|
Cambridge University rugby grind out a win |
|
24 November 2008 |
Playing at home for the final time in 2008 , Cambridge Green Lions were aiming to make it four wins out of four against Warwick University. The week before had been a lesson to the Lions to work hard for the full eighty minutes and this had been the watchword for the team going into this game.
Playing at home for the final time in 2008 , Cambridge Green Lions were aiming to make it four wins out of four against Warwick University. The week before had been a lesson to the Lions to work hard for the full eighty minutes and this had been the watchword for the team going into this game. Injuries and non availabilities have meant that for the past three games players have had to fill in for the club in positions they aren't familiar with and this has had an effect on the point scoring ability of the team over recent weeks. Defence has however been the strength throughout the first part of the season.
Warwick had travelled with a strong squad and a much changed team from the one that the Lions faced in week one of the BUCS season. They were fitter and had more shape than we had previously encountered and it is testament to them as players and their coach that they had made massive improvements over the past month. They will certainly be a team not to take lightly for the remainder of the BUCS season.
The game was attritional with both teams exchanging completed sets and good go forward with a very disciplined kick chase but in the scoring zone both teams fell short of the killer punch. With both teams tied at nil all after thirty minutes it was a case of who blinked first and with a couple of back to back sets Cambridge finally got over the whitewash with a try from Max Stechman after good lead up work from Aussie Luke Barnes and a great pass from George Sykes to see where the space was. With five minutes to go all Cambridge had to do was play smart and return the ball to Warwick on their terms but two penalties piggy backed Warwick up the field and some poor defence allowed them to score at the side of the posts.
Half time score was 6-6
Cambridge had spent a lot of the first half in great field position and with a high percentage of completed sets knew that if they could continue to do this in the second they would get their reward. Two tries by Luke Tyson and Luke Singer gave the Lions some breathing space between themselves and Warwick but the men from Coventry are made of strong stuff and on the back of penalties they used a well worked penalty of their own to score under the posts.
With eight minutes to go and a converted try the difference between the two sides it was set up perfectly for a great finish. Cambridge played for that period very smartly and knew that to keep the pressure on Warwick they needed to be at the right end of the field and George Sykes and James Shearman made sure that they guided the team in that direction. A penalty in front of the posts was accepted by Cambridge and they closed the game out with great defensive shape and composure.
Final score CUARLFC 18 - Warwick University 12.
John Evans was a relieved coach at the end , "Warwick have made massive improvements from our last meeting five weeks ago and all credit to them for a great display away from home. They will surprise some teams in the latter part of this season home or away so we are happy to come away with the two points. With our final two games this term being away from home we need to see how players handle the pressure of being the team everybody in the division wants to knock over. We have again defended well with only two try's conceded in eighty minutes of rugby and this is something to take pride in but also to improve. Our senior players accepted the challenge of the pressure well and showed great composure in knowing what to do in the closing minutes to make sure they came away with the points.
Scoring points is what we are looking to improve over the coming weeks as we need to reward the players who get us up the field with great efficiency and we will be looking at that in training ready for the challenge of a physical encounter with Lincoln University up in Newark next Wednesday."
The KCJ Man of the Match for the second consecutive week was James Shearman playing at prop, making metres for the team every time he took the ball forward.
|
|
