Sat 25 Jan 2020, 14:00
Sometimes you make life difficult for yourselves, sometimes the other side does. If anyone thought this was to be a stroll in the park nobody had told Canterbury. They came and played passionate and intelligent rugby, completely belying their place in the table.
Cambridge started well with a try for Henderson in the second minute. More should have followed but the Blood and Sand may be trying too much. It was not until nearly twenty minutes gone we added a second. Matt Hema touching down. It looked as if all we had to do was run them round and fitness would tell - but to do that you have to have the ball.
Canterbury were coming back into the game and beginning to look dangerous with ball in hand.
Following a penalty, Canterbury were camped on our line but Cambridge are not easy to score against. We were, however, coming offside at rucks and Sir kept calling new advantage. There was no surprise when he awarded a penalty and a Yellow Card for Matt Dawson though it could have been anyone.
Canterbury took the scrum and Henderson packed down at eight to avoid scrummaging with seven and risking a penalty try. After a number of resets, we shoved them back and were able to clear, but not far enough and another Canterbury attack led to a try.
So we went in 14 - 7 up.
The second half started with another Henderson try in the opening minutes almost a carbon copy of the first-half try.
However, Cambridge were still giving Canterbury too much ball and this was cancelled out by a try for the visitors. More pressure followed, with the visitors looking after the ball well. It looked like we had turned the ball over and broken out of our 22 with a clear run to their line, only for play to be called back and Joe Tarrant to be shown yellow. This gave Canterbury field position and they were able to level the score. And then went on to take the lead.
Cambridge finally got some ball and won a penalty which Ben Penfold chose to kick to reduce the lead to just four points.
There were ten minutes left to find the winning score. However, it took until the last play for the final act. Matt Hema finishing a fine move as only he can. The conversion was irrelevant which is good as it was missed. Joy for Cambridge, agony for the visitors. "Triumph and Disaster" as Kipling put it.
Canterbury are improving and while it seems likely they will go down, they will do so a wiser team and may well be back in two years.
For Cambridge, it was the sixth win in a row and five points. If we are to make it seven, we will need to be more clinical next week at the Rock.
Final Score
Cambridge 29 - 28 Canterbury
Scorers
Tries: Henderson (2), Hema (2)
Conversions: Penfold (3)
Penalty: Penfold
