Cranbrook 28 Old Williamsonian 26 - 27th April 2014

Both teams came into this Vase Final full of expectation with Cranbrook having proved to be a potent attacking force all season. However, with good defence from both sides, this was a tense battle of wills between the two kickers throughout the game. Both sides matched the penalty count in the early exchanges with Old Williamsonian then starting to take advantage of the windy conditions and Cranbrook’s ill-discipline at the breakdown. With a half time lead of 15-9, Old Williamsonian looked to be in the driving seat but then had to play the second half against the wind and although Cranbrook pulled a penalty back, care of Hylton Gibson, it was Old Williamsonian who scored the first try with some nifty handling in the corner to stretch their lead to 20-12. Despite each side scoring penalties, it was Cranbrook’s constant probing and pressure that saw Sam Depoel-Wood crash through the Old Williamsonian midfield to score under the posts bringing the score to within one point at 23-22. Cranbrook continued to put pressure on the Old Williamsonian defence but simple errors saw their efforts stall. It was another infringement at the breakdown that saw the Old Williamsonian kicker convert another penalty to stretch their lead to 4 points. Although Cranbrook didn’t play their best game of the season, they continued to defend doggedly, an area which they have greatly improved on, and started to snuff out any advance by Old Williamsonian. Two further penalties converted again by Hylton Gibson saw Cranbrook take a 28-26 lead for the first time since the start of the match. A tense ending to the game ensued with both sides trying to seal a final win at the end of a long season. Cranbrook cleared their lines well in the last few minutes after several forays by Old Williamsonian into the Cranbrook 22; however, it was another bout of ill-discipline, this time, by one of Cranbrook’s outstanding back rowers, Louis Gaddie that gave Old Williamsonian an opportunity to snatch a victory from the last kick of the match. The Old Williamsonian kicker had earlier missed a penalty and whether this played on his mind is not known but for a left footed kicker kicking from the left side of the field with the wind blowing from left to right, this was always going to be a difficult kick, and so it proved to be. The ball sailed across the face of the sticks with Hylton Gibson catching it and dispatching it into touch to signal the end of the match. Cranbrook has been involved in some close matches throughout the season and this was, for them, a fitting end to a very good season. There were many great performances from this young side throughout this game led superbly from the front by Captain Alex Cornwallis and fellow back rowers Louis Gaddie and Mark Chandler. Sam Depoel-Wood was again outstanding in the backline along with centre partner Tom Johnson but highlight of the match must go to Hylton Gibson who managed the game sublimely from fly half and kicked his penalties when it counted. 

 

Team: Sam Bolger, Kenny Magsico, David Lock, Jason Bushell, Sacha Jovanović, Mark Chandler, Louis Gaddie, Alex Cornwallis (C), Seb Sherwood, Hylton Gibson, Chris Tomlin, Tom Johnson, Sam Depoel-Wood, Hugo Beales, Aaron McCraw. Subs: Theo Lazarides, Steve Hall, Alex Pugh, Joe Cordrey