Amongst the many images conjured up by Penzance and St Michael's Mount, for those of you familiar with that stretch of Cornish coastline, is water water everywhere. On this occasion for our visitors, it was another element, the wind, that proved unfriendly.
Threatened rain, failed to arrive in time to dampen down conditions and slow the scoring rate. Ten tries taken, the floodgates open or put another way, a timely high tide for Cambridge and shallow water for the Bay.
On sheer form a home win was predicted. The margin however was exceptional for a league game in October. Credit is due to the Cambridge coaching team for the systematic "plan, do, watch and learn" process over 5 games, together with the judicious rotation of players around a comprehensive game plan. That the best is yet to come is no idle boast, but in the face of stiffer opposition there will be better opportunities to impress. Mounts Bay will recover their composure knowing that a combination of factors put them at a disadvantage after 6 consecutive years of promotion from the lower leagues. More recently a loss of key players for a variety of reasons has placed the new Cornish kids at a disadvantage over neighbours Redruth and Launceston. The two clubs met in a local derby yesterday, home side Redruth, gaining the edge by a narrow margin. Just one more piece of good news for CRUFC as we move into second place in the league, on a substantially better, 150+ points difference.
Given the weather forecast, I predicted a low scoring game. How wrong can you be! Yet playing into the strong south westerly in the first half meant hard work for the Cambridge forwards as they worked their way up field. One mistake should have been punished by lengthy attacking kicks from the Mounts Bay backs. Somehow that option was rarely taken, partly because the visitors were allowed scant possession as the Cambridge forwards practised disciplined ball retention and movement. Stefan Liebenberg at scrum half kept the ball tight risking the occasional high kick over his forwards only to see the ball, boomerang like, return 15 metres and once even, with relief, back into his arms. Referee Ed Turnill, voice drowned by the gusty wind, kept the game flowing in spite of the conditions, awarding 12 penalties in the half. Of the 4 given to Mounts bay, Dan Hawkes (10) kicked one and missed one. For Cambridge Ben Patston took both in range chances, for 6 points. His 100% record was maintained for the full 80 minutes, kicking all his conversions both into and with the wind. In such conditions Ben's performance ranks as the best seen at Wests Renault Park and will place him high in the league rankings for kicking accuracy.
Apologies for no mention so far of the tries and their breathtaking brilliance. As Stefan at 9 kept control of the game by working the short side time and time again, close interpassing and back up impressed the clubhouse crowd sheltering as much as they could from the chill. The dress circle balcony was given their first treat in just 13 minutes as Stef moved right broke through the Bay midfield defence fed his wing James Hinkins who timed his return pass inside with precision for Tom Powell to run in from 35 metres. Another 13 minutes or so to wait before Stefan broke once again in centrefield. Three steps inside allowed Chris Lombaard time to drift infield from the left wing to take a secure short pass from his South African colleague and score from 30 metres out under the posts. James Shanahan had set the scene with a sustained 15 metre drive forcing the Bay defence on to the back foot.
The visitors had not so far used or benefited from the prevailing conditions and were now 14 points down with 10 minutes of their "better half" to go. To sin once with such an advantage is unfortunate. To sin twice in 5 minutes, just a disaster. The wind was worth 1 extra player to Mounts Bay but on the pattern of play not 2. Both technical offences in the rucks and mauls, the second for blood replacement Adrian Bick within 1 minute of coming on. As complicated a situation for our 4th official, Kenny Isbister, to get his mind around in the heat of the action. Such disruptions served only to press home the advantage for the home side. Following Ben's second penalty came two more tries, remember into the stiff breeze, as the Cambridge forwards surged again downfield. Mike Guess ended classy passing between forwards and backs, and Daniel Legge his former Southend colleague replicating Tom Powell's storming run in from a distance outpacing the bay cover defence. Breathtaking brilliance once again - awesome maybe?
Half time needed for the adrenalin to work through our systems. Score 34- 3 and the mega advantage of wind assistance to come. The second half began with 4 tries in 14 minutes followed by a breather as replacements were made and then a closing spell of two tries in the final quarter. The predictable pattern took the edge off the game, the underdogs trying to impress with the scant amount of possession drifting their way. But there were moments. A magnificenttry saving tackle from Dan Legge whose pace made the capture possible. My Man of the Match on this occasion, but deservedly awarded from the Clubhouse, to fellow lock Pete Kolakowski. For the tries, an impressive debut for Bedford loan player, ex Walsham, James Knight, on for Shanners as the second half began. A second try earlier for Tom Powell then replaced with a stretched hamstring and one more for Bomber Lombaard to push him higher up the league try scoring table. Our first penalty try for some time followed,credit again to the magnificent eight. The final 30 minutes of the second half was marked by only 2 late line outs and just 6 penalties, 5 awarded to Mounts Bay. Further yellow cards were exchanged in the half again for technical infringements.
It could be argued that once again we put together 60 minutesof disciplined rugby this time with fewer unenforced errors. The final quarter was better than a week earlier in that two tries were scored, one more for hard working Dave Archer, our archetypal No 8, and a deserved first for Craig Evans at 10. Last season we rarely, if ever, scored from both pivotal positions. Habits formed promise much more to come this season and already we have equalled the number of forward tries registered in the entire 26 games in 2007/2008.
We now visit Cinderford and Waterloo this month and entertain Blaydon on the 18th October. More targets to set and achieve as players return from injury. Hopefully the weather will return to autumnal calm and deliver more pleasure for all.
Teams 
Amongst the many images conjured up by Penzance and St Michael's Mount, for those of you familiar with that stretch of Cornish coastline, is water water everywhere. On this occasion for our visitors, it was another element, the wind, that proved unfriendly. 
