Cranbrook welcomed unbeaten league leaders Canterbury Pilgrims for the first game of the new year in dry wintery conditions, a chill northerly breeze on a heavy pitch but on another dry day so the conditions were reasonable.
Cranbrook kicked off and retained position so that when Canterbury offended, under advantage the ball was moved right to Fabian Rimmer on the 22. He broke the first tackle and stepped out of another to score halfway out and confidently convert himself.
Canterbury responded with a try of their own after a clearance from the kick off was run back, but the conversion was missed. The warning signs were there that the visitors would be proficient in running the ball, but some good and varied long kicking by Rimmer and a good chase meant that in general Canterbury were penned back. Some good Cranbrook phases drew another penalty which Rimmer converted after 10 minutes. The Cranbrook forwards were working hard so Canterbury did not have much ball with scrums and lineouts showing parity and with the referee keen to ensure players stayed as much as possible on their feet at the breakdowns, Canterbury were conceding penalties, although one attempt by Rimmer was over ambitious two closer chances were taken. Another penalty was reversed due to backchat but when Alex Cornwallis again had a difference of opinion a yellow card resulted, and Canterbury came more into the game as the first of multiple Cranbrook injuries led to the substitution of fly half Tom Johnson. A fine tap tackle denied Canterbury and Rimmer managed a turnover as the visitors tried a catch and drive from the lineout, but another fine move led to a converted try and a 16-12 halftime scoreline.
Cranbrook maintained their lead for a while in the second half as they were restored to full strength and Canterbury lost a player. Then Canterbury had a numerical advantage as their player returned and prop Miles Stockman was to his surprise carded. They made this count with some more assured back play with the flyhalf prominent, the converted score gave them the lead for the first time after about 55 minutes. They were mixing their play up well with some of the forwards raising their game. Cranbrook with less of the ball were still in the game and equalised as Cornwallis took a quick tap penalty to advance, but a second penalty was given and Cornwallis nervelessly slotted it from halfway out. Soon after, Rimmer though already struggling was unable to continue followed shortly after by Cornwallis, so Cranbrook had to reorganise. The inevitable consequence was that as Canterbury pressure continued, some hurried clearances lacked accuracy and after a close-range score by the sniping scrum half, 3 further scores occurred in the remaining ten or so minutes as a very fit Canterbury were ruthless in taking advantage of the host teams injuries. At the end Cranbrook had several good phases and full back Wilf Sellick at last got some space on the right, showing skill he effortlessly beat the first defender, but the covering defence eventually brought him down. The final whistle blew for a somewhat harsh final score of 19-43.
Canterbury were not as strong as usual but some considerable credit should be given to Cranbrook for remaining in the game until injuries to their midfield so crucially occurred.
The team was 1 M Stockman, 2 T Humphreys, 3 D Lock, 4 T Hamplett, 5 J Lamb, 6 B Pearce, 7 H Gillanders Capt., 8 J Forknall, 9 A Cornwallis, 10 T Johnson, 11 A Andrews, 12 F Rimmer, 13 J Lewis, 14 S Jovanovic, 15 W Sellick. Subs E Barbour for Johnson 30 min D Houghton-Judge for Rimmer 62mins and C Fowler for Cornwallis 66 mins.
Match report by Philip Rimmer