GUTSY CRANBROOK JUST FAIL TO GAIN LONG AWAITED AWAY WIN.
A most interesting and eventful game went narrowly the way of the home team on the last play as two teams with obvious but different strengths and weaknesses fought a compelling match.
On a dull but initially pleasant autumn day, with an insignificant breeze, Cranbrook kicked off up the slight slope. The early opening score of the afternoon was by the Charlton Park left wing who showed a good turn of pace against suspect tacking, this was converted and added to by a penalty, but Cranbrook were gradually growing into the game with some pleasing back play, which produced a penalty converted by Ollie Allman, whilst Park had some strong packmen, but who looked less mobile, but nevertheless came to the fore at scrum time as the rain set in.
A Cranbrook score came off recycled ball as fullback Alex Cornwallis was put through by Fabian Rimmer to ground comfortably on 20 minutes, Allman converting. The weather though had taken a turn for the worst as light rain turned heavier for the rest of the half. This meant the hosts, stronger at scrum time had periods of dominance, keeping the ball close to the breakdown, whilst Cranbrook by way of their competitiveness at the breakdown got ball and still sort to put width on it, but with the occasional dropped pass that was inevitable in the deteriorating conditions. There was no real lineout advantage but many clean takes which was commendable in the conditions. Park added a further penalty but Cranbrook were to take the lead for the first time as from phase ball Cornwallis again ran onto a well timed pass to score after 35 minutes after wing Elliot Barbour had escaped down the left touchline to be tackled just short. Soon after prop Miles Stockman had to be withdrawn after concussion, replaced by Daryl Horton-Judge. A halftime score of 13-15 in the favour of the visitors was encouraging as Cranbrook would have the slope in the second half and the sun was even breaking through.
What happened between 40 and 60 minutes was disapoìnting as Cranbrook with limited ball did not spread it wide when the opportunity arose, whilst Park regained the lead with a close range try, and were able to dominate by mainly keeping the ball with the forwards with a bit of variety when the flyhalf took the ball on himself, finding his forwards when tackled.
Eventually Cranbrook returned to game plan by moving most ball wide, a lovely move was ended by a knock on at the crucial moment and this seemed a critical moment as the clock wound down. Back came Cranbrook and Rimmer made a break for the line moving the ball out to the wing and back inside for the score by supporting outside centre Jed Westcott, converted by Allman with only 5 minutes left.
With little time left it seemed Cranbrook only had to retain the kick off and clear downfield as Park looked unlikely to score from deep. Park transgressed and Allman did clear down to the home 22 but Cranbrook lost the lineout. Park worked their way slowly back up the pitch as Cranbrook were penalised. There was then a substantial injury break as the replacement Cranbrook prop took treatment but could not continue. This resulted in uncontested scrums and Cranbrook having to play with 14, when they were again penalised, back chat and a quick tap from 10 metres further on took Park to just short of the tryline. This soon became 13 as hooker Henry Overy unwisely interfered at the breakdown near the tryline. Cranbrook heroically did well to resist the home strongmen on multiple occasions, but were several times penalised so play continued with short range tap penalties until quickly recycled ball enabled a dive over for the winning and converted try, after which time was called.
Cranbrook were unfortunate that the weather turned early in the game making their running game less effective as ball handling became difficult, but their failure to play wide when opportunity arose in the second half would be seen as a prime cause of the loss, which nevertheless produced a losing bonus point, more than previous recent visits have yielded.
Coach Chris Catt, whilst disappointed reasoned that for a large part of the game Cranbrook played well with a number of strong performances, he looked forward to new and returning players next week.
The Player of the match was given to Jack Lamb for his typical forthright performance.
The team was: 1 T Humphreys, 2 H Overy, 3 M Stockman, 4 S Jovanovic, 5 T Hamphlett, 6 J Lamb, 7 H Gillanders Captain, 8 L Stone, 9 O Wookey, 10 O Allman, 11 E Barbour, 12 F Rimmer, 13 J Westcott, 14 W Harrison, 15 A Cornwallis.
Replacements: D Horton-Judge for Stockman 37 mins, H Milligan for Barbour 50 mins, D Roberts for Harrison 65 mins.
Next Saturday Cranbrook are home to Park House, the team immediately below them in the table.