Cambridgeshire withstood a late Norfolk rally to record a comfortable win at a blustery Davey Field. The pre-match downpour made us all feel grateful that Cambridge scrumhalf Noah was in the squad but mercifully the elements relented before kick off, allowing both sides to play some good rugby.
The question for the Cambs supporters was whether a team comprised of such fierce local rivals could gel when playing together. This question was answered in the affirmative immediately. From the kick off Norfolk shipped the ball to a strong running centre. He was smartly upended by his opposite number, Cambridge's Ryan Headington and the ball was expertly 'jackaled' by Shelford's Sam Jones. With possession turned over Cambs drove the length of the pitch and created an opening for Newmarket's Aiden Cooper to dive over by the post. Headington added the extra points from the conversion and Cambs were up and running and looking a well-drilled cohesive unit.
Buoyed by the early score Cambridgeshire were completely dominant in the first half. The pack were especially impressive. The front row of Curtis, Picton-Turbervill and Pratt dominated their much bigger opponents, winning several scrums against the head. The power and ball carrying ability of second rows Cooper and Le drove Norfolk backwards and the mobile back row unit of Giles, Walker and Dingwall was first to every loose ball.
More tries were inevitable - a flowing passing move made a try in the corner for left winger George Smith. Scrum half Harry Hitchcock burrowed over from a goal line ruck. Finally just before the interval Ryan Headington picked up a loose ball and ran powerfully through the Norfolk midfield to make the score 22-0.
The second half was a different story as Norfolk upped their intensity at the breakdown and started to get on top at the lineout. Their big pack started to make inroads round the fringes and they snatched a try from a ruck close to the Cambs goalline.
With possession much more even in the second half chances for Cambs were rarer. However Cambs skipper Sam Jones seized on a moment of disorganisation in the Norfolk defence to slip through a gap. A couple of outrageous dummies later Sam had outwitted the covering defenders and dived over the line to restore the twenty point margin.
Undaunted by this reverse Norfolk drove on, aided by the wind at their backs and an astute forward based game. The reward was another converted close range try which gave respectability to the scoreline.
Ultimately Cambs ran out 27-14 winners - but credit to both sides for playing good quality rugby in difficult windy conditions.
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