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12th April 2008

The Perfect Storm

Mitcham  9  Old Cranleighans  10

Old Cranleighans are celebrating a fantastic unbeaten season, eighteen straight victories culminating in a tense and dramatic battle which went down to the wire. Third placed Mitcham were desperate for a win that would at least give them a shot at promotion, and that desire almost saw them topple the runaway League Champions, a penalty in the dying moments held up on an opportune squall. Cranleighans won the title several weeks ago, and for much of the game the tantalising prospect of a clean sweep of the league looked beyond them. This team is not short of heart however, and as the heavens opened at the close, OCs had fought back to seize a single point advantage, and with it the crowning glory of a season to savour.

On a large and over-grassed paddock, in the shadow of the pylons, the gathering storm clouds were initially held back by bright sunshine, but in their skipper, Mitcham supporters were only too familiar with a red mist about to descend. A wild early haymaker at the lineout, was soon followed by an blatant yellow card offence at the breakdown. Incessant talk at the official on return hardly endeared the No 8, and a late tackle and raised forearm early in the second half saw the captain sent from the field. All Mitcham’s early good work was squandered, and only a valiant effort from the seven-man pack kept the hosts in the game.

Mitcham started strongly, their urgency manifested in some robust rucking, a powerful opening from a sizeable pack. Fired up and roared on by a decent crowd, Mitcham should have taken an early lead, centre Neville seizing onto a speculative midfield miss pass, only to fumble the ball with the OC line at his mercy. OCs survived this early warning, but soon found themselves back in trouble, the slope and wind pinning them within their own half. Goal line heroics and some excellent tackling around the fringes with Simon Steer and Robin Williams prominent, kept Mitcham at bay for a time but, caught offside after ten minutes, OCs were forced to watch as Liam Dewsbury nailed a confident first penalty. A decent extended period of OC pressure followed, but the visitors failed to come away with any reward and in breaking the siege Mitcham grew in belief. With no number four jumper for OCs at the lineout, the hosts were guaranteed possession, but in Al Lawson OCs found a safe outlet. Lineout calls of Stephen Hawking like complexity could hardly disguise the fact that Lawson jumping at two would be the intended target, yet throughout the game OC were grateful for an athletic display from the Soweto Soarer.

Dewsbury calmly slotted a second penalty, and a third success struck a more ominous note for OCs. A poor restart was symptomatic of a worrying period for the visitors, Mitcham simply wanted the victory more at this point. Dewsbury lined up a fourth penalty attempt, and with Dom Hammond floored by a stray boot in a messy scramble for the loose ball, it seemed OCs would go into the interval twelve points down and without their first choice kicker. The penalty went astray however, and the half-time whistle gave OCs time to gather themselves. Apparently content to wait for the advantage of slope and breeze, OCs were given a quiet tongue lashing at the break, an unbeaten season hanging by an extremely tenuous thread.  From the restart the games changed complexion, and within five minutes Mitcham were left to draw on tiring levels of fitness and desire by the latest moment of madness from their captain. OCs re-jigged their line up, Graeme Brown hounded all day by a useful Mitcham back row but typically aware of his team’s need, making way as Andy Houston stepped in to scrum half, Harry Jupp ushering Hammond up from full-back to fly-half.

Cajoled by Houston into a more urgent rhythm, Cranleighans at last began to threaten, but as the half lengthened OCs still had it all to do. A huge period of pressure drained the Mitcham seven, their defence holding out bravely in the face of decisive advantage for OCs at the set piece. Finally OCs gained reward, Simon Steer, ubiquitous all afternoon, on hand to touch down wide right of the uprights with just ten minutes left to play. Hammond’s kick was not an object of beauty, the low fat slap somehow skidding over the bar to take Cranleighans to within a score. Moments later Steer almost single handedly won the game, a brilliant solo run leaving all but the last desperate cover trailing in his wake. The pressure on the hosts stretched to breaking point and with only minutes to spare Hammond this time made no mistake, drilling a penalty from in front of the posts to earn a one-point lead. Mitcham had given everything in pursuit of promotion, and were not to know that it any event rivals Old Haileyburians’ own victory saw them take the second league spot irrespective of the outcome in this attritional battle. Throwing bodies at a final assault, Mitcham earned a last ditch penalty and elected to go for goal. Dewsbury had kicked well earlier, but now found the awkward wind further harnessed by a fierce downpour. Cranleighans perfect season came down to this, and it seemed fate was on hand conspiring to hold the penalty attempt up on a swirling gust. Even then Hammond had work to do, claiming the hanging ball and making yards in the teeth of some desperate follow up tackles, before Cranleighans worked the ball clear, and could begin what proved to be a long and liquid party into the night.

Green Jacket: Al Lawson

Green Faces: Brownie and Keg on Sunday morning

Green Card: Keg, its been a pleasure mate. Good luck and get back to us ASAP.

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