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01/01/1970
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Match Report
Resounding Win
Coming off the back of only their 2nd League defeat of the season, both to unbeaten leaders Old Blues, Cranleigh put in a solid if not spectacular performance against bottom side Old Ruts.
46-0 is a big win but it could have been more. However with the 3rd placed team losing there is now a healthy gap between the top two & the rest.
Full report:
Cranleigh 46 Old Ruts 0
Cranleigh returned to winning ways with a resounding 7 try victory over Old
Rutlishians. From the kick off the hosts dominated the visitors who were
penalised constantly through the game for being offisde at the breakdown. An
early penalty from fly half Luke Edwards settled Cranleigh before right wing
Dave Smillie scored the frst try from close range in the right hand corner. This
early lead put the pressure right on Ruts who struggled to get out of their half
in the early stages of the match. More try line pressure saw full back Jason
Quick find a gap in the defence for Cranleigh's second try. Ruts managed to gain
some possession and nearly scored on a couple of occasions, the bounce of the
ball denying them a try after a kick and chase while some excellent last ditch
defending from the Cranleigh back row protected their line.
Having cleared the danger Cranleigh launched a counter attack. Second row Mike
Stacey was sin binned for punching but this had no adverse affect on Cranleigh.
Calm defence prevented Ruts from using their numerical advantage and Cranleigh
mounted a further attack. Persistent infringement at the ruck gave the referee
no choice who sin binned a Ruts flanker. Smillie was released down the right
again and delivered a fine finish to squeeze in at the corner to round off a
good team score. A superb touchline conversion made the half time score 20-0.
The second half saw Ruts striving to get back into the game but they could not
find a way past the defence. A close range tap penalty might have provided Ruts
with a try but Quick made a crunching tackle to deny the advance. Cranleigh made
their way into Ruts territory and hooker Dave Eve burst free from a maul up the
right hand side and almost to the try line. The ball was well recycled, shipped
wide and following a series of drives prop Jake Shayler scored in the left hand
corner. Ruts almost hit back with a breakaway try following a kick ahead but the
ball just bounced past the dead ball line as the Ruts player grounded it.
Another tough call for Ruts who showed gritty determination and commitment
throughout the game.
Further scores followed for Cranleigh through left wing Lewis Keeling and centre
James Moore who dodged numerous tackles to run in from the ten metre line. Quick
rounded off the try scoring in the closing minutes with a simple finish as
Cranleigh made their superiority count. Eleven points from the boot of Edwards
pushed the score towards 50 points as Cranleigh consolidated second place in the
league behind Old Blues.
