The last match before the Xmas break at Ashford was an even contest where the greater experience of the home team meant they made more of their chances than did Cranbrook.
On a mild dry day with a slight breeze down the ground the teams took to the field furthest from the clubhouse because in the heavy rain of the week the neighbouring drains could not cope and overflow onto the main pitch contained unwelcome bacteria. There was a good-sized crowd with plenty from Cranbrook as the hosts had laid on an Xmas dinner.
Cranbrook played with the breeze and very slight slope and had very much the best of the opening minutes and might have scored a couple of tries, but resolute defence and a lack of precision meant the scoreboard remaining blank. The returning Sam Shillabeer unfortunately took a couple of knocks and had to make a precautionary visit to hospital, replaced at flanker by Ben Sutton. Thereafter Ashford came into the game as they seemed to have an advantage at scrum time as well as being very competitive at the breakdown gaining some turnovers and penalties through the game, but Cranbrook by the pressure they exerted gained a similar number of penalties. Ashford opened the scoring as a penalty was kicked to 5 metres, although the lineout drive was held, a score was made on later phases, well converted.
Cranbrook though still had enough territory and possession, but although the backs sometimes made ground, the tryline was not threatened even when Ashford were reduced to 14. When lock Tom Hamplett was carded and Ashford were back to full strength, they needed no second invitation to increase the score with a very slick short lineout move to end the half at 14-0.
Cranbrook looked to get back into the game and centre Wilf Sellick looked dangerous, but soon had to reorganise as Phil Catt had to retire injured, Anthony Andrews replaced him going to fullback and Owen Chilvers moved to fly half. Andrews settled quickly making one strong run out of defence. Then Sellick broke a tackle to get free, using his pace he looked very likely to score, but hesitated slightly. This gave the covering Ashford Captain the opportunity to tackle, he went very high, and a red card and penalty try looked possible. The referee deemed there was no certainty of scoring and as Sellick appeared uninjured, just a yellow card was given.
This time Cranbrook were able to use their numerical advantage to score as an excellent pass to the blindside by Alex Cornwallis was collected by the rampaging lock Rory McDowell who did well to score in the right corner. The conversion from Fabian Rimmer was sweetly struck and sailed through the posts. Cornwallis was having a strong game at scrum half and was unfortunate to 3 times being prohibited from taking quick tapped penalties as the referee insisted, they must be taken from his mark.
Cranbrook now looked to press on as the scrum had settled into a more even contest, but Ashford continued to tackle strongly and had a good exit strategy to gain ground from kicks. A blood injury to hooker Tom Humphries led to him leaving the field to be patched up as Elliot Barbour returned. Another Cranbrook attack ended as the Ashford centre, not for the first time appeared well offside, and was carded, but from the penalty were unable to make inroads. Ashford had the last word as when gaining a good attacking position good phase work produced a score, again converted.
Cranbrook had contributed well but whereas Ashford had the experience and game management to score when in position, Cranbrook needed to make more of their chances.
Coach Chris Catt was pleased with the effort put in but mentioned an inability to assess when an imbalance in numbers should dictate that the ball goes wide.
The team was 1 M Stockman, 2 T Humphreys, 3 D Lock, 4 T Hamplett, 5 R McDowell, 6 D Houghton-Judge, 7 S Shillabeer, 8 J Forknall, 9 A Cornwallis, 10 P Catt, 11 E Barbour, 12 F Rimmer Captain, 13 W Sellick, 14 S Jovanovic, 15 O Chilvers.
Subs B Sutton for Shillabeer 10 minutes, A Andrews for P Catt 50 mins, C Fowler for Barbour 60 mins. Barbour blood replacement for Humphreys 70-75 mins.
Match report by Philip Rimmer