Frustrating loss, but bonus point moves us off the bottom
Norwich Union 16-10 Cambridge Exiles
As with other trips to the Norfolk opposition the report today comes from the local correspondent, John Pritchard, with additions by Dick as my faces to names skill has deteriorated over the last 4 years. Having said that it was great to see who was still playing, who were now back playing post uni and new faces refreshing the playing talent.
Before we start the meat of the report I’d like to thank Russ Clark for the invite to the pre game lunch and Club president Richard Ross for the welcome on the day. Mention must also be made of the sponsors who put money behind the bar for drinks for the players post game. Hopefully both sides made the most of that!!
If memory serves this is the second time we’ve played Norwich Union. The pitch had been swung round 90 degrees from our last visit and I believe this was the first game on it. It was in excellent condition. The last visit was in the second phase of the 2018 season. That year both games were tight but high scoring affairs and with the day being bright and sunny, though with a tricky wind, hopes were high for a similar game.
I think it would be fair to say it didn’t quite live up to those expectations.
My summary of the first half is that Cambridge had most of the possession but weren’t quite patient or precise enough to breakdown NU’s good defence. Initially the scrum advantage was with NU though as the game wore on Cambridge earnt somewhat more parity. However it did make it a tough afternoon for Nathan stepping in at scrum half and he stepped up to the challenge well.
If we were able to plot a positional ‘heat map’ I think the red areas would have been between the 20m lines, neither side could particularly exert sustained pressure. However when we able to do so we scored in the left hand corner with Mark evading three tackles to go over. Joe failed with the conversion. 0-5
The rest of the half went in a similar vein, several notable turnovers won by Matt, until not long before the break with Cambridge looking to put the ball through the hands to the right an NU player intercepted and despite desperate cover from James, he scored and the conversion was made.
HT 7-5
The second half was more of the same, neither side really getting on top, defensive tackles being made well and the breakdown was a tight scrap. I thought Alex, Archie and Gads pretty much edged that contest but did fall foul of the ref perhaps more often than they should.
When NU did get close to our line the defence held them out and it was I think a testament to the defence in open play and from set piece at the lineout that when they were given the opportunity NU took the points rather than go for touch. The NU kicker had a good day making 2 kicks in the early part of the half to make the score 13-5.
Cambridge then pulled a try back scored by Chabs though Joe couldn’t convert 13-10
We unfortunately didn’t create further chances to win the game and another breakdown penalty, delayed when Cadge decided to charge down the kick (DOTD award I assume on the coach home) made the final score 16-10.
So to sum up, a frustrating afternoon, a game that certainly could have been won, some good solid teamwork in defence, lineout worked well, scrum gained parity and some lessons to be learnt re adjustments to how different refs see the breakdown area.
Game was played in good spirit and we thank Norwich Union for their hospitality and look forward to the return match in Cambridge.
Scorers
Tries: Mark, Chabs
Team
David Cadwalladr, George Borakis, Brennan Logan, Matt Waring, Declan Sully, Archie Davison, Alex Chabala, George Gadsby, Nathan Cowley-Wilson, Mark Leckie, Yvan Bollet-Quivogne, Joe Roberts, James Campos-Bell, Adam Griffiths, Goran Kellett
Replacements: Cameron Prior, Julian Mannion, Dick Wallin (Did not play)
