Cannock Run Edwardians Close

Cannock V Edwardians

Cannock welcome Edwardians and hope to break the home fixture losing streak.

On a near perfect day for Rugby, Cannock warmed up with good intensity with a view to starting strong. The familiar 'up the slope' first half with kick off to get us under way. From the off the back row set their stall out with Soccer John Freeman and Darren Baugh making the first big hit causing Ed's player to spill the ball.

Cannock continued to apply the pressure at the scrum in the visitors 22, a great first solid scrum from Craig Richards, the missed James Cummins and the consistent Jay Barrett. The pressure was too much for the visitors and a penalty was awarded in front of the post. Scott Pedley unable to slot due to the high winds. 22 drop out, Pincombe collected and made a good break but was turned over and a penalty was awarded to Ed's who were able to collect the points.

0-3

Play got under way again and saw Cannock pack breaking lines left right and centre but falling short on the offload game, good support play by the very mobile and missed Joe Brookes and Halil Gozukucuk managed to exploit around the break down area. Unfortunately against the run of play Ed's awarded another pen at the ruck right under Cannock posts

0-6.

Tempo and intensity from Cannock was good and pressure was piled on Ed's causing them to kick everything to clear their lines. A good carry from Josh Humphreys up in to to the midfield saw Edwardians under pressure and go off their feet at the breakdown. Quick thinking from Skipper Gareth Ley took a quick tap and go, broke through one tackle and darted 40m up the pitch, with good support from Josh Humphreys causing indecisive defending from the back line of Ed's allowing the captain to dot down. Unable to convert.

5-6.

Edwardians restarted the game with some intensity, but cannock making basic mistakes again with dropped balls and giving away possession, Eds were able to make a counter attack and score.

5-13

Cannock needed to up the intensity now and make sure the next score was theirs, Stephen Frost and Jon Freeman making great work of the restart and gathering the ball for Cannock. Quick Ball from Neil Cartwright who had a great game, shipped it out to Ley who unleashed, Josh, Scott Pedley, and Caine Smalling to charge it up in the 22 of the visitors. Penalty awarded to Cannock and palmer slotted the 3 points.

8-13

HT

The 2nd Half got under way Cannock's spirits were high with the game seemingly under the control of the lions. However a lost line-out and poor tackling from Cannock allowed the visitors to run in an easy try under the post.

8-20

Cannock knew they needed to focus on the basics and stop dropping the ball and winning their line-outs, this has been the story of the season so far and we have to fix it now. Cannock managed to apply some good pressure and strong carries from the pack in to the visitors 22 and win a penalty. Line-out called. Great thinking from the pack, a ball to he front of the line saw the man of the Match Jay Barrett Bundle over for his first try for the 1st team, well done mate.

13 - 20

Edwardians restarted the game, and piled on the pressure and more unforced errors by cannock see the visitors turn over the ball and attack the wings and dot down in the corner.

13 - 27

Frustrations were starting to set in amongst the lions and we could see a game we should of won slipping away from us again. Cannock needed to up the intensity and we did, great work by the pack and quick ball from Neil Cartwright allowed the ball to be shipped out wide to Jordan Pincombe who ran a great line and scored in the corner.

20 - 27

Some changes made before the end of the game saw Larry Adeyanju make his first appearance for the 1st team. Straight in to action and a good hard carry saw him break one tackle but get snagged and the ball was turned over to the visitors.

Penalty awarded to cannock and the 3 points was slotted to bring the scores closer.

23 - 27

Cannock had 5 mins to make something happen but it wasn't to be, good carries and offloads from the visitors saw them charge up the pitch and score again.

Final score: 23 - 34

Congratulations to Man of the match Jay Barrett for a superb shift and first try.

We as a squad have so much to work on and we need to make things right now, the time to make it right is at training. Training Tuesday & Thursday, this time of year important to get money in the bank towards the next win.

Thank you to all our Sponsors, Wakelake, NMB, DGL