A dress rehearsal perhaps, given that the league season starts in earnest in 6 days time with the visit of friends and rivals Stourbridge. Indeed the same sense, in that the all black away strip was on display at home to make it perhaps a unique occasion.

Our opponents, the first Premier side to come to WRP, opted to play in red, a touch confusing for the late arrivals on a sunny  August afternoon. A cooling easterly wind took some of the pressure off the water carriers but many interventions were needed as the play moved rapidly from one end to the other. Eight tries scored, six for the visitors as their pace over the ground gave the Cambridge defence just too much to do. That said there were some exceptional score limiting efforts and from memory, brilliant tackles after a chase back from Luke Fielden and Darren Fox in particular. Cambridge also ended both halves with impressive fast flowing rugby.

*Timeline Cambridge in bold:
10m Patston p 3-0
16m  A. Grove t Crichton c3-7
18m Archer t Patston c 10-7
23m Page t Crichton c 10-14
29m Patston p 13-14
31m Ruwers t Crichton c13-21
40m Crichton p 13-24
Half time
41m Fellows t 13-29
59m Pennell t 13-34
69m Abbott t 13-39
80m Humphrey t 18-39

Worcester provided their "A" side, seasoned as young full professionals in a league where attacking rugby is the norm. Such second sides can be described positively as lightweight crews given their physique, level of fitness and all round athletic ability. Whilst their starting XV included a handful of regular 1st team players, it was the emphasis on attack that made this "friendly" so vital for the testing league matches to come. That Cambridge gifted turnover ball from set pieces made the task of containment that more difficult. Under the circumstances a fair outcome with much for the coaches to take as evidence of substantial progress this month.

Referee Michael Tutty returned to lead an exemplary management of the game by his team of 3. Eight replacements by each side were slotted in neatly as Chris Jennings began his 4th official apprenticeship. Worcester were given a yellow card and there were 18 or so penalties awarded, two kicked by Ben Patston for Cambridge and one taken by Worcester. Outside the set pieces Cambridge did better than in recent games edging the turnover count in their favour as the home side flankers harassed the Warriors half backs. Indeed the most marked improvement on last season is the closer involvement of the back row in attack. Dave Archer scored the first try and replacement Chris Humphreys the second. There will be stiff competition for selection to these key positions in four days time.

A satisfactory day with much still to do to polish performance in the line outs and scrums. That we need accuracy and consistency in the first and better technique in the second represents unfinished business from last season. Stourbridge should not replicate the precision of their fully professional neighbours, Worcester, but they will be intent on preserving their unbeaten record against us.

As an opener for the season, the prospects are exciting. The pitch is near perfect and the team close to fully tuned. Expect a Cambridge side with more balanced strengths than ever in its history, one extra replacement on the bench making five in all and the new experimental laws applied to speed up the game. Cant wait - be there.

Mal Schofield

*Excellent report on the Worcester website see here.

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