Kevin Parker v Newick II Jan 10

Cinque Ports Rugby Strike Lucky

Cinque Ports Rugby 10 Newick II 3 (HT 10-3)

Rugby as a game is one where collective effort allows for individual moments of daring-do that win games. Where games are won or lost in moments of brilliance, and this is what makes the game a spectacle. CPR’s reputation in the league of having a very powerful front row and supporting pack was totally negated by Newick turning up without a recognised and specialised front row, indeed they had the confidence to field a back-row combination in the uncontested scrums. CPR was rightly under the Sussex league rules given a ten point advantage which is maintained throughout the fixture without adding to it. CPR was never able to have exploited its strengths on a very heavy Grove pitch. The uncontested scrums removed much if not all of the spectacle the captain and coaches anticipated from the game. 

 Newick's front row woes meant that Cinque Ports started the game 10-0 up. This seemed to have a very strange effect on CPR who never seemed to cope with the structure of game as well as being against a well organised pacy Newick side. CPR never really got into the game as their normal platform for controlling the game, the strong forwards were never given an opportunity to master their opposite numbers. Newick used their fast backs to stretch the defence and only poor handling in difficult conditions prevented both fifteens from scoring. Stout defence was the order of the day, the two Rob's (Tritton and Fink) leading the way with some venomous tackling. As the defences cancelled each other out, a kicking duel developed. The Newick stand off looked to kick behind the Cinque Ports defensive line where captain Paul Smart, ably assisted by the boots of Carl Malthouse and Lloyd Waughman returned fire with their own arsenal of powerful kicks. Chaos seemed to reign as the ball was dropped on numerous occasions and rucks were disorganised, one ruck leading to a Newick penalty which was kicked to bring the visitors within a converted score. CPR seemed to find some kind of rhythm and developed phases of play that found them in the Newick half, from a ruck Paul Smart broke and an outrageous dummy found him in open space to release Nick Giles. The burly flanker barrelled to the line but was denied. This period was probably the high point for CPR; the second half began much the same as the first. Newick kicked, defences reigned and neither side seemed to be able to string the phases together. A Newick offence at a ruck gave Carl Malthouse the chance to even the penalties but it dipped under the bar by inches. The arrival of Gary Swift at centre seemed to give CPR some impetus but Newick quickly took to double teaming the hard running Swift. The game seemed to be grinding its way to the end, until Newick now down to 13 players through injury seemed to string pass after pass together. The Newick backs worked the ball well until an overlap saw the Newick stand off cross the line. Unfortunately he lost his bearings and his foot crossed the dead ball line. No try, and Cinque Ports defended resolutely until the game came to end with yet another knock on which fitted the day. Team Manager Gavin Thomas was honest in his appraisal "No one is going to pretend that this was anything but a disappointing performance, we didn't do the basics well enough and didn't seem suitably motivated. But as far as the league stands we get the points for winning and whilst that is tough on a very good Newick side we all have to play to the league rules". Head Coach Bill Langley added “It was unfortunate that the team did  not reorganise themselves at all in the changed circumstances of having to play uncontested scrums. This is something the coaching staff will need to factor into the training programme. CPR has a great chance next weekend in the semi final of the Sussex RFU Plate Cup against Ditchling.”

CPR have a home fixture in the semi-finals of the Sussex Plate against Ditchling RFC at the Grove KO 2pm. This semi final is the furthest CPR has managed to reach in any competition since it was first founded and Chairman Marcus Davies believes the team has a good chance of reaching the finals at the end of February.

Team : Berry (Lawlor), Wright, Tritton (Earle), Gough (Rumble), Parker, Giles (Anderson), Dedman, Barningham, Eastwood, Smart, Fink (Barthropp), Perry (Swift), Waughman, Dangerfield, Malthouse Unused Sub: Sutherland

Mick Berry v Newick II Jan 10

Mick Berry a prop showing the three quarters how it should be done