On a weekend when the spring sunshine favoured Cambridgeshire, Cambridge rugby illuminated the Yorkshire Dales, given the dogged partisan supporters something lift their spirits on a damp drizzle drenched depressing day. But don’t be misled by the scoreline. Once again Wharfedale were to open the scoring and threaten a second half comeback, on enough occasions, to keep everyone guessing about the final outcome.

 

Nevertheless this was an emphatic display by the boys in black. Matched almost shade for shade by referee Philip Davies, some spectators could be forgiven for their early confusion and comments about a 16th Cambridge player. But Mr Davies stayed true to his chosen colours, managed a testy encounter with pace and consistency, not easy in the late afternoon gloom and conditions that allowed the ball to slip easily away from hand and eye. Over 75 set pieces gave both sides chances to impress. Cambridge won the honours in both lineouts and scrums. Such is the discipline now applied, particular away from home, that adequate possession is guaranteed. That gave the Cambridge attacking line just enough chances in the first half to secure the 4 try bonus point and in the second half took enough pressure off defence to restrict Wharfedale to the single extra try.

 

T'match! Chris Malherbe, a most impressive outside centre, has played only once against us combining with colleagues to put 19 early points on the scoreboard in our first visit to Grassington. He scored the first try cutting through our central defence so clinically that much more could be expected. The pitch sits one third on a level plateau, two thirds sloping noticeably towards the entrance road and the Wharfe valley. Wind and rain conspire usually with the slope to make life difficult for the downhill team. Once again Cambridge held the natural advantage in the opening half and once again the home side proved that having gained the flat, advantage could be totally denied by possession. That we came back three minutes later with an all star try of our own was the perfect riposte. Matt Miles the scorer appearing inside our left wing after movement across the field in both directions. Slick near perfect passes and handling in testing conditions. Craig Evans saw his kick on its way to the right of the posts shift direction late to curl inside. A classy kick once again from out wide, evidence that as likely as not every try would deliver 7 points. Matt Miles is as talented a player as you can find. Home grown like Shaun Gadsby, lb for lb, Matt is a half back/flanker/hooker wrapped up in one best value package. His return is making a big difference to the team in both fluency and consistency.

 

Try number two demonstrated the visitor's forward dominance as Rob Hurrell touched down; the last of a series of controlled drives on the Wharfedale try line delivered the space.The best try of the match came next. Down to 14 men following a yellow card, the defending side were now vulnerable. A right side attack, with the slope, Luke Fielden, another product of Cambridge Mini and Youth, took the ball inside, dipped his outside shoulder towards the touchline and threw the cover defence into outer space. His feet remained on course for the posts and his try acknowledged by the seasoned Dale supporters around me as one of the best seen this season. Dan Legge scored the fourth on 40 minutes and the kick just drifted wide. Three tries then for the Cambridge forwards on a day when two quality sets of backs were frustrated by mother nature.

 

A dour second half as the cold and the damp entered the limbs. I gave up scribbling down the statistics for the first time in 3 seasons. As it happens there were only two further scores to register, a quality second try for Chris Malherbe and a valuable penalty taken by Craig Evans to push a victory almost out of reach for Wharfedale. That there was no dramatic narrowing of the score was part the result of the improved Cambridge central defence in which Darren Fox, Dave Archer and James Shanahan excelled and the weather. Wharfedale managed to drop telling passes or send them forward. The referee and his touch judges were on the spot where many could well have been off the pace. Not easy downhill and in the deteriorating light.

 

As the final quarter ended and all 10 replacements completed, the game ended in stalemate. Three converted tries for a draw and three league points was just a task too far for the team that had Birmingham well beaten on their visit earlier in the season

 

This is another significant milestone in the progress of CRUFC as a national club. Following the first Cornwall victory at Redruth last November, this is the first win in the Dales after consecutive defeats over the past two seasons. Habits just have to be broken, Northampton Saints yesterday recording their first Premier away win since England won the world cup. There are three remaining firsts for us this season - wins at Blackheath and Stourbridge together with a first victory in the North East at Blaydon. Our league points tally of 14 wins and 69 league points equals that achieved last season with 8 games remaining. We are both doing better and promising more. Redruth and Birmingham continue to post wins. One near certainty is that in a week's time we will be back leading on point’s difference. Southend our nearest neighbours are our visitors and on form deserve respect for a close encounter yesterday against Stourbridge. Kickoff is 3pm. Leave the recession procession and join us at West Renault Park for more excitement and entertainment.

 

Mal Schofield

 

Photos are here