Charlton Park - 23rd March 2024

 

Cranbrook disappointed with performance in key relegation match.

   The penultimate match of the season took Cranbrook to S E London for a much anticipated battle in windy, mainly dry and sometimes sunny conditions but with some dark clouds looming in the distance.
   Charlton Park kicked off down the considerable slope with the wind which also went across the pitch and was to cause much disruption.
   It soon became apparent that the Park pack would dominate as Cranbrook in such a big game were strangely passive perhaps in awe of difficulties here last season from a strong home front row. Although early play in midfield was disrupted by the wind as 2 Park throws were called not straight, they soon got down the pitch into Cranbrook territory, but  the visitors managed to turn over a scrum as Park lost control. The ball became loose and Cranbrook eschewed the opportunity to seize it and then conceded a soft try from a quickly tapped penalty. 
   From the kick off Cranbrook managed to recover the ball and after some promising phases Fabian Rimmer took a crash ball off a scrum and breaking a tackle was able to saunter to the posts and convert to tie the score after 11 minutes.
   Park soon restored the lead as another tap penalty against a worryingly passive defence, then from the kick off as a nice move made ground left, wing Stefan Jovanovic had to be replaced as he was injured at the tackle, Phil Catt coming on. Park were soon converting a simple penalty but the next few minutes were indeterminate as the wind again disrupted kicks and lineouts, but Captain Hamish Gillanders did distinguish himself with a lineout steal.
   Park again got back in position as they were able to pressurize the defence as the scrum half chose his moments to kick very well, but also sometimes the backs would make ground when realeased or the forwards would take the ball on to suck in defence. 
   Another penalty at close range was taken quickly as a Cranbrook defender took a dummy for another soft score again converted. By now Park were getting confident and scored the best try of the day with a slick move down the left side and worse was to follow as a kick through on the right bounced invitingly for the Park wing to collect and avoid more questionable tackling to score. Another try almost came as Rimmer just managed to save the situation as the scoreboard read a convincing half time 38-7 scoreline.
   This was a shock to the best away support of the season including some of the Nomads team. As the second half commenced the distant heavy cloud had become overhead and for 10 minutes produced hailstones which carried on the wind made it difficult to play and spectate. Unfortunately the conditions produced handling errors that stymied the visitors attempts to get back in the game. Daniel Betts had come on at half time and soon Lewis Stone joined him as fullback Owen Chilvers was injured. Despite considerable reorganisation Cranbrook were now playing with the great spirit which typifies this squad. Guy Crouchman executed two turnovers but their attempts  to score were met by far sterner resistance than they themselves had provided in the first half.
   As the sun came out conditions improved as scrum half Oliver Addis was able to burrow over from close range but 23 minutes had crucially passed, as prop Miles Stockman took an injury and had to be replaced by Hamplett. Soon lock Toby Freeman broke from the lineout to score, Alex Cornwallis quickly drop kicking the conversion, then Bear Pearce was held up on the line. Finally Crouchman was just able to get over from a tapped penalty, Rimmer converting to close the game as Cranbrook had at least secured a point for scoring 4 tries.
    Cranbrook had kept Park scoreless in the second half and will wonder what might have been had they fronted up better in the first half.
    Assistant coach Matt Franklin mentioned the failure to keep to the game plan in the first half, while the philosophical head coach Chris Catt although deeply disappointed was able to see the bigger picture of how the squad is developing and how further progress will be made.
   The result leaves Cranbrook a point behind Charlton Park, needing at least 2 points from the last game to overtake them, though the number of relegated teams is still at this late stage unclear.
   Finally a note of appreciation for stalwart prop forward James Yeomans who played his last game for the club today as he relocates back to Rutland. He has been at the forefront of the progress Cranbrook have made over recent seasons and has done really well to get back playing at this level after his quite shocking injury at Deal last season. He also contributed fully to helping the coaches during his prolonged absence so he goes with our best wishes.
The team was: 1 M Stockman, 2 J Forknall, 3 J Yeomans, 4 T Hamphlett, 5 T Freeman, 6 B Pearce, 7 H Gillanders Captain, 8 G Crouchman, 9 O Addis, 10 A Cornwallis, 11 E Barbour, 12 F Rimmer, 13 J Lewis, 14 S Jovanovic, 15 O Chilvers. Subs P Catt for Jovanovic 15 mins to 10, 10 to 13, 13 to 14.
D Betts for Hamplett 40 mins, L Stone for Chilvers 55 mins to 4, Betts to 6, Pearce to 14, Lewis to 13, Cornwallis to 15. Hamphlett for Stockman to 4, Stone to 3.