Confident Cinque Ports Close in on Top Four Spot

Cinque Ports 34 -  7  East Grinstead III 
(HT 22-7)

Dale Muz and Calum

It seemed odd that a game initially postponed due to snow was played in glorious sunshine, but as the hard ground favoured a fleet footed Cinque Ports back line the St Leonards outfit seemed happy to see the beginnings of spring. The late date of this league game also had an effect on East Grinstead as they travelled with only 13, strengthened by the loan of CPR winger Alex Sutherland. From the kick off it did not appear that there was any inequality between the sides and it looked like a clash between the sides at 3rd and 4th in the league. EG favouring a kicking game, the unpredictable bounce causing issues. CPR looking to send the ball wide with the pace of Murray Whittington, Luke Price, Rob Fink and Mike Dangerfield lurking behind the pack. Defences seemed on top until an East Grinstead line out fell to Craig Barningham, Prop Rob Tritton ripped the ball free and with the opposition over committed at the maul Paul Smart released Whittington who scooted cross field to give Dangerfield the ball to slide over in the corner. Smart could not convert.  Complacency seemed to set in early for CPR after this early score, a poor kick off return saw the ball in East Grinstead hands who shipped the ball across the field and scored a converted try. East Grinstead were confident now, and a succession of penalties given for CPR encroaching at the ruck saw them underneath the posts again. The end result was different though as a scrum five metres out, was launched backwards by a powerful Cinque Ports pack. Tritton and the returning Tony Lawlor seemed to control each surge, leaving the East Grinstead pack floundering. A calmer approach saw CPR in East Grinstead territory again, a CPR line out was overthrown at the line out but cleared up by Gavin Thomas, he managed to work the ball to ground despite a mass of EG forwards. Again the over commitment at the ruck opened up spaces, Murray Whittington bumped off a number of tackles before off loading to his brother Dale who scored under the posts. Smart did not convert again. CPR entered a renaissance period now, a sloppy pass was intercepted by Fink who gave the ball to Lawlor briefly it seemed as if the hulking prop would run the ball in from half way but Dangerfield was there to outstrip the defence again for his second. Smart Converted. CPR seemed to snuff out any East Grinstead ambition at this point, attacks from Murray Whittington, Luke Price and Fink all surged into East Grinstead territory. From one of these surges Dale recycled the ball before turning provider for his brother, Murray dancing and stepping away from the defence to score. Smart again missed the conversion.

The second half began as a much cagier affair, scrappy play saw the ball snaffled up into rucks or dropped. The scrums held no fear for CPR though despite changes to the pack their dominance continued, CPR held their own at the set piece winning a majority of line out ball too. When the ball did get into open play Murray Whittington again tore away from the defence only to drop the ball over the line. A raft of substitutions saw a multi cultural bent to the CPR line up, Czech winger Fink being joined by Brazilian winger Ronald Bittencourt and English/Malay forward Kim Wan. Bittencourt quickly made his mark with a pacy run that was stopped feet from the line by desperate defence. The set piece domination paid off for CPR soon after this, a scrum won against the head saw Smart skitter towards the line before offloading to replacement Colin Whyte who flopped over the line. Good work from a ruck by Chris Eastwood, saw Whyte release Murray Whittington who made no mistakes this time. Smart converted.

Team Manager Gavin Thomas placed the win in context "I think securing a top four slot fulfills our ambitions for this season, and gives us an amazing springboard for next season. Everyone involved with the club should be very proud of today and the whole season"

Head Coach Bill Langley named Rob Fink as man of the match, praising his aggressive defence and dangerous running

Team: Lawlor, Wright, Tritton, Gough (Dedman), Butcher (Wan), Thomas (Giles), D Whittington (Earle), Barningham, Eastwood, Smart, Fink, M Whittington, Price (Whyte), Dangerfield (Bittencourt), Malthouse: Sub Not Used: Davies       24th April 2010