Match Report - Surrey Cup - Vandals v Cranleigh

CRANLEIGH 19 WEYBRIDGE VANDALS 48

Vandals saw in the new year with this comprehensive win over Cranleigh in the Surrey cup competition. They might well have scored more than their eight tries, but they switched off their intensity for a period in the second half, allowing the home side to show their paces, and in scoring three tries they showed some attacking flair and great fighting spirt, but Vandals re-stablished their authority after these set backs with two late tries to seal the victory. All twenty players in the squad contributed to the success, and the efforts and skills shown in particular by youngsters Jack Woodhouse, Luke Dones, Tom Bolger, Karl Hoade, Brad Melvin, James Gulliver and Ollie Day will have been very satisfying to coaches Merlin O’Donnell and David Hoade.

Cranleigh were first out the blocks, but a fine relieving touch finder by Vandals scrum half Dave Loubser, who was a steadying influence throughout, penned them back. The home side forced their way back into Vandals 22 with good phase play, but the first of several turnovers gave Vandals a chance to counter attack, and a well timed pass by James Loubser to George Bolster saw the full back race away, leaving would be tacklers in his wake to touch down for a fine solo try. With Cranleigh losing their fly half with a shoulder injury, Vandals piled on the pressure, with No 8 Josh Carter breaking from the scrum supported by his scrum half, and taking play into the opposition’s 22. Winning a strike against the head allowed the backs to move the ball wide, and winger Luke Phairs performed the perfect loop to scramble over in the corner. Briefly Cranleigh threatened with a driving maul but at the next breakdown, Vandals got the turnover, and after a great build up and a clever pass by fly half James Wellden, Carter scored Vandals third try, to give them a half-time lead of fifteen points.

There was no let up from Vandals as the second half got under way. All the early possession went their way and they attacked deep into Cranleigh’s 22, and the constant phase ball eventually saw the ever present No 8 Josh Carter going over for his second try. Tom Bolger, who had come on at fly half, converted to give his side a 22 point cushion. A great break by Cranleigh’s scrum half saw them go close, but the ‘Cranes’ as they are known, were soon behind their posts again. A superb run by back rower James Gulliver from deep inside his own half found Karl Hoade in support, and the flanker notched up another Vandals try. Centre Cassian Braham-Law, who also came on at half-time then took out his frustration at not being in the starting line up by bursting through from his side’s sixth try. James Wellden, Captain for the day, converted, and, with plenty of time still on the clock Vandals looked set for more scores, but it was at this point that Cranleigh raised their game while Vandals lost some concentration. The home side has attempted to play an attacking game from the outset and their policy finally paid off. Good handling and superb support work plus great spirit saw them score three tries in quick succession to give them 19 points. Any thoughts they may have had of what would have been an amazing victory however were quickly extinguished by Vandals as their pack, steam rollered forward from a restart, and set up a second try for Greg Lynch. Dan Wellden converted to put the result beyond doubt. Cranleigh continued to fight hard but their pack was creaking, and, winning scrum ball Vandals moved the ball to Cassian Branham-Law. Sensing a great opportunity for a second score the centre powered his way forward parting the defence like Moses divided the Red Sea, and duly touched down under the posts for an easy Tom Bolger 2 points.

Vandals completed a fine weekend for the club when their U15 side won convincingly, again against Cranleigh, by 38 points to 17. In a great team performance the efforts of Sam Francis, Billy Parsons, Max Pillinger, Henry Gulliver, Eddie Rawling were particularly note worthy.