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Cinque Ports Rugby win well on the Road
Hove Fusiliers (5th XV) 7 Cinque Ports Rugby 19 (HT 7-12)
Cinque Ports started the day well as Rye cancelled their league game and gave CPR a 40-0 nil win before a ball had even been kicked, to ensure the large CPR squad still got some rugby a hastily organised friendly saw CPR travel to Hove to face a strong Fusiliers XV. Hove's 5th Team pitch created a challenge in itself, a huge slope meant that the side playing up hill would find itself pinned in their own half if a sensible kicking game was applied. CPR lost the toss and played down the slope first. Paul Smart's kick off was badly fumbled, the Hove players clutching at the ball caused a knock on. From the resulting scrum a big shove by the forwards, saw Lloyd Waughman release Paul Smart playing at fly half into space. The captain trotted over for an early try, but missed the difficult conversion. CPR seemed to slip down the gears a little after this good start and Hove started to reapply themselves. The home team looked to drive the ball forwards using their powerful centres, strong tackling by the returning Shane Potter held them back and the defensive line held strong forcing Hove to chip into space. The dangerous Michael Dangerfield was waiting to return the kicks with interest and Hove found themselves defending against the darting runs of the tricky winger. Where the centre held, Hove pushed the ball wide, full back Carl Malthouse made an initial tackle before Hove scrambled over. Crashing runs by Potter, and Craig Barningham placed the Hove defence under pressure but their midfield held strong. Smart realised a different approach was needed, from a penalty he jinked out wide leaving two Hove defenders flat footed and the defence in tatters. The pitch held up Smart but strong support from Dale Whittington saw the rangy flanker run in fifty metres to score his ninth try of the season between the posts. Smart hit the conversion clean.
CPR were leading at half time 12-7 which was a fair reflection of the game. The second half saw CPR face the rigours of the hill, a willing back row of Barningham, Whittington and Dean Dedman looked to run the ball but the gradient held them up. Even the fleet footed Dangerfield found the combination of mud and slope too much. Hove took advantage of the conditions and found themselves camped in the CPR half. Hove even made an incursion into the CPR try line but strong defence held them up. Hove's strong running centre also found himself in space before being scooped up by Dangerfield in a huge dump tackle. Whittington also ravaged the Hove attacking line with tackle after tackle. Cinque Ports withheld wave after wave and started to edge up the slope, phase after phase was created, and was aided by one too many high tackles resulting in a Hove centre receiving a yellow card. The rumble continued over the ridge an into sight of the Hove posts, Smart guided the attacks down the narrow side away from the Hove defence and the waiting pressure relieving kick. Barningham and Dedman crashed up the blind side, Hove seemed to run out of defence and the unusual site of veteran prop Bob Earle scampering up the wing resulted in Earle crashing over for the third try. Smart converted as the final whistle blew. Team Manager Gavin Thomas was pleased with the result "Hove Vths are a division above us, and put a strong team out but we worked well as a unit, got in their faces and defended superbly. A team effort gave us a good win". Head Coach Bill Langley was also pleased with the "Superb Defence" and named second row Dale Whittington as CPR man of the match. Craig Barningham, Shane Potter, Lloyd Waughman and Paul Smart also shone in a great team effort.
Another friendly march has been arranged for next week against Sussex West III league leaders Horley away.
Team : Wright, Giles, Earle, Parker, Perry, Thomas, Whittington, Barningham, Waughman, Smart, Sutherland, Potter, Sams, Dangerfield, Malthouse: Interchange Players: Dedman, Weale, Eastwood,
Dale Whittington v Hove try Feb10
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Bob Wealev (1) going for try
Bob Wealev v Hove
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