Recession looms and to add concern, on another near perfect Cambridge autumn day, a reality check for those carried away by our exceptional league form this season. Our final score was expected and in fact predicted elsewhere by no less an authority than Matchmaker. The surprise package came from the Falcon's nursery. Blaydon enjoy the status as the second senior club in the north-east and appreciate their links with their Premier club neighbours. However there is fierce rivalry withTynedale for this No 2 position.

That keeps both clubs sharp in every sense.  They occupy fifth and sixth position in the league with identical points, Blaydon helping their positive points difference with four well taken tries yesterday. It wasn't just the finishing that impressed. In the first half into a steady breeze, they enjoyed the greater possession and were sharper in attack. All the early indications were that this would be no walkover. A fast fit and well organised outfit that had arrived much better prepared than on their first visit one year earlier. The extent to which we were as well prepared did not become apparent until 30 minutes into the game.

Cambridge opened the scoring with a well struck penalty from Craig Evans on his second attempt. We had struggled for rhythm and fluency up to that point. Such mistakes continued as the second quarter began. Spilt ball from passes and turnovers could be put down to nervousness and creeping anxiety. Kicks were few but when taken were long and well directed. There was a chink in the Blaydon defence, poor line out work that contrasted with their command elsewhere. That produced 5 turnover balls for the home side with none conceded, the best throw in performance this season. That advantage was to prove to be invaluable in the tougher second half against the wind. Lock Andy Phillips, ending Man of the Match combining well with thrower and lifters, to secure good ball and disrupt the opposition.

On 22 minutes, Stefan Liebenberg darted blind to score the first try following a rare spell of home side pressure on the Blaydon line. Ten minutes later and one more surprise interception to turn fortunes in our favour. I described last week's two as gift wrapped. Now I'm not too sure. With one more to follow, 4 in 2 weeks indicates some element of design rather than just opportunism. James Knight took the Blaydon pass as though he had more than equal rights to possession, his long stride taking just 8 paces to touch down under the posts. Craig converted this time. 15 points ahead and perhaps too few given the wind advantage to come for Blaydon. Just to prove a point, Andrew Baggett the former Wharfedale kicker put points on the board for the visitors with a sure penalty into the wind. He was to miss a second narrowly as the first half ended.

Half time Cambridge 15 Blaydon 3

Psychological advantage to Blaydon who had demonstrated enough pace in every phase to worry the Cambridge dressing room. In no time Blaydon kicked to and camped on the Cambridge try line. A clean ball from the base of a scrum or ruck found Andrew Baggett in line, wind to his back for a neat drop kick and 3 more points added. Another attack and a near certain first try for Blaydon, the opportunity pick pocketed by James Shanahan enjoying the deception of an interception, outpacing the Blaydon loose head prop on his tail but by a margin that kept everyone empatheticand breathless for the pitch length run in. None more so that Shanners himself, who on DVD playback will pinpoint the rest of the Blaydon opposition who just gave up the chase. Fortunes turned so quickly and every interception worth 7 points, this could become a well rehearsed habit.

Like adding spice in a tasty dish, referees like to turn their hand occasionally to creative intervention. Terry Hall, our top flight referee on the day, added yellow cards in quick succession, equitably one to either side, not a Bishop for a Knight (just waiting for that opportunity to come) but a Guthrie (Blaydon lock) for a Liebenberg (9). Work for 4th official Kenny Isbister busy with imminent replacements and timing out the Blaydon doctor who was adding infinite stitches to Andrew Baggett's ear in the shadow of the Adcock clock. Astute self selection at scrum half by Shanners who kept the Cambridge forwards task oriented as they denied Blaydon the vital possession needed for points and honour. Darren Fox had already set a good example with a hard fought try in the left hand corner. Kicked wide and into the wind by Craig Evans, who made amends 10 minutes later with a break and a try under the posts. But Blaydon had by then struck back with their first of four tries. Prop Robert Kalbraier took the final pass and Baggett converted. Into the final fifteen minutes, Cambridge leading 34 - 13 then conceded possession, Blaydon ran the 3 late penalties on offer and ran in 3 tries, none converted. The try scorers, Brendon Daniel, Martin Shaw and Andrew Fenby would all prosper in a National 1 side, part of a back line equal to the best in this league. The last try came in extra time as did the sixth try for the home side, his second of the season for Tom Laws. The game was to end with the Blaydon prop Kalbraier nursing a serious and deep leg wound incurred defending his line.

Five more league points notched up, the positive points difference extended by 11 and a return to second spot in the table at the expense of Launceston who lost at Birmingham. Blundellsands is to be experienced again next week for the hardy away supporters and a hope that there is still life in that honourable club. Waterloo lying joint bottom of the league table have yet to record a win. We have to prepare well for a do or die, a nothing to lose contest. There have been many such form upsets before. Each game at a time says I, each game at a time. As the November fixture list looms we need strength and depth back in every department.

Last words of sympathy expressed, for brave Dan James and his family. Dan played against us for Nuneaton in both games in our first season in National League 2. The second game is commemorated by one of the two tableaux upstairs in the Camstead suite. I for one will always be reminded by it of the risks to the minority associated with our game that sometimes seem to exceed the pleasure taken from it. That is the nature of all contact sports but the individual losses are nevertheless both tragic and profound.

Mal Schofield

Photos are here