Sense of purpose goes missing as sorry Blues get battered

Cranbrook 37

Whitstable 0 By Bob Tomlinson

THE adverse effects of a four week break were clear to see in this Whitstable performance. Cranbrook, who had suffered a heavy defeat just a week before, scored six unanswered tries, completely outplaying the visitors.

Victory for the home side was made easier by a very disappointing Blues' display. There seemed to be little sign of any kind of teamwork or sense of purpose needed to resist the natural pressure from a well-drilled Cranbrook.

Late changes to the original team selection due to player unavailability and injury did not make it any easier for the Blues, who had to resist strong pressure from the start. A penalty goal after 10 minutes, awarded for a high tackle, was the first sign of things to come.

The Cranes were not afraid to run the ball at every opportunity and this was encouraged by their forwards' speed to the ball in the loose play and at tackle areas.

This enabled them to instigate a move after 20 minutes from their own 23-metre line which sliced through some ineffective Whitstable tackling and two phases later the home side crossed for the first try and resulting conversion.

Unable to get their hands on the ball, strong defence was essential for the Blues, but Cranbrook seemed to find gaps, breaking through tackles regularly.

The second try came on the half hour when a thrust down the left flank was only half-stopped and quick hands saw the home team cross over for an unconverted score.

Whitstable came back strongly for the last 10 minutes of the half and flanker Rob Maxted thought he'd grounded the ball on the line after a good lineout move, but the referee awarded a scrum instead.

Further Whitstable drives also went close but every move seemed disjointed and cumbersome, too slow to outwit their opponents' unyielding defence.

Down by 15 points at the break, Blues started the second half well and some good drives led by Jon Adkins, Matt Pearce and Matt Beavis forced the home team to concede penalties, but the resultant pressure was thwarted by aggressive defending.

Whitstable then lost Maxted to a yellow card and also their impetus. Instead Cranbrook seized the initiative again and an attack down the middle saw their home scrum-half suddenly emerge from a ruck and race 40 metres to score under the posts. The try was also converted.

With a seven-man scrum, the Blues were under considerable pressure and a pushover try was the result on the hour, adding five points to the Cranbrook tally.

A few brave runs from Whitstable full back Josh Booty, centre Chris McDermott and others raised hopes, but no points followed.

Instead another short-range Cranbrook try followed with the final coup de grace coming five minutes from time when another orthodox Cranbrook move along their threequarter line found the Blues' backs poorly aligned, the home side scoring in the corner despite Booty's commendable chase and tackle on the line.

Whitstable: Child, Harris, Beavis, Adkins, Pearce, Holness, Maxted, Bird, Brown, Eastwood, Collins, McDermott, Payne, Lobban, Booty. Substitutes (all played): Hefetz, Hopkins, Stephens.

This Saturday Whitstable host fellow-strugglers New Ash Green in a Kent 1 game at the Chaucer Ground (2.15pm).

Aylesford III 22

Whitstable II 14

THIS was a close and hard-fought Invicta 4 match in which Whitstable showed plenty of spirit, Duncan McKinnon and Shane Adams prominent in the pack.

They were only three points behind until just before the final whistle, courtesy of well-worked tries from Rob Hassell and Machek Nemi, both converted by Nemi.

However in the last play of the game Aylesford grabbed their try to seal victory and the points.

Blues twos entertain Gravesend III this Saturday (2.15pm).

Whitstable III 47

Sittingbourne III 5

WHITSTABLE were far too strong for Sittingbourne in this Early Bird 6 league match, particularly amongst the forwards where the home pack was well in command.

They scored eight tries with scrum half Charlie Collins leading the way with three touchdowns.

Ben House and Calum Bower also grabbed a brace apiece and Ben Cliff also contributed a try.

In addition Collins converted two of the tries and kicked a penalty goal to give the Blues their 12th consecutive league win.