Certainly a game of two halves. Cranes were 21 – 0 up at half time, but the loss of five players due to injury caused the home team to lose shape in the second period and Shoots came back hard in an attempt to even things out.
Cranes took the ball to Shoots from the first whistle. The visitors responded with play sufficiently robust to cause a series of stoppages for injury, two kickable penalties both dispatched by Chris Catt, and a yellow card. Cranes first try was a solo effort from Callum McConnochie. Breaking from halfway, he stepped through two tackles before outpacing his cover to splash down inside the left corner flag. Catt’s conversion attempt was inches beneath the bar.
Shoots hefty pack now applied concerted pressure on their lighter, but more agile, opponents. Desperate Cranbrook defending inside their 22 was relieved by a long punt into Shoot’s half. A fairly relaxed attempt to field the ball was seized on by Benny Buckle, following up hard who flicked the ball up and kept running to the posts. Catt added the points and finished off the half with a third penalty. Half time 21 - 0.
The second half saw Shoots take advantage a series of Cranbrook replacements forced on the home team through injury. The visiting pack started to control the loose play and they were rewarded with a breakthrough try in the left corner, 21 – 5. Cranes, defending with some desperation, were starting to look vulnerable, while Shoots looked more dangerous by the minute. Their second try, this time converted, followed a missed tackle, but it was to be their last. Benny Buckle spoiled the party by leading a breakout and was then on hand to take a scoring pass. Shoots were shot. Final score 26 – 12.
Match report by Mike McMinnies.