Cambridge Take The Points From Trip To Arena

On a cold, wet Darlington day, the conditions matched the home team’s performance, as Cambridge RFC took all of the points, scoring all of the tries, consigning DMPRFC to their seventh loss after thirteen games.

The pre-match warm up was probably an indication of what was in store for DMPRFC, when both full back Chris GEORGIOU and fly half Warren SEALS were injured. The injury to GEORGIOU prevented him from playing in the game, however SEALS took the field and it wasn’t long before his injury affected his play and that of the team in general, as until the time he was replaced in the 56th minute, so unfortunately ‘Wazza’ was certainly not himself.

Although the ball acted like a bar of soap throughout proceedings, Cambridge managed to hold on to it a lot more effectively, with DMPRFC exhibiting poor handling and poor execution of plays, mixed with impatience and frustration when opportunities presented themselves.

As a result, DMPRFC failed to register a try for the first time since the drubbing received by Coventry RFC (40 odd – 0) in the early part of last season.

There were chances during the game, with Brandon Asher-Wood clear to the line but ankle tap-tackled by a desperate defender falling short and also some decent pick and drive progress by the forward pack near the visitors line on a couple of occasions, only to be thwarted by some formidable Cambridge RFC defence.

Had Cambridge’s kickers, fly half Jack GREEN and replacement kicker Lawrence RAYNER not missed four kickable penalties between them, the result would have been a lot worse.

Cambridge RFC registered first with a penalty from GREEN after the 4th fourth minute, when the home side were adjudged to have held on after being tackled. (0 – 3)
GREEN tried to follow it up with another penalty, but missed wide.

In the 16th minute, giant Cambridge right wing (at least 6’ 12’’ tall) took possession of the ball just inside his own half, when there looked to be no danger to the home side at this stage, as he set off straight up the touchline with several home defenders handily placed to prevent further progress. One by one the defenders fell by the wayside and basically untouched, he ran all of 50 metres for an unlikely but excellent touchdown for the visitors. (0 – 8), with GREEN straight and true with the extras. (0 – 10)

Cambridge RFC prop suffered an injury in the 21st minute and was replaced by Matthew MEEK who fitted in well in what were pretty well contested but even scrums throughout.

Visiting No. 8 Stephen HIPWELL was next to weigh with a Cambridge try, when by latching on to a series of forward pick and drives allowed him to force his way over near the posts, (0 – 15), GREEN easily converting. (0 – 17)

DMPRFC introduced two replacements in prop Jack PAYNE and forward Franco Lamanna Miranda, which made an initial impact at the next scrum, pushing the visitors back so far you could hear the reversing warning.

As oranges approached, fly half Garry LAW opened DMPRFC’s account with a penalty, (3 – 17), but as both teams exited the field at the break. Cambridge RFC obviously had more of a spring in their step.

DMPRFC have a habit of producing second half comebacks, so to the home connections, the deficit between the teams was not believed insurmountable. However, in reality, this looked less likely as the game wore on.

A succession of missed penalties from Cambridge RFC, two from GREEN and one from RAYNER could have piled on further agony for DMPRFC who struggled for possession, territory and fluidity.

Cambridge were reduced in numbers when centre Matthew Ranui HEMA was sin-binned for a high tackle. However, almost as soon as DMPRFC’s APPLEBY had returned to the field, he too was sin-binned for collapsing a maul, evening numbers and cancelling that advantage.

DMPRFC wasted several chances from 5-metre lineouts and as an attacking option, that area is and has been cause for concern, preventing scoring opportunities on an all too regular basis.

As the game entered the last five minutes, some quick thinking enterprise by a Cambridge back , boomed a high kick from the left wing over towards the right wing, where the giant ASIEDU easily out-jumped the home defender gathered the ball and subsequently dotted down for the try (3 – 22), as the game drew to a disappointing close for the home side.

A poor showing from DMPRFC and it is hoped that Santa will bring some early joy in the weeks before Christmas, as the fixtures fly by and 2019 approaches.