Sat 5 Mar 2022
Unlike the previous time that the CABs halted the run of the league leaders, this time they couldn't follow up their stand out performance with another - in all honesty they put arguably their most wretched first half display for a long time. Time and again, Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB) players beat their CABs counterparts to the breakdown, or won the collision, or displayed cool decision-making to end up thoroughly deserved victors on what was their 50th Anniversary celebration day.
The squad selected, was by and large, the same that convincingly beat Old Reds two weeks prior but sometimes a Mr Hyde showing follows and Dr Kekyll performance and that arguably is the most frustrating habit for any sports team to overcome; inconsistency. The CABs were behind the 8 ball right from the start; two early penalties (including a misidentified yellow for captain Lloyd Duke) resulted in RWB taking an easy 3-0 lead. The next period of the game pretty much summed up how the rest of the match was going to pan out; missed, or half-finished tackles, lack of numbers to secure clean ball at own breakdown and ineffective counter-rucking on RWB ball. This allied to a misfunctioning lineout resulted in RWB growing in confidence and dynamism with every passing minute. Eventually this told and an easy 7 pointer ensued.The only area that was functioning was the scrum and a series of penalties gave CABs some hope. With the score on 10-0 the next one was crucial and it ended up being a length of the field interception to give RWB a 17-0 cushion. Two further scores added to the CABs first forty minute misery. 29-3 was a huge mountain to climb. A half-time honesty discussion, principally led by the players resulted in some added thrust, dynamism and urgency. The lineout changed tack and the CABs went more numbers and drove the ball more, to suck the RWB defenders in and enable the backs go more one to one. Two scores (Ryan Westren & Andy Knight) and the CABs were back in the hunt; 17 points with 18 minutes to go. Then another interception and the game was up. The only positives to come were a bonus point, to gain on Exmouth, and a first decent showing by young Exeter Academy back, Jack Statton.
We move on to a very busy finish to the season with league and Cornwall Cup games all the way now.
