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Cranleigh RFC I - 8 Old Blues - 3
31/03/2010
Away (1945)
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Match Report
Cranes Turn Out Old Blues Lights
O. Blues 3 - Cranleigh 8
Cranleigh Put Old Blues Lights Out
Cranleigh have had a very good season in the League, losing only twice, both to Old Blues by narrow scores, who remain unbeaten with just one game left to play. So this was always going to be a tough, close encounter as two sides who know each other well fought to progress to the Surrey Shield semi finals.
The game was played at Old Blues under floodlights on a Wednesday evening, making for a good atmosphere as both sides had a fair amount of partisan support, with Cranleigh if anything just shading it on the touchline.
This was mirrored on the pitch as after the home side forced an early penalty after Cranes infringed trying to halt a forward drive at their line. 3-0 to Old Blues.
Cranleigh responded in kind as the attritional half wore on, the forwards striving for domination in difficult conditions as both sides played it tight. Eventually after some bruising close quarter work, veteran Cranes scrum half Tim Bargeman burrowed his way though the sweating donkeys to score what was to prove the games only try. Luke Edwards' conversion attempt just drifted wide of the righthand post. 3-5 to Cranleigh. This was how the half finished, the only other scoring chance being a Cranes penalty that Edwards could not convert into points.
The second half started with the home team desperate to up the anti, but the visitors equally keen to press home their advantage. It was the Cranes who came out on top in the early exchanges as they set up camp in the Blues' 22, rather as the home side had at the start of the first half.
The Cranes "D" was awesome, particularly in midfield where Edwards, alongside Scott Milne & James Moore built an impenetrable wall. Both forwards & backs worked hard as a unit to defend their tryline. Eventually the siege was lifted as Edwards boomed yet another long kick downfield & the back three chased hard & intelligently. Finally Cranleigh got some reward with about 15 minutes to go when Old Blues killed the ball at the breakdown right in front of their posts & Edwards duly punished them. 3-8 to Cranleigh.
This was to prove the deciding score as despite a number of spirited late rallies the home side could not quite force an equalising score. Cranes Captain Christian Morris was sin binned with 5 minutes to playing, again for slowing possession down on the floor. The whole second half lasted a mammoth 57 minutes due to numerous prolonged injury stoppages, testing everyone’s' stamina to the absolute limit.
Fortunately the game finished just in time, as at 9:30 pm precisely, 2 minutes after the final whistle blew, the lights quite literally went out, as they did on Old Blue's Surrey Shield campaign for 2010.
A hard fought game between two well matched sides with no quarter asked or given. The Cranes were deserved winners, but only just. They can now look forward to a bit of hard earned R&R on their Easter tour to Newquay. This is followed by the final League game of the season, at home to 3rd placed Old Emanuel on 11 April at Wildwood Lane. Then there will be the small matter of a Surrey Shield semi-final at home to either Old Walcountians or Battersea Ironsides as the season reaches a thrilling climax.
Well done to all the squad & thank you to all the supporters who turned up. I think we out numbered the Old Blues spectators!
