FT 27-41 HT 15-19
Attendance 1187
Referee – Hamish Smales
STAR MAN – Ollie Wynn Caldy
Scrums Won/Lost Cambridge 4/0 Caldy 2/0
Line Outs Won/Lost Cambridge 10/1 Caldy 13/0
Penalties Against Cambridge 12 Caldy 9
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Caldy came away from Cambridge with the spoils in this Championship basement battle as two late scores from Matt Cairns’ charges decided the game, which was nicely poised and in doubt at 27-29 with 10 minutes left.
The Ravers took their recent momentum into what was always going to be a tough afternoon for someone, leap-frogging the Blood & Sand at the bottom of the table.
Cairns was very pleased with his side’s performance, especially given that the hosts had opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes with Ben Brownlie finishing off a driving maul.
“The last four games we’ve picked up 15 points – the table wasn’t a true reflection of our season. We’ve had some close results and today we did the job and managed to hang on for the bonus point win. We’re delighted to get off the bottom of the table and get some revenge for Cambridge’s win at the Paton Field back in September. We’re really pleased with the way the boys applied themselves this afternoon”.
That last 10 minutes proved the difference – Cambridge had the best of the first half hour, despite Lewis Barker scrambling over and converting his own try 17 minutes in. The Blood & Sand landed a penalty via the boot of Louis Grimoldby, who also converted Pete White’s scorching finish off the back of Eli Caven’s break.
Tries from Ollie Hearn and Ollie Wynn, though, sent the Ravers into half time with a lead that they never relinquished, Matt Kilcourse stretching that deficit two minutes after the restart.
Ben Brownlie added his second of the afternoon, again from the maul, as hid side fought back. Matt Hema crashed over for the try bonus. And then, with the lead, and the try line beckoning, Ruaridh Dawson’s cross kick was swallowed up by Will Robinson, who tore the length of the field to touch down and deny Cambridge a comeback win.
Kilcourse added his second at the death to rub salt into the Blood & Sand’s afternoon, but the Ravers were good value for their win.
Cambridge interim head coach Anthony Allen said the game had most definitely not gone to plan. “We were chasing the game with ten to go so one little slip, one intercept, and the game’s done. We have to look at what happened before that and not be in the position we were in. We had a few dull moments and gave them the opportunity to do what they do. It’s not what we spoke about in the week. It shouldn’t be about a try bonus point, or going for a losing bonus point. We’ve improved in terms of what we’re trying to do but we’re not there yet. It hurts and it’s really frustrating”.
Cambridge
Tarrant 6, Green 6 (Skelcey 74), Hanks 6, Hema 7 (Williams 78), Caven 6, Grimoldby 7, White 8 (Dawson 44 6); Nearchou 7 (Ellwood 53 6), Brownlie 7 (Veness 71), Walker 7 (Bridges 74), Bretag-Norris 6, Baxter 6 (Sylvester 53 7), Benson 7, Adams 7, Bartlett 7 (Dawson 71 6)
Caldy
Kilcourse 8, Royle 6 (Mitchell 71), Wilkinson 7, Barlow 7, Robinson 7 (Hyde 76), Barker 7, Wynn 8 (Murray 71); Weatherby 7 (Rabette 76) , Hearn 7 (Gallagher 50 6), Rushton 7 (Higginson 50 6), Stevenson 6, Sanders 6, Ridgway 6 (Butler 76), Parry 6 (Olyott 56 6) Dickinson 7
Scorers
Cambridge
Tries Brownlie 1, 55, White 26, Hema 62
Cons Grimoldby 27, 63
Pen Grimoldby 18
Caldy
Tries – Barker 16, Hearn 31, Wynn 37 Kilcourse 42, 75 Robinson 69
Cons Barker17, 32, 43, 70
Pen Barker 57