CRANLEIGH U14’s V FARNBOROUGH U14’s FRIENDLY 1ST DECEMBER 2013 Cranleigh Under 14’s headed into this game with 11 unbeaten consecutive games under their belts, and confidence high. Farnborough started the game and immediately pushed Cranleigh back into the home team’s half, seeing the Cranleigh defence come under strong pressure, but this was not to last as a typical run down the left hand touch line saw the irrepressible Harry Barlow take on several players as he danced his way around several Farnborough players who must have thought they were still watching Strictly Come Dancing from the previous evening, to score the first points of the game on six minutes, which was converted by the ever reliable Jamie Barden for a 7-0 lead. However, this was not going to be such an easy game for the home side, and a conceded penalty by Cranleigh saw Farnborough kick to touch just short of the try line, and a very determined Farnborough won the subsequent line out and piled over for a try in the corner, which was brilliantly converted to bring the scores level at 7-7 with 11 minutes on the clock. The battle continued evenly for a period before Cranleigh pressure built up and after some fine defending on their goal line by the visiting side, a first try of the season, on 18 minutes, by the diminutive winger Harry Coiley saw Cranleigh extend their lead by seven points, with a conversion from Barden. A scrum deep inside the home teams half was won by Cranleigh and Dillen Stingemore, who had moved into the number eight position, picked the ball from it, and made excellent ground but due to poor support from the Cranleigh team the ball was lost and Farnborough were once again back on the attack and forcing penalties which saw them oh so nearly hit back, but they then conceded a penalty which Cranleigh ran out from their own try line with Barlow again punching his way through the Farnborough teams defensive lines, and looking almost unstoppable, but for some fine tracking back saw the Cranleigh centre brought down, and possession lost for one last unsuccessful attempt by Farnborough to score before the half time score of 14-7. After the restart, Cranleigh looked the brighter side and almost scored through some great ball movement down the line and wonderful hands from Jamie Burton, only to be thwarted close to the line, but another attack ensued which was held up, and then another, and another and finally the ball was spun wide for a try into the corner by Barlow, and with a magnificent conversion from his partner in crime, Barden, to put the first points of the second half on the board to lead 21-7. Ten minutes into the half and another first try of the season, this time from the other winger, Tom Westerman, into the corner completed some of the best rugby Cranleigh have put together with fluent passing along the back line, drawing the defensive players in and enabling Cranleigh to create an overlap. On this occasion Barden missed the kick from out wide near the touchline, but the lead was nonetheless extended to 26-7. Cranleigh became stronger and stronger and two thirds of the way through the half, Barlow kicking to clear, chased down his own kick, which was not taken cleanly by the Farnborough number 15, and Barlow swooped to collect the ball before popping up a super little ball for Tristan Lucas-Lucas, offering great support, that is not always forthcoming from Cranleigh, to run onto and complete the final 20 yards to score his second try of the season, and show what can be achieved when players support the attacking runners - a successful conversion and a 33-7 score line being the reward. Cranleigh scored again almost straight from the kick off to give Barlow yet another hat-trick and a 14th try of the season, duly converted to send Cranleigh 40-7 up, but Farnborough were certainly not giving up and the score line did not reflect their determination, aggression or ability, and with some canny football skills their full back played the ball down the touchline to score a good counter attacking try to game, but with the conversion missed, so to was the chance of challenging the home side for a win, and Cranleigh rubbed salt into the wound with two late tries, one unconverted from Barden, and one converted from Matt Dandy returning from injury for his first try and game of the season to extend the lead in the dying minutes and take the final score past the half century mark again to finish the game 52-12. It should be said that lesser teams would have conceded far more points than Farnborough did, as the score may suggest Cranleigh were up against a weak team, but this was not the case. Farnborough were strong, and physical, and tackled well throughout. They showed pace and a strong resolve to stick at the game, and must have left Cranleigh feeling bewildered after their efforts, but this Cranleigh team has a great work ethic and a 12th consecutive win of the season suggests they have a very real chance of glories this season. After six games this season Cranleigh have an aggregate score of 287 points to 34 against.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 13:38:39 +0000
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