Cranbrook 27 Hastings 19 - 23rd November 2013

Both sides contributed to this non-stop, action packed thriller. Cranes with their outstanding handling and desire to play  attractive rugby, Hastings with their heavier pack and more direct, but effective, bulldozer tactics.

 

Cranes, aware of their limitations, knew how important it was to keep the ball away from the Seasiders pack. The opening eight minutes saw the visitors retreating in the face of relentless Cranbrook driving pressure. Frustration contributed to the first penalty of the game which Chris Catt accepted for the home team, 3 – 0. Hastings now meted similar punishment to the lighter home pack. A series of pick up and drives were held up by Cranes, but on 12 minutes a 5m scrum allowed the Sussex side in for the first of their two pushover tries. Well converted,

3 – 7.

 

Cranes were at their best, ball in hand, running at the opposition. 20 minutes into the game stand off Seb Sherwood burst through on the Hastings 22 to touch down wide left. Catt added the points with a soaring kick, 10 – 7. Caspian Paget was next up for Cranes following a breath taking series of reverse passes and flawless backing up, in from 30m again wide left. Catt again added the points, this time via the cross bar, 17 – 7.

 

Within five minutes the home team drew further ahead. Quick recycling, speedy cross field passing and Ben Hoekstra was clear on the right wing to dive home just inside the corner flag. No conversion, 22 – 7.

Cranbrook centre Tom Johnson was yellow carded for an attempted intercept, interpreted by the match official as a deliberate knock on. Tom’s forced removal certainly contributed to the next Hastings score. A 60m three quarter line dash with Cranes unable to plug the gaps. Converted from in front of the posts, half time score 22 – 14.  

 

The second period was a continuation of exciting end to end combat with an alarming number of yellow and one red card dished out by the Ref. Some felt this flood of cards close to excessive but it must be admitted that the official was nearest the action which continued fast and furious throughout. The nearest to a Hastings revival came when they forced their second pushover try wide out right, no conversion, 22 – 19.

 

Cranes came close on a couple of occasions before Ben Hoekstra sealed it for the home side with his second touch down wide left following an excellent series of inter passing, no conversion, 27 – 19.

 

Match Report by Mike McMinnies.