Cinque Ports Rugby 0 - 66 Hellingly I (HT 0-28)
On first glance this is not a result that CPR should be able to take many positives from. The league leaders came to St Leonards and as expected rolled in a number of tries and kept the opposition out. The size of the task was always huge, and was made even more challenging by only having 17 players available. Despite these challenges Cinque Ports showed a willingness from the kick off. Early tackles were put in, Dale Whittington and Carl Malthouse both looking to be disruptive influences and Hellingly found their path blocked on a number of occasions. The early exchanges saw Hellingly dominate possession, and from a number of well contested five metre scrums they went over. After a second try the game took a very different complexion as Cinque Ports gained some ball. Whittington was a willing runner, and Dean Dedman and Ross Kearney also looked to gain some yardage. Ben Hanny also looked clear until a hamstring injury pulled him up short. Despite coming close to the line on a number of occasions the Hellingly defence was sharp and stripped ball from isolated runners. The tackle area was a contentious point throughout the game, Hellingly were quick to the ruck but this often made the ball unplayable. Hardy work at the ruck by Paul Smart did ensure some ball but this was limited as Hellingly continued to run in tries.
The second half saw CPR winning a little more scrum ball, with Malthouse doing well to tidy up when the pack were moving backwards. This initial parity meant that the visitors were kept out at the beginning of the half. A more high tempo approach also saw opportunities for Simon Baillie and Kearney but again they came to naught. Malthouse and Whittington were busy in the back row and they were joined by Luke Price shifting in from the centres to replace Hanny. The young back showed a real ferocity in the tackle, and worked well with his back row partners to secure the fringes. Malthouse also showed attacking flair bumping off one tackler and handing off another. With the fringes secured Hellingly just looked for width and their backs showed a surgical ability to cut through at times. Lloyd Waughman put in a few key tackles, but Hellingly's good support running ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over.
Team Manager Gavin Thomas was quick to highlight the positives "This has been the fate of the vast majority of our league, Hellingly are a quality side and well drilled. Despite the large score though we can be sure of the fact they have gone away knowing they were in a game. We stopped some of their big runners and won a scrum against the head. I'm sure not many sides can say that against Hellingly"
Coaches Paul Smart and Bill Langley named Carl Malthouse as man of the match "He was a busy presence and did well with the scraps of possession". Whittington was also praised for his willingness to run the ball and hooker Mark Wright earned praise for his willingness to put himself into danger to tidy the ball up.
Team: Wan, Wright, Dedman, Thomas, Barningham, Malthouse, Whittington, Hanny (Mahoney), Baillie, Smart, Fink, Perry, Waughman, Price, Kearney (Eastwood)
