Another heavy defeat on the road but some positive signs.
A grey day in West Wickham produced a Cranbrook performance that ultimately was of a similiar colour, although they remained in the contest until the 3rd try on 52 minutes. Thereafter tries came all too frequently as Beccs displayed a confidence gained from having most of the ball in the first half, belying their league position.
Beccs kicked off playing towards the clubhouse, the pitch strangely rising to both ends. After missing an early penalty for a scrum offence, as Cranbrook were again under huge pressure at the scrum, they scored a confidence boosting try after 10 minutes as a centre ran onto a nicely timed pass to score. Beccs were having plenty of ball as they turned over the first three Cranbrook scrums and showed variety but Cranbrook tackling was good. Things were again better at the lineout as Josh Parkes, Sacha Jovanovic and Hamish Gillanders secured some ball, mainly in the defensive half so fly half Henry Milligan chose to kick as much as run. His kicking, although not lengthy, was quite successful as he was adept at finding space then relying on bounce to wrong foot the back 3. Beccs were therefore not successful in running back from deep, nor particularly were Cranbrook as the home tackling was secure.
Half way through the half Beccs scored a second try although the scoring pass out of a tackle looked marginally forward. Although Cranbrook were now trying to run more ball, they never got close to the tryline, but did well to resist Beccs when penalised at their own five metre scrum, having Parkes carded. Beccs unsurprisingly chose to scrum the penalty but committed Cranbrook defence not only denied a try but also produced a useful turnover, then upgraded to penalty, Milligan clearing well to the 10 metre line.
A half time score of 12-0 kept the game in the balance as Tom Pickin came on at prop and shaped up very well, the scrum looking steadier for the rest of the game. So Cranbrook had their best spell of the game, first resisting Beccs pressure then confidently running the ball out from the try line making about 30 metres. Other phases produced gain of territory as left wing Dillon Roberts came into the game making some hard yards, but again no scoring opportunities appeared.
Crucially it was Beccs who next scored on 52 minutes as a chip over the defensive line was recovered for a try and 19-0 lead.
Thereafter tries came regularly as hooker Josh Brambley was carded and more gaps appeared, perhaps Cranbrook tired due to the amount of tackling needed so far. Only once did Cranbrook come close as Josh Forknall picked up loose ball from a misplaced pass, but the defence caught him as the try line beckoned. Of note in the remaining time was the successful chase of kick offs by Captain Gillanders.
The team was 1 L Stone, 2 J Brambley, 3 M Stockman, 4 J Parkes, 5 J Forknall, 6 S Jovanovic, 7 H Overy, 8 H Gillanders Captain, 9 O Wookey, 10 H Milligan, 11 D Roberts, 12 A Cornwallis, 13 J Westcott, 14 J Thornton, 15 W Harrison.
Replacements T Pickin for Stone 40 mins, Stone for Stockman 48 mins, J Dale for Thornton 50 mins, J Saunders for Roberts 55 mins.
Next week the team face unbeaten Canterbury 2nds at 2pm at the Tomlin ground.