Another wake up call for Cranbrook who did not show the necessary level of decision making, finesse or fitness after an extended xmas break, to overcome a fired-up Ashford team, despite having enough opportunities.
On an overcast day with the pitch having absorbed the heavy rain of midweek, the strong cross wind was the main difficulty to overcome. After an indeterminate opening few minutes that produced some kicking of generally poor quality by both sides, Cranbrook had the first opportunity to score but the wind took the 40-metre kick wide. Ashford responded with the first up and under by the home scrum half, which was not collected, and he continued with this tactic for the rest of the game which led to Ashford being able to chase and tackle strongly, so denying the pacy Cranbrook outside backs the opportunity to counter much.
On fifteen minutes an Ashford prop was carded for a breakdown offence and from the penalty Ollie Allman put a long kick to touch which put Cranbrook on the attack. Several times the 14-man Ashford defence resisted the mainly forward orientated moves when some variety was called for and the chance to score was lost. Ironically when the Ashford prop returned, from a close range tapped penalty the ball was moved right, and wing Theo Rimmer scored comfortably.
Ashford responded with a converted penalty and then produced a nice backs move which was only just halted in the right corner. Soon after going left the wing scored as Cranbrook ran out of defensive numbers. Worse was to follow as another astute up and under was not taken in the wind and the following up flyhalf was able to collect the bouncing ball breaking away to score comfortably, very well converted.
Cranbrook responded well in the last part of the half and after another card, this time for the Ashford 13, Luke Lafferty found just enough space after a typically strong run to stretch out and score near the corner. To your well positioned scribe, the equally well positioned Ashford coach, and many others the try was inexplicably not allowed, apparently for losing control in grounding, leaving a half time score of 15-5.
Cranbrook would need the next score and that they did not was down to another questionable referee call that did not go the way of Cranbrook. Moving left there was a clear overlap about 15 metres out which was denied by the other Ashford prop being carded for the most unsubtle and blatant deliberate knock on. Many thought that a penalty try should have been awarded, perhaps the ref decided there was no certainty of a score given the slippery ball and the gusty wind. Insult was added to injury when shortly after Lafferty just had to collect the ball on the bounce near the try line against the 13 men but could not do so. Despite my comments I must add that the referee was strong and generally even handed in what was becoming a feisty game.
Any chance of Cranbrook coming back into the game was now receding as the accomplished Ashford scrum half kicker slotted a penalty and Cranbrook used the replacements amongst a couple of positional changes also. But the Ashford team, in particular the pack, were sensing victory and raised their game, whilst Cranbrook in these conditions could have done with a recognised bigger and heavier lock forward rather than playing the valiant back rower Jack Lamb in that position. When from a defensive scrum Cranbrook passed the ball dead, the reset scrum was collected by the home No8 to score, the conversion putting Ashford out of realistic site at 25-5.
In the last part of the game Ashford were certainly on top and scored in the corner from a long-range rolling maul, expertly converted as the kick drifted home on the crosswind. The final score came after another Ashford interception resulted in the forwards regathering the ball for a score in the same corner, again well converted for a decisive final score of 39-5.
The fine early season form of Cranbrook was achieved on firm pitches where the pacy backs could express themselves. On heavier winter pitches Cranbrook will need to develop other areas of their game if they are to continue to progress. They did play with good spirit but in this league need to score from a higher percentage of chances created to be successful.
Match report courtesy of Philip Rimmer.