Once again a crisp, clinical, effortless domination, this time lasting a full fifty minutes. Once again a very one sided affair that went off the boil, ran out of steam, delivered exhilarating rugby until someone pressed the under drive switch. Elsewhere Alex put the pressure on to keep the best football team in the world ahead of the pack. Closer to home Cambridge United and Histon are involved in play offs as they seek national league status.

Stourbridge are our brothers in the west. Old campaigners in National 2, who just missed promotion last season. Cambridge added one more scalp to the lengthening list of firsts this season. An impressive away win by 5 tries to 1 and a secure second place in the League with 103 points and one match remaining. But no grand finale. No conclusive contest to decide who goes up. The Birmingham and Solihull Bees did enough against Redruth yesterday to take the Championship with 110 points. Well done Russell Earnshaw on your fast return to the fully professional game.

Late forced changes to the starting line up, affected both sides. For Stourbridge, star kicker and prolific try scorer, Ali Bressington was injured and for the visitors, Darren Fox and Stefan Liebenberg were late withdrawals. All key pieces on the chessboard and an exchange that on balance seemed to favour the home side. But the outcome proved a Cambridge advantage. Stourbridge badly missed a high percentage kicker and the Cambridge back row and half backs played a significant part in the scale of the victory. Laurence White at open side was the perfect understudy for Mr Fox and Dan Hunter was composed and alert at scrum half.

The scene at Stourton Park was near perfect for an end of season game. Preceded by Stourbridge Ladies v Old Eds (Ladies) and the pitch occupied at the half time interval by a young enthusiastic Cheerleader group. Continous entertainment in near perfect weather. Funshine for all. Cambridge caught on to the theme and delivered an exhibition in controlled, disciplined fluent rugby. Bob Crooks, suitably clad in shorts - although that's his style regardless of the weather, camped unusually in the technical area. His ATD disorder immediately became evident to all those around him. Attention To Detail underlined every comment as Cambridge settled down into their play routine. Forwards operating as an efficient unit, dominated immediately and a penalty from Ben Patston opened the scoring in the 4th minute. The best try of the match followed as Luke Fielden broke on the left to feed Tom Powell on his inside to score under the posts. Then the Cambridge pack delivered an exhibition of controlled driving. An awarded penalty was taken as another scrum and a penalty try confirmed the option as better than a kick and lineout. Stourbridge came in to the game determined to run most of their scant possession and disregarding the favourable wind. Pressure on the Cambridge try line delivered their only score of the match from loose head prop Adam Sturdy. Something to keep hopes alive was short-lived as the visitors kept to the ATD script with another try for Tom Powell at 8 as fellow forwards drove again to the line. As Ben Patston's bloody nose required stitches, Craig Evans took over kicking duties to keep the clean sheet and stretch the score. A timely addition to the points tally as halftime was called. A good half for all except perhaps the worried home support imagining unlikely but theoretical relegation in advance of scores elsewhere.

Half Time Stourbridge 5 Cambridge 24.

With wind advantage the visitors could be expected to move up a gear. They did, putting in two further tries in the opening 5 minutes of the half. Tom Powell completed another perfect drive for his hat trick and Luke Fielden excited once again in open play. Tight or loose, Cambridge seemed able to dominate easily and threaten to score. Stourbridge were granted the majority of penalties, 6 to 2 at that stage but kept to a game plan aiming to score tries rather than kick for goal. Made good sense but at that stage their intent, subtle or otherwise was taken out of their hands. For reasons that are beyond me, referee Terry Hall, chose to occupy centre stage. Perhaps his intelligence sources were hard at work - touch judge interventions and a brisk half time briefing from his adviser/assessor. Perhaps it was just that the chemistry changed. By the end of the half 16 further penalties had been given and two yellow cards handed to Cambridge. Stourbridge 15 penalties awarded to a Cambridge 7, just too many on a day on perfect conditions and a match that was already decided. Then the bizarre incident of a thwarted attempt to replace the full Cambridge front row at one changeover. It is rare indeed to have such an option available on the bench but there is no limit to the number of replacements allowed at any one time within the maximum of 5. Equally strange was Mr Hall calling for the Cambridge coach and then banishing him back to the technical area. Odd and deserving of an explanation. The incident was symptomatic of a game where somehow the players in the broader sense had lost the script. Such a shame that Cambridge were denied half a dozen more tries and Stourbridge an opportunity to come back into the game for a late bonus point. On the pattern of play this was a game that should have ended, as was the case at Blaydon, with over 100 points on the board.

I felt irritated, cheated and bored by the circumstances and not just because of the news for the Bees. I can only hope for better next season.

Final score Stourbridge 5 Cambridge 38.

Last game at Bees on Saturday May 2nd. The season is virtually over, nothing to aim for except the improvement of a league place for Stourbridge and their close league table rivals, Cinderford and Blackheath . Cambridge should have secured automatic promotion but for the RFU mid season structural changes, and in many seasons would have won the league outright with the current points score. To win at Bees is not a tough call. The contest could well turn into an exhibition match.

Lastly a big pat on the back once again for our hosts Stourbridge. Tops for me are the match programme and 4^th official Alan McCreadie. They set standards for us all and have done so since we became National League rivals two seasons ago. I look forward to more such rewarding encounters in future.

Mal Schofield