Sat 4 Dec 2021, 15:00
On a day of sunshine and showers, Cambridge started the game playing into the wind, not the gale of last week but stiff enough. It certainly limited our ability to kick out of our half. This enabled Taunton to put us under pressure and that finally led to the first try.
However, Cambridge were able to quickly strike back with a penalty setting up a line out and a catch and a long drive giving Ben Brownlie his first try, which Lawrence converted.
As the half progressed, Cambridge were getting on top, putting on Taunton on a lot of pressure. With time running out, we won a penalty deep in their half. Everyone, especially Taunton seemed to stop, waiting for Lawrence to kick to the corner, but Jake Garside had other ideas and realized there was an opportunity, so he took a quick tap and darted through for a score. We added the extra points.
There was time for a restart, but we were able to claim the ball and win another penalty in our half, which we tapped and kicked to touch to end the half. Given the conditions going in ahead look a good position.
For the second half, the sun had gone down, and we were reliant on the lights, which were sufficient but not spectacular. The wind had dropped, reducing our advantage.
Taunton started the second half strongly. They tried to batter our line, but the defence held strong, with us holding up one attack over the line. Cambridge thought we had cleared the pressure and pushed Taunton deep in their own half when they managed a well taken try running down the far touch line to score in the corner. Their fly half could not make the conversion, leaving the score 12-14.
Cambridge replaced both props with Henry Pack and Ziana Alexis replacing Harry Morley and Billy Walker. The fresh legs re-established our scrum dominance.
We had a couple of other good attacks that just failed to score. There was a brilliant interchange between Matt Hema, Andrew Henderson and Joe Green involving a couple of well weighted chips and some nice passes - one of which might have been forward but only the Taunton crowd saw that - however, the last kick was just too long and neither of the chasing players could touch down before it crossed the dead ball line. We also gave away a couple of odd scrum penalties, one on their five-metre line, where we were called for hands in the ruck, and one in the 22-metre where we drove them back, only to be penalized for not driving straight.
Eventually, our forward power added two more tries, with Ziana and Kieran Frost driving over. Lawrence missed the last conversion.
But the 14 point lead with time running out looked to be sufficient. However, another long run down the far touchline gave Taunton their third try and brought them within seven points. But there was little time left, all we had to do was get our hands on the ball. Unfortunately, they caught the restart, and as our defence pressed, Keiran Frost was deemed to have shoulder barged a Taunton player and was shown yellow. The kick gave then territory and from that pressure they were able to set up a final try, leaving a kick to level the scores. The referee blew for full time, leaving Taunton delighted and our players dejected.
Thanks must go to Taunton for being good hosts. Those who dined received a warm welcome, an excellent carvery meal - with nut -oast for the vegetarians, as well as pleasant conversation and as it is December, Christmas crackers. One thing their coach said at dinner, the club is not just about the result today, it is also about the enjoyment of the supporters, the social sides and the boys and girls playing on Sunday. We are almost certainly going to be playing there again in future seasons, Hyde Park is worth a visit, even if it is a long way to go.
Final score
Taunton 26 - 26 Cambridge
Tries Brownlie, Garside, Alexis, Frost
Conversions: Rayner (3)
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