Chipping Sodbury pointless as sun sets on their challenge

Old Cryptians 1st XV – 18

IT LOOKED like good fortune as well as the sun was shining on Sodbury when Old Cryptians knocked on immediately from the kick off. Sodbury pressed forward from the resulting scrum, only for the Cryptians to creep offside and give James Bennett a chance to open the scoring – which he duly did.

Another penalty to Sodbury was kicked artfully from their own half by Dan bradley to within five metres of the visitors' try line. Sodbury confidently set up a driving maul only to infringe themselves, thus relieving the pressure and finding play back in their own half. With much of the game now taking place between the twenty-twos, and play becoming somewhat scrappy, Sodbury could ill-afford wayward kicking. If it hadn't been for the heroic efforts of Dom Pullen Sodbury would have found themselves with an early mountain to scale.

When Cryptians ran back a poor kick and managed to slip past the defence, Pullen struck when the attack was just one metre from the try line. He was up on his feet quickly enough to repel the first drive for the line which he forced back a full five metres before the cavalry arrived. With Sodbury obviously in festive mood they were giving away penalties like alms to the poor, one of which resulted in a Cryptians try beneath the posts.

Sodbury suffered from a lack of intensity all afternoon which, when coupled with penalties and too many errors, allowed Old Cryptians to extend their lead to 3 – 10 after only two minutes of the second half. Sodbury were feeling the pressure now, which showed with impossible passes being made only to be exploited by Cryptians. Any ball Sodbury had was chased down by a rushing dogged defence which managed to charge down a clearance kick in the twenty-two, leading to an easy try.

Even with a numerical advantage due to a Cryptian yellow card, Sodbury could not capitalise. In fact the penalties kept coming which led to more adventure from the visitors. Sodbury left it to the thirty-eighth minute before managing to pass the ball successfully along the back line to the wing. This sweeping forty-metre move yielded a lineout ten metres out following a deft chip ahead. The driving maul from the lineout was set up once more and the jubilant cheers told the crowd Sodbury had scored.

Rising last from the melee with the ball was elder statesman Martin Moorhouse. James Bennett's conversion got Sodbury into losing bonus point territory. Unfortunately, this was thrown away after a long restart was knocked on under no pressure; the following scrum led to yet another penalty which Cryptians stroked over to leave Sodbury with nothin