Cranleigh RFC 1st XV vs Old Hamptonians

With the consistent rain during the week and especially on Saturday morning, it was astonishing that there was a pitch amongst our four that was playable.

It was a great relief that the bottom pitch of the Simon Cambell ground was soft but very playable. Referees do not like to see standing water anywhere and you could not find a drop at the start of the game. At half-time, the referee spotted a 6-inch diameter, 2cm deep pool by the corner flag and said he would have to keep his eye on it in the second half. All the money paid in draining the pitches seems to have paid off.

Cranleigh put out a side that one could say was the best available of the squad. Hamptonians arrived having not lost a game, so a tough game was expected.

The first half saw honours even as both teams attacked and defended well. The referee was hot on players holding on to the ball in the rucks and Cranleigh was the first to be penalized 5 minutes in right under the posts, which was easily converted. Cranleigh attacked and a little better handling might have brought results, but 15 minutes later, they handed another easy penalty for holding on duly converted.

Cranleigh got their own back when Hamptonians made the same error that Zak Hebron converted. The play moved at a pace back and forth, with both sets of players handling conditions, admirably. Hamptonians, another settled side of strong runners and excellent at backing up, were a real test for Cranleigh but we saw some magnificent defence. On 32 minutes Cranleigh had their best move, which arrived 30 yards out wide and with a great pass to find prop Liam Kennedy, charged to the line and scored. Another attack, this time at a maul from 10 yards up Cranleigh thought they had scored but it was adjudged to have been held up. Cranleigh finished the half 8-6 up and in good shape.

The second half started with Hamptonians attacking, disappointingly, Cranleigh falling off tackles and finding themselves out of position. Hamptonains number 10 within 5 minutes found a big hole in the middle and scored under posts duly converted. This was followed by a penalty against Cranleigh, which was converted.

Things got a bit loose and frantic and it was not helped by Zak Hebron being yellow-carded for a late tackle. Monty Bafour, who had an excellent game put Cranleigh on the attack and a drive by the forwards saw Ben Terson score in the corner unconverted. 5 minutes later Ben Terson got himself yellow carded, which just looked clumsy.

Cranleigh again, lost too many of their lineouts insisting they threw to the back of the line. It worked perfectly when Milo Livesey collected, but on four occasions it went wrong. The scrums were about even. It was disappointing that in the last 10 minutes, Hamptonians were able to score two goals under the posts, making the score 13-35. However, this did not reflect the game and the Cranleigh effort. Captain Pierre Goodwin was outstanding in defence and attack. Cranleigh were punished with two 10-minute periods when Hamptionians caught them sleeping. The score could have been very different.

Cranleigh is waiting for its first league win (Staines did not turn up to give us 5 points). Sure, all concerned will be up for playing Old Glynonians at home next week, we hope a full squad will be available. The side deserves a win and it cannot be too far away.

Report by John Bailey