Bromley RFC VS Cranbrook RFC

BROMLEY EASE TO VICTORY OVER CRANBROOK

After last week’s hard fought victory over Ashford Bromley welcomed Cranbrook to Barnet Wood Road. Over the last couple of years Bromley and Cranbrook have had several very hard fought games and there was no reason to suggest that this encounter would be any different. The Bromley first team squad has now settled down with better availability and fewer injuries which has made competition for places intense and with a big improvement in the second team more younger players are pushing for starts in the ones which is all good. For today’s game, there was a reshuffle in the back row with Godden and Haisell getting starts and with Hawkins not available the versatile Pillow moved to full back to allow fast Freddie Bender to grace the right wing.

Playing down the slight slope Bromley produced an exciting brand of fifteen man rugby that the away side found very hard to live with. The forwards produced a steady stream of ball and with Scott, Rice and Griffiths J pulling the strings the backs were able to through their paces causing Cranbrook all sorts of problems. During the opening forty minutes fives tries were scored starting after five minutes with the strong running Powell going over quickly followed by a lovely try four minutes later when the pack set up half backs Scott and Rice who shifted the ball to Griffiths who held the ball up to release Bender running a great line and he skipped around a couple of defenders to score to the left of the posts. Ten minutes in and 14-0 up.

Cranbrook were on red alert and on nineteen minutes in an attempt to raise the siege they tried to run out of their twenty two but the pressure was on and they spilt the ball which was snapped up by winger Griffiths who drew the defence and slipped a nice pass to Rice who dived over the line for the third try. The home side were now in full attack mode and before half time two more tries were scored by the resurgent Banfield and another by the classy Powell. Five tries, three conversions, bonus point in the bag and Bromley were 33-0 to the good when the half time whistle went.

This was an excellent half of rugby by the home side and really backed up their performance from last week. Cranbrook must have wondered what had hit them but all credit to their players because they came out full of fight and vigour in the second half and gave Bromley much more of a game and a defensive examination. Bromley were well up for this challenge and put the icing on the cake when about sixty minutes in number 8 Haisell capped a fine performance with a good try. The game drew to a conclusion with Bromley winning 38-0. They will be pleased with their attacking play in the first half and their defensive shape and organisation which prevented Cranbrook from troubling the scoreboard. On the pitch, next door the seconds had picked up a friendly against Tunbridge Wells who top their league and a great game ensued with the boys putting up a heck of a fight before going down 24-10. Again, so disappointingly, the third team opposition cried off. Next week the firsts are at home to near neighbours Beccehamians, the seconds are travelling in the opposite direction and the thirds have no fixture at present.