Cinque Ports 53 - 7 Burgess Hill II (HT 31-0)
On paper this always seemed like a good opportunity for the first win of the season, playing opposition from the division below. A raft of injuries and unavailability meant that the Cinque Ports team taking the field had an experimental feel though, and the close encounters between the two sides last season that CPR took the field knowing that a strong performance was needed. This was proven from the off as Burgess Hill looked to use their big forwards to play a direct game, good defence by Dean Dedman and Kim Wan halted their charge and the home team looked to unleash their quicksilver backs. Skipper Chris Eastwood playing on the wing found space but was halted 5 metres short. Dedman and Rob Fink all had bursts at the line from the ensuing rucks before Gavin Thomas picked up ball from the base and flopped over from a few feet out. Paul Smart slotted the conversion. Burgess Hill increased the intensity and held possession well, the visitors also supported by their dominance in the scrum. Finally wrestling possession back CPR held a secure scrum in the Burgess Hill 22. Ben Hanny playing in the unfamiliar position of Number 8 picked up the ball before crashing over in the corner. Smart missed the difficult conversion. Smart and his half back partner Simon Baillie were in great form. Smart's game management was at its best, unlocking the potent backs and the young Scotsman controlled the ball well and was an eel-like presence dancing from numerous tackles. From the kick off Cinque Ports forwards held the ball for two good phases before a burst from debutant flanker Mike Dunne put the ball through the hands of Smart and Baillie before Czech flyer Rob Fink took possession in broken field and ran home the third try. Smart duly converted. Cinque Ports were in control now and line out ball worked its way through the backs once again to Fink who brushed aside a few tackles and ran it in from 30 metres for his second. The first half saw CPR holding onto more scrum ball, and it was from a scrum that Eastwood made another scurrying run before being scragged near the line. Switching the ball right from the ruck the ball was worked through hands again, this time Hanny finishing the move in the corner for his second. As the second half drew to a close Burgess Hill held far more possession and their direct running meant Cinque Ports defence had to be at its best.
This was also the case at the beginning of the second half. The game seemed much scrappier and a number of penalties meant that CPR were starved of possession. Burgess Hill looked to kick for territory, and winning the ball back in a ruck they thought they had cleared their lines before Fink again charged at their defence breaking three tackles before off loading to Smart. The veteran schemer was caught near the line before wriggling a hand free to make an excellent off-load to Dunne who ran in a debut try. It was Dunne again who added the next, with CPR running through a tiring defence the ball once again was shifted through hands Dunne shrugged off a few tackles and went alone surrounded by support to score his second. Smart missed both touchline conversions. Replacement Dan Mahoney also came close before being caught with a high tackle, with another try looking likely a speculative kick by Simon Baillie took the ball to the five metres. From the ensuing line out Smart ran a clever dummy switch with Chris Perry which gave Adam Bigg space to run in the score. Smart converted. Burgess Hill continued to fight, showing real willingness to run directly and they were attacking when the ball ran loose Eastwood displayed some soccer abilities to kick the ball ahead 25 metres and score despite being chased by a despairing defence. The conversion was unsuccessful. The last minutes saw CPR defending as Burgess Hill looked to break the home line. A yellow card for Smart and some indiscipline from others allowed Burgess Hill ball 5 metres out their big forwards could not be denied and crashed over. The try was converted, a deserved score for the visitors who showed real determination. In his more usual role of team manager Gavin Thomas reflected on the game "We've come close this season but we really needed that win. I'm sure it will give us some impetus for the league now and I think the personnel changes showed us some very effective options"
Rob Fink was named as man of the match for an all round performance, Dunne and Baillie also shone in an all-round team performance
Team: Wan, Wright, Giles, Thomas (Barningham), Dedman, Dunne, Malthouse, Hanny, Baillie, Smart, Eastwood, Perry, Bigg, Fink, Waughman (Mahoney)
Replacement Not Used: Langley
12.11.2011
