Sat 14 Jan 2023
So, for the second week running the CABs were able to hold on for an impressive win & the key aspects that got them over the line were incredible commitment, from all 18 players, and some high skill in executing the few chances that came by. The week of heavy showers had certainly made their mark on the surrounding landscape with the adjacent fields being replaced with lakes and the Tamar river bursting its banks and turning the training pitches into a suitable paddleboard venue!! However, some good shifts from the wonderful volunteers, at the club, and some of the players to fork and drain several buckets from the top part of the pitch ensured that the game went ahead on schedule - in fact the pitch held up pretty well.
Services won the toss (returning centre/wing Shaun Crawford captaining Devonport) and opted to play into the conditions and try and hold out, before capitalising in the second half. The CABs started off with a bang; George Bone gathered the kick off and multiple phases ended up with Jack Statton putting Dan Pearce away with one defender to beat - unfortunately the collision on the tryline resulted in a knock on and the perfect start was just missed. The CABs were using the conditions well; excellent kicking from Adam Collings and James Tucker meant that Services were pinned in their 22. Eventually an offside infringement was created and a simple three points was added. The hope was for the CABs to continue to build pressure and keep the scoreboard ticking over. However, the Services defence was not thinking along the same lines and total commitment was preventing the CABs from having any clear cut opportunities and this was pretty much the story of the first half; lots of possession and huff & puff but nothing to show for it. As the half wore on the CABs were getting a touch frenetic and offloads were coming, which weren't really necessary. The Services kicking game was also bearing fruit and virtually every time they had possession the Services 10 & 15 were happy to put boot to ball and play in the CABs half - eventually thsi paid off and the CABs infringed in front of their posts with the clock on 39 mins. 3-3 and the CABs needed to try and get a lead going into the second half and against the conditions. However, one lineout close to the Services line came to nothing with a knock on from the maul; just when the CABs looked set to make some strong go forward.
Half-time and the main chat was discipline in defence (particularly organisation and spacing), keep possession and increase tempo, especially at lineout time - as we were giving Devonport too much time to compete.
Within ten minutes, Services had slotted a penalty for an early tackle on one of their players. Services were now sensing this was their opportunity to go for the jugular and increase their lead. The next key moment probably turned out to be the moment of the game. Services with an attacking lineout in the CABs 22 were adjudged to have infringed - instead of playing it safe and using the penalty to clear the lines, the CABs played the advantage & a typical bullocking run from Brandon Rowley got the CABs to the half way line. The backs now took over and a burst through the middle got the CABs up to the Services 22. The ball swept to the left and some super interplay between Dan Pearce and Jack Statton resulted in the latter diving in on the 15 line. This galvanised the CABs forwards in particular and some great driving play from lineouts and close breakdown phases led to Jake Crabb barging over to extend the lead to 13-6. It was now a question of whether the CABs could keep their commitment and accuracy in defence and hold out - however, some enforced changes in the backline resulted in some positional changes and Services were able to find the gap and a neat grubber kick was successfully grounded and the scoreline back to 13-13 with 8 minutes to go. Who was going to make the break, or the missed tackle which would give victory to one of the teams. In the end, it was again impressive driving play and charges from the forwards which created an opening for Dan Pearce and this time with one defender to get past he wasn't to be denied. The CABs were now 18-13 with two minutes on the clock. Some late drama gave Devonport a penalty and lineout 5 m from the CABs line and some great defence kept them out and another close, committed CABs win. It also moved them up the table a few slots and in good confidence for their first away game of the calendar year, at Drybrook.
