On a dry spring day with a slight crosswind all seemed set for running rugby, the teams did not disappoint as Cranbrook narrowly but deservedly won and will look forward to a home cup final at the end of the month.
Ashford opened the scoring early as Cranbrook missed a couple of tackles but responded swiftly as Captain and scrum half Joe Cordrey put a penalty to the 22. From the lineout the forwards took the ball on and then from recycled ball and good passing right wing Miles Hellier had space by the touchline to score comfortably. They added a 2nd soon after as the ball was turned over and left-wing Wilf Sellick, a debut making colt, found himself in space near halfway. A fine, sinuous and pacy run enabled him to score halfway out, well converted by Cordrey. Ashford replied as Cranbrook dropped the kick off, several phases later the home team equalised as the prop took the ball on the burst to score by the posts.
It was apparent that both teams wanted to move the ball and passing by two well matched teams was particularly of note, enabling a fast-paced game which featured many fine runs by forwards and backs alike. For Cranbrook Louis Stone and Josh Parkes were especially effective runners, whilst Parkes was resolute in taking several high hanging kick offs often under pressure. In the scrum Cranbrook gradually got on top and were better at the lineout, Ashford though resorting to the ball to the front with some success. The fast-paced game inevitably produced some mistakes by both teams as there was no further score until approaching 30 minutes by which time Ashford were a wing forward short due to indiscipline at the breakdown. From an attacking lineout hooker Kenny Magsico was put clear near the corner, well converted by Cordrey. Before half time Ashford scored when finding space on the right, the conversion tying the scores at 19-19 at the interval.
Cranbrook though had always looked potent out wide and scored a fine try at the beginning of the half as another break by Stone put Hellier away, with work to do he managed to find a way to the line, again well converted by Cordrey. Another score came from distance as Sellick was put away on the left, Fabian Rimmer looped round to take the return pass and score at a canter leaving Cranbrook clear at 19-31.
Cranbrook did have an opportunity to close the game out but were not able to execute as a pass did not go to hand at the crucial moment. Instead, it was Ashford who next scored when a missed tackle produced an opening which appeared to have been halted at the last by a strong tackle from the covering Hellier, it was probably rightly deemed high, so a penalty try was awarded as well as a yellow card.
With 15 minutes remaining the match was now in the balance with Cranbrook a man down, but as the visitors regained field position an Ashford indiscretion handed a penalty opportunity about 35 metres out which Cordrey convincingly converted, leaving Cranbrook two scores clear at 26-34.
As players tired, the game was now very open as both teams had threatening moments, one fine break by the Ashford flyhalf was terminated by a try saving tackle by his opposite number, Phil Catt, who also managed to dislodge the ball producing a knock on, but it was Ashford who scored on 37 minutes as missed tackles provided the opportunity.
Ashford pressed in the remaining time, but Cranbrook defended resolutely eventually turning over the ball for Captain Cordrey to joyfully hammer the ball into touch to end the game.
This was a fine match and a just outcome as Cranbrook had the firepower out wide and halfbacks Cordrey and Catt ensured a good supply of the ball to the willing runners provided by a strong pack effort. They also had to contend with an at times hostile home support as the game reached its climax, but the spirit of the team shone through as Cranbrook prevailed by 34 to 31.
Match report courtesy of Philip Rimmer.