go into the CABs 22 and successfully drive over for 5-0 lead after twenty minutes. However, the CABs were coming back into the game through their lineout drives (Albert Horne, Daniel Goldsmith & Tom Bottoms providing Fred Bulut with plenty of options) and also smart territory from Adam Collings and James Tucker. Chew thought they'd extended their lead, on 33 minutes, but excellent defence brought a knock on and the CABs worked their way upfield, courtesy of a couple of penalties and eventually got a another penalty, just outside the Chew 22, for James Tucker to knock over and finish the half 5-3.
The half-time focus was on getting ourselves into position to get that all important next score; the key elements were discipline (no open play penalties and keeping width in defence) and retaining the ball enough for Collings, Tucker and Fogden to use the boot for territory. The CABs also had the slight breeze to use and most of the second half was spent in the Chew half with the CABs pressing with their carries. However, Chew were strong and disciplined in defence and their replacement back row managed to steal some breakdown play at crucial times. The CABs also spilt the ball at crucial times which enabled Chew to clear. It wasn't until the final play of the game that Chew got into the CABs 22; a fumbled lineout was retrieved fortuitously by the Chew forwards and then a couple of phases resulted in the fresh, replacement centre for Chew going over near the posts and giving the scoreline a slightly flattering 12-3 finish.
For the CABs, it was the end of their league on the road and the day certainly brought back memories of age group rugby and playing on mudbaths where slipping, sliding, and faces full of mud and water were the order of the day! Not to mention longer than normal showers and parents having to deal with kit that needed several washes!!
