Corsham thrash Cricklade at home

RELEGATION strugglers Cricklade were all that stood between Corsham and the Division One title.

While the result was never in doubt, Cricklade gave a display of grit and spirit that will long be remembered by retiring player/coach and previous captain, Simon Howse.

He will not want to remember the disastrous start of the game, however, because Corsham cleanly took Cricklade's kick-off ball and ran it back and through them to score the first try, with hardly a minute gone.

After that, Cricklade knuckled down to the task of limiting the score and getting points on the board themselves.

Corsham's defence had their hands full on several occasions as Cricklade threatened their goal-line.

Corsham, however, had the scrummaging power and the fleet-footed backs to exploit opportunities when they arose.

So, despite the never surrender attitude of Cricklade's defence, it was no surprise when Corsham's pack heaved them off their own put-in ball and fired the ball wide to the right for their wing to touchdown in the corner.

The difficult kick was made for the extra points. Cricklade were frustrating the league leaders as they refused to roll over and eventually the referee had to step in to cool the situation by sending a player from each team for ten minutes' quiet contemplation.

Cricklade, however, were seen as the injured party in this incident and were awarded a penalty but the attempt was narrowly missed.

After the restart, Corsham got possession and fashioned a smooth passing move that left many Cricklade defenders sprawling in a failed attempt to halt the attack that led to a try in the right corner.

The half-time score was Cricklade 0 Corsham 19.

Corsham's restart kick led to a 20-minute passage of play around Cricklade's ten-metre line that saw possession go from one team to the other and back again as they fought for second-half dominance.

Again, it was Corsham's powerful pack that made the difference as they forced Cricklade's scrum back over it's own goal-line at the side of the post.

The touchdown under the bar meant the kick was easily made.

Corsham's comfortable lead may have induced them to take their foot of the gas a little for Cricklade were now camped in their half and were unlucky not to cross the line for the consolation scores they deserved.

Corsham again showed the difference in class when they piled over Cricklade's line following a safely secured lineout and good passing move.

The relatively easy conversion kick, however, was fluffed.

As the game headed for full-time, with the visitors comfortably ahead but still not dominating, another Corsham player was sent for ten minutes rest. The final whistle was blown as he returned.