CS defence made of stone

CS had their first visit of the season to Kent where all too often they get the jitters, but at least welcomed back Alex Davidson at lock, James Houstoun at full back, who were not available last week, Ollie Full James making his first appearance after a long term injury at tight head prop and Robbie Boswell to the bench a year exactly since his horrific injury against Brighton. CS returned with all five points, not least due to a defence that held firm and kept out all that Maidstone had to offer, until the very last play of the match, when Maidstone earned a consolation score. CS has also won its first three away games of the season – that was not even the case in 2009/2010 when they were promoted to what National three.
Even though the rain arrived later in the first half, both sides made a rather scrappy and error strewn start to the match. The second scrum of the match was an attacking one to the home side and despite their scrum being dominant, as soon as their number 8 picked up the ball for the attempted drive CS turned it over. They worked it quickly to their right wing, in space and with potential for a promising break, but a knock on gave possession back to Maidstone. The first line out went to CS but the throw was not straight and then again the advantage was wasted this time by the home team. Both sets of fans were urging their respective teams to take the game by the scruff of the neck and on twelve minutes that is exactly what happened; scrum half Adam Nixon collected the ball and looked for options out wide but as none looked attractive and being faced with two forwards immediately in front of him he sliced between them and won the race to the line scoring in the right corner; James Houstoun was unable to add the conversion 0 - 5.
CS did not deal with the restart particularly well but their defence, not for the first time, did not let any damage accrue. On eighteen minutes CS received their first penalty and kicked to the corner for a line out ten metres out, they immediately received another penalty following a Maidstone infringement to set up a five metre line out. The ball was won, not absolutely cleanly and therefore released to the backs. Left Wing James Dazeley received the ball and had the speed to score in the corner with Houstoun adding the conversion; 0 – 12. Very soon, via an enormous clearance kick the CS forwards were driving to the Maidstone line which was stopped when the referee penalised them for an obstruction offence. On half an hour centre Toby Guyatt received a pass that enabled him to jink and dart though the defence and score under the posts; Houstoun converting; 0 – 19. From the kick off Maidstone had a period of pressure including a penalty and an ensuing five metre line out but the CS defence again held firm. Via a purposeful break by flanker Will Scott CS took play deep into Maidstone territory who conceded a penalty in front of the posts which Houstoun converted 0 – 22. As the half drew to a close CS were in the Maidstone half and had Pumulo Banda unmarked on the right wing, fly half Liam Cleary spotted him and put in a beautiful cross kick perfect for the winger, and despite the rain making it harder, Banda plucked the ball out of the air to sprint to the line and score (see photo). The bonus point try was in the bag and the half time score was 0 – 27.
No doubt as a result of their half time pow wow, Maidstone in the early stages of the second half made some more focussed and determined forays towards the CS line, an early one of which involved the Maidstone number 8, pony tail flicking in the wind, attempt to barrage through the CS defence but he was abruptly stopped by a massive tackle from his opposite number 8 Tom Williams. After 8 minutes CS made some changes including Robbie Boswell for flanker Ross Keane and Andy Hall for James Dazeley, and then received a penalty which they tapped and ran, but almost immediately received a second penalty, but this time kicked for the corner for a 5 metre line out at the bottom corner of the Mote Park pitch. The ball was cleanly won and when driven over the line it was lock Alex Davidson who had scored; Andy Hall missed the conversion 0 - 32. Four minutes later, also via a penalty and kick to the same corner, CS should have scored but from the ensuing assault on the line hooker Josh Forrester was penalised for a double movement whilst trying to make the line and score, and Maidstone cleared their lines. Twenty eight minutes into the second half Davidson made a clean break, the ball was passed to Houstoun who moved it on but got it straight back when a CS player flicked it off the ground, he broke and when faced with a two on one with the line approaching, fed Nixon for his second of the match which Houstoun converted 0 – 39. The target now was to keep Maidstone off the score sheet but the penalty count swung the other way, as a result of which Maidstone had thee five metre lines out for CS to defend, and also had to play the last stages of the match with fourteen men after a yellow card for Boswell. Although the CS defence had hitherto held firm, including one break by Maidstone that looked a certain score but was prevented by a superb cover tackle just short of the line, the last play of the match was a try for Maidstone duly converted. The final score was 7 – 39.
The Maidstone pack was a large unit and often had the drive in the set scrum, but when necessary CS tackled and defended well. CS scored six tries, should have scored more, but were able to relax somewhat in the second half. However it was a good recovery from the defeat last week, and next week CS are at home to Old Cofeians, who despite being bottom of the table, in this round went down narrowly to highly fancied Havant 25 – 34.