SIR CECIL SMITH CUP – SAT 25 JUN 11 For the first time it was decided to hold the Sir Cecil Smith Cup final on Corps Open Day using the focal point of the main arena to attract a bumper crowd. On a pleasant, but not too hot, day both 17 P&M Regt and 23 Pnr Regt were introduced to the Corps President and Chairman before battle commenced. It was noted that the 17 P&M Regt team was sporting several veterans; would it be a case of a lack of stamina towards the end or advanced guile and cunning throughout? Only time would tell.Due to the lack of match practice the game began rather scrappily and the first scoring opportunity fell to the Dolphins as the Pioneers encroached offside at a ruck. The resultant penalty was spurned, but the Pioneers contrived to knock-on before clearing their lines and the Dolphins were rewarded with a scrum 5, perhaps redemption? The Dolphins’ pack applied sustained pressure on the Pioneers line, but the defence was resolute and an eventual penalty infringement allowed the Pioneers to clear their lines. The pendulum then swung the other way with the Pioneers applying pressure, which resulted in a penalty after a high tackle was delivered Fiji-style. The 23 Pnr fullback didn’t waste the opportunity and gladly slotted the ball between the sticks to make the score 3-0.General play then descended into a rather scrappy affair, with an inordinate number of silly errors and turnovers, not allowing any continuity and any team to gain the ascendancy. It was from this malaise that the Pioneers managed to inject some pace and incision. The fullback took a quick throw-in and released the winger who raced clear of the first line of Dolphins defence. As the cover defence hove into view and cut off angles, the winger kicked ahead, outpaced all and gathered his kick to score a try to the left of the uprights; a real advert for pace making a difference. The conversion was remarkably missed leaving the score 8-0 to the Pioneers.The Dolphins appeared to be stung into action and the aforementioned veterans controlled the pack and executed an excellent catch and drive from a lineout just inside the 23 Pnr half. The driving maul rumbled on, seemingly unstoppable, until the Pioneers second row (Max Vave, with the assistance of some well digested pies/pillows etc!) pulled it down just outside the 22. This controlled pressure counted for nothing as the points from the resultant penalty were eschewed. The half was brought to a close with the Pioneers 8-0 to the good.A scrappy and disjointed start to the second half was blown away by the sheer pace and audacity of the Pioneers young left winger, who took advantage of a turnover to burn the Dolphins defence on the outside and scorch under the post to score a try with a text book “Ashton-esque” swallow dive (fortunately for him the ball was not dropped). The conversion attempt (if you could call it that) was once again missed and the Pioneers lead by 13-0.The Dolphins were by now becoming frustrated that they had failed to capitalise on any of their positive play, with silly errors and poor judgement calls impeding their progress, which manifested itself in continuous infractions. The referee became exasperated by a string of offences and duly brandished his yellow card to the Dolphins outside centre (Junior Koribaui) for hands in the ruck. The Pioneers declined the kind offer of additional points from the resultant penalty, with the art place kicking clearly taking a back seat during the game.The subsequent play saw some thrilling end to end attacks, always thwarted by either silly errors or great defence. However, it was the Pioneers who managed to exploit a concerted attack as their pack drove strongly upfield, “picking and going”, driving the Dolphins defence backwards. This surge was eventually repressed just short of the line, but some quick recycling (a posting to Germany can come in handy…) enabled the No 8 (Joe Kava) crash over for a try. The comedy kicking continued unabated as, with the ball falling off the tee, a drop was attempted and expertly missed. However 23 Pnr now lead 18 - 0 and it all seemed like a lost cause for 17 P&M, much to the President’s and Chairman’s chagrin.They say that the darkest hour is always before dawn and how prophetic this turned out to be as, with the help of a generous/sympathetic referee, the Dolphins took advantage of a glaring knock-on to break the gain line and recycle quick ball several times before their hooker (Loki) crashed through a gaggle of Pioneer defenders to reduce the deficit to 18 - 5. Not wanting to break with the trend the conversion was missed by the Dolphins.This score finally saw the game liven up and there was an evident step-up in pace and ferocity (perhaps the ring rust had finally worn off), with a series of fast and furious counter attacks from both sides. This unfortunately was not sustained and mediocrity once again took hold. However, amidst the returning scrappiness the Dolphins’ forwards created another rumbling, robust drive that drove the Pioneers back over their own try line only for the referee to call it held up. The resultant scrum 5 was effectively driven by the Dolphins, but prevented from scoring by illegal machinations by the Pioneers pack. Excellent tactical nous saw the Dolphins take a quick tap and pass the ball away from the contact area and into the path of the onrushing (well all pace is relative – think gravitational force!) hooker (Mac McKervail) who bustled over the line for a well deserved try. With another absolutely awful attempt at a conversion being wasted the score remained 18 - 10 and the referee blew the final whistle, much to the relief of the Pioneers as the Dolphins were just starting to look frisky.The large crowd seemed to enjoy the spectacle for the most part (always helped by the consumption of alcohol, with Mess tents strategically placed around the pitch) and witnessed some great counter attacking rugby, big defensive hits and powerful forward play, but peppered with a dash of knock-ons, forward passes and woeful place kicking. DRLC kindly presented the spoils and it was agreed that the event had been a success, and one that will hopefully be repeated next year. However, if there is one lesson to take away from this game it is that players who are perhaps carrying an excess of timber should be excluded from wearing skin tight tops (with the average spectator in mind - especially straight after lunch!). |
