“Bonus point win on the road”
Service took the trip to Gloucester to visit Old Crypts for a G2N league fixture.
With injuries and non availability Service named a much changed side that resulted in a completely new backline starting together and players playing out of position.
The early exchanges saw both sides making mistakes but it was the home side that was applying territorial pressure to CCSRFC pinning them into their 22 which they were struggling to relieve.
The visitors set piece was solid throughout the 80mins and after 20 mins Service started to exert some pressure of their own. The forwards were gaining ground and causing the home side some defensive problems. Quick thinking from a free kick after 26 mins saw Ollie Wilton power over for the first try of the game, would that settle Service and get them into their game plan?
Crypts, playing down the hill, continued on the front foot scrapping at the breakdowns and preventing any quick ball for the visitors. This resulted in them being awarded multiple penalties that pushed CCSRFC deep into their own 22 defending their try line.
The pressure told and a hole appeared in the service defence that saw the home sides hard running ‘centre’ punch through and score under the posts for a converted try that saw them take a deserved lead. 7 – 5.
Service were struggling to get a grip of the game, isolated runners were getting turned over too easily by a busy defence. James Arnold, playing his first game at 9, was getting dragged into a ‘Back Row’ role preventing quick ball being generated and move away from the breakdown, resulting in minimal pressure being applied to the home sides fringe defence.
Service attempted to up the pace and intensity. Forwards started carrying with power and support runners were clearing out rucks effectively. Quick front foot ball started to be created and penalties were being won. Rhys Ruck, wearing the 10 shirt for the first time, was pushing Service forward with solid touch finds, mini breaks, and feeding his centers to test the opposition. The Service Line out was proving to be a great weapon. Mark Titley, Andrew Lees and Tim Davies owning the skies and resulting drives and quick ‘off the top’ balls were starting to gain significant ground. On 40 mins a penalty kicked to the corner gave CCSRFC an attacking lineout in the top corner. Could they take the lead right on half time ? Yes… a perfectly executed ‘Training Ground move’ saw skipper Ross Ruck go over for a try, assisted by Ollie Wilton and well converted by Joey J to give the visitors a 7 – 12 half time lead.
The second half, playing down the slope, saw Service start to find some rhythm and apply some pressure that, following another lineout, saw Ross Ruck drive over the line from a powerful catch and drive for his second of the day. Try converted by Joey Jones to give Service the perfect start to the second half. 7 -19.
Confidence was starting to flow through the visitors. The pack were making hard yards and the backs were starting to see some front foot ball. Service attacked from their own half, some great hands and lines of running saw Sam Townsend and Dan Bailey interchange passes, Alex Richardson on the wing cutting in and feeding the electric pace of Joey Jones to cut through the defence to secure the try Bonus Point and ‘Try of the Match’ that put the visitors in charge 7 – 24
CCSFRC were in charge, after 60 mins Joey Jones got his second try of the afternoon when following a missed touch he showed that pace against an unstructured defence results in ‘try time’ with Crypts unable to lay a finger on him for a great individual try. 7 – 29.
Credit to Old Crypts they never gave up and pushed again for something. Their efforts were rewarded with a second and consolation try to make the final score 12 – 29.
.1st xv CCSRFC League debuts were given to Tomos Morgan and James Nuttall in the latter stages.