RUGBY UNION - Steele Bodgers Match Report 2011
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Cambridge edged a tight game against a strong Steele-Bodger's XV after tries from Thomas and Smith were backed up by Steve Townend's kicking. The Bodger's were always in touch with scores from Tordjman and Valencon, but Townend's 45th-minute penalty was enough to secure the win.
The game started cagily as both sides tested the other's defences around the fringes. Will Smith, making his first Blues start this season, soon showed his pace with two outside breaks but each time his offloads were lost forward or intercepted. Despite the run of play being in Cambridge's favour, the first opportunity for points came as Bodger's fly-half Plisson snapped a drop goal, but his attempt from 35m drifted wide.
Stung by that warning shot, the Blues suddenly came to life as Don Blake seized on a Bodger's knock-on. His momentum was continued by Allen and Murdoch and a score seemed inevitable as multiple offloads stretched the invitational XV to the limit. However, full-back Lafonde anticipated the last pass and intercepted, just as it seemed Cambridge had engineered a score.
With the scrum-halves running the game, Bodger's number 9 Peck was quick to respond to his opposite number's endeavour. His tapped penalty created space and number 8 Shires looked certain to score, only for a thumping tackle from Tom O'Toole to stop him 1m short. Although Cambridge were put under sustained pressure, they held firm and eventually cleared after winning a penalty at the scrum.
With the game remarkably still set at 0-0, it seemed a scoreless first half was on the cards. However, with field position established on the left hand side Townend was able to send O'Toole slicing through the midfield. His pass left Mat Thomas with work to do, but the outside centre put his head down and went under the posts, giving Cambridge a 7-0 half-time lead.
The second half began at frenetic pace, as O'Toole's deft grubber kick was adjudged to have been knocked-on in the act of scoring. The Bodger's then broke themselves from the resulting scrum and powerful winger Rokabarc looked odds-on to score as he set off for the corner. An oustanding cover tackle from Smith was enough to bundle him just into touch, however, and Cambridge's lead was stretched when Townend stroked over a penalty soon afterwards.
With the lead at 10-0, the Bodger's lifted their game and finally got on the scoresheet. As Cambridge struggled to contain some dogged drives from the pack, the lively Tordjman stepped inside Thomas and sped past Townend to touch down, with the conversion cutting the gap to just three points.
The game began to reflect the tension of the scoreline and clear opportunities were at a premium. Townend had the chance to extend the lead, after a great run from Greg Cushing had won a penalty, but his strike came off the post. On 69 minutes, however, some brilliant play gave Cambridge what proved to be a decisive lead. First, Ben Martin sped away from a defensive scrum to set up the ball on halfway; then Amos raced clear, drew the fullback and allowed Smith to beat the cover in the left corner. A beautifully struck conversion sailed through the sticks and Cambridge led 17-7.
Although the Bodger's pressed hard to get back into the game, dogged Blues defence kept them at bay. A superb back-handed offload from Plisson did allow Valencon to score by the posts, but it proved too little too late for the spirited invitational side and Cambridge can be well-satisfied with a hard-fought and at times very classy victory.
Article courtesy of CURUFC website
Cambridge Blues 17 (7)
Tries: Thomas, Smith; Conversions: Townend (2); Penalties: Townend
Steele-Bodger XV 14 (0)
Tries: Tordjman, Valencon; Conversions: Plisson (2)
