Luck goes with the Exiles
Cambridge Exiles 38 - 17 Woodbridge
For possibly the first time in our history, the Exiles faced Woodbridge, apparently the “gem in Suffolk’s crown”, famous for its ancient Tide Mill first built in 1170 and proximity to Viking Sutton Hoo. The rugby club is rather less ancient, having been founded in 1969. Woodbridge lie mid table, but as the results have shown in this league, luck plays a big part as almost all teams are pretty competitive, and last week they beat North Walsham.
Up to now, luck seems to have run against the Exiles, who have been on the wrong end of several close matches that have just run away from them. Woodbridge arrived with just one replacement, two players having dropped out overnight, one in the cells after being arrested on a charge of drunk and disorderly. Sounds like a proper rugby player to me! (Though getting caught seems somewhat careless…) As Gary Player once said “the more you practice, the luckier you get” and there can be no doubting that the Exiles have been practising hard all season, so could this be the day their luck changed?
The day was bright if a little windy, mostly across the pitch and the ball dry, so no excuses for bad handling. Sadly the first ten minutes of the match were a bit of a disaster with poor play from both sides. Far too many high attempted tackles and several knock ons kept the ref busy with scrums and penalties against both sides. The culmination was possibly the worst attempted kick from Jamari - wrong time, wrong place, wrong technique - and let’s call it ‘charged down’ (in reality the ball only just touched the side of his foot) and the ball was turned over, moved right and Woodbridge opened the scoring with an unconverted try in the corner. 0-5
Whatever Julian said to the side behind the posts, it seemed to get the Exiles switched on. With Banksie at hooker winning against the head at least 50% of the time, ably supported by props Big Alex and Elie and locks Julian and Dec pushing the Woodbridge scrum off the ball, the Exiles had plenty of ball to work with, though often uncontrolled by the back row. However a good run from Mark out of the 22, making ground followed by a super quick ruck hit by back rows James CB and Yvan, generated more ground from Jamari, and the pace of the rucks meant Woodbridge had to concede a penalty for offside which Max kicked to the 22. Line out efficiency turned into a catch and drive then James R released the ball to Mark and with a great run he scored a try, beating several players, which Max converted. 7-5
Thinking of using him at the end of the game, an early change brought Cam on for Jamari, bringing an immediate injection of vim and vigour. Sadly he was not on for long, taking a full blooded kick to the midriff at the end of a ruck, which landed with a hollow thump that was heard on all sides of the ground, while the referee had moved on with play. Fortunately, no serious injury was apparent, but while he was properly assessed Jamari went back on. Whether it was the break, the encouraging words from the coaches, the way Cam had played or a combination of all three, Jamari was now a man transformed and he stormed all over the park for the rest of the game, carrying, supporting hitting rucks and tackling heavily, probably the best I have seen him play and well deserving of the player of the match he was awarded.
And following his lead the whole Exiles team played the way they do in training. The scrums continued to be totally dominant. Line outs were secure and Woodbridge’s line outs were disrupted. Rucks were super fast giving quick ball to the backs who were slick handling and made many more right choices of when and where to kick. James’ distribution was mostly long and accurate, though he did struggle with ball that was often loose at the base of scrum and ruck. Mark’s footwork was as amazing as ever when under pressure and he distributed wisely. Joe and Adriano, pressed into the centres, moving from back row, tackled like dervishes, low and hard, ran strongly and passed cleanly. Wings Nathan and Cesar posed threats whenever they got the ball and Max, newly tried out at full back was solid in defence and penetrating in attack.
Speed of defence put immense pressure on the Woodbridge backs and they couldn’t cope. Looking good when given space, they panicked under pressure on their own line, and following up a resulting ball dropped over their own line, Adriano dotted down. Max converted, 14-5
Woodbridge then found a bit of space but the promising attack ended with a great Cesar turnover, rightly celebrated with Venezuelan exuberance and the half ended.
Nick replaced James at scrum half for the second period and showed much better control of those wayward balls, giving the Exiles backs more time and space. Throughout the second half, the Exiles stamina and fitness showed more and more, helped by having three replacements, expertly managed by the coaches.
New boy Oscar, picked up in the pub on the Friday night by Chabs, made a great run with a forward roll in a tap tackle almost setting him free for a debut try. But in the end sustained pressure from the continued storming drives from James CB, Dec, Cam as he came back on and Jamari meant that the Exiles dominated field position. And then when it looked as though Woodbridge might come back, Mark spread the ball right, quick hands gave it to Nath on his own 22 and he pinned his ears back and trusted his sheer pace to score a long range try in the corner. Max missed the tricky conversion. 19-5
Woodbridge, fired up, then exerted concerted pressure resulting in their own try in the right hand corner after stoic defence from the Exiles held them out for a long time. The conversion was missed 19-10
Almost immediately, as the Exiles coaching team started to get the jitters, having seen the luck go away in this position, an outrageous long pass from James CB to Nath on the opposition 22 and he went for the corner again with the bonus point try, this time Max’s touchline conversion went in off the post. It was really looking like luck was on the Exiles side. 26-10
Woodbridge came back with the ding dong battle going on. It was easy to see how they had been able to win last week and they again scored a try through there excellent full back, this time converted 26-17, and what would have been a fair reflection of a final score.
But there were still five minutes to go and at last Woodbridge ran out of steam, while the Exiles looked to able to up their game, those tough fitness sessions over the last two weeks paying back. Banksie at 47 years of age, was still hitting rucks as often and as hard as those almost 30 years younger. Even though he had moved to prop to give Alex a breather, Jamari seemed to be everywhere. James CB broke tackle after tackle and when stopped gave exquisite offloads.
Picking the ball up, Yvan scythed through the opposition and when he got held up, Elie and Jamari were there to secure quick ball, a second ruck with Banksie and Julian, and Mark got the ball fifteen metres out, to dot down almost under the posts. Inexplicably, Max missed the conversion! 31-17
With the time at 80 minutes Banksie then took one final scrum against the head, Nick took the ball wide left to Cesar who absolutely stormed in from 40 meters for his own well deserved try, James CB dropping the conversion over for the final score of 38-17.
Six tries all scored by backs but generated by the ball winning, retention and forward momentum generated by the forwards. Really solid defence and momentum destroying tackling. Superior fitness from hard work over the last weeks. And that added extra of luck - at last - going their way. The team couldn’t have made the coaches prouder and it’s a great lead into the second half of the season!
Scorers
Tries: Mark 2, Adriano, Nathan 2, Cesar
Conversions: Max 3, James CB
Team
Alex Howell, Simon Banks, Elie Hammou, Declan Sully, Julian Mannion, Yvan Bollet-Quivogne, James Campos Bell, Jamari Dowdie Wright, James Robinson, Mark Leckie, Cesar Belloso, Joe Roberts, Adriano Boscaini, Nathan Cowley-Wilson, Max Burton,
Replacements: Cameron Prior, Oscar, Nick Apps
