In Round 4 Cranbrook continued their unbeaten run by giving a hapless Trinity team a thrashing, and will be heading for a showdown with Knox next week.
Also unbeaten, Knox accounted for St. Aloysius in another game. In doing so one of the Knox players scored three tries to notch a tally of nine for the season—in four games.
And he’s a hooker !!
Cranbrook 81 — Trinity 8
by “oldandslow”
Cranbrook lowered Trinity’s flag at Rose Bay this afternoon, with an 81-8, 13 try thumping of the men in green.
Missing three standout players, Barkley-Brown (15), McClellan (1) and Corias (6), the trip to Cranbrook was always going to be a tough one for Trinity.
First half
A knock-on from the kick-off and a Cranbrook try from the ensuing restart was an early warning sign.
Cranbrook clicked into gear with their first use of the ball, some tidy backline movement ending in Carroll (13) going over for his first try of the afternoon. Complete dominance at the breakdown repeatedly delivered fast, clean ball to Cranbrook’s backline and both wingers, Edelstein (14) and Stewart (11), benefited with early tries.
Cranbrook was playing at a higher pace than their opponent and, in addition to quickly recycling their own ruck ball, they repeatedly turned over Trinity’s. The game featured very little mauling, probably because Trinity effected stopped so few Cranbrook runners.
Some 20 minutes into the first half Cranbrook were already up 31-0 and Trinity’s supporters were wondering whether there was a mercy rule that could be invoked.
Although dominant, Cranbrook kicked away too much possession, often inexplicably while in Trinity’s half. Standing in for the unfit Barkley-Brown at fullback, young Longville (15) from Trinity had plenty to do and showcased a long and accurate clearing kick, often finding good territory even from acute angles.
In the dying minutes of the first half Trinity put together its only coherent passage of play for the afternoon. The backs made some ground and their effort was backed up by hard running forward play, with the skipper, Cook (3), taking the lead to rumble forward strongly.
Shortly later Wayland (8) showed strength and skill to offload in a tackle close to the line to send Cook crashing over in the corner. Longville’s sideline conversion attempt hit the post. Trinity won possession and then a penalty from the kick off, Longville slotted his kick and the referee blew half time with Cranbrook up 31-8.
Second half
Sam Renton (10) of Cranbrook apparently got the message to kick less because in the second half he ran the ball and did so magnificently, repeatedly breaking the line and adroitly positioning his supporting players. As a consequence Cranbrook was rampant. One of many good tries was scored by Hill (1), who brushed off would be tacklers on a bullocking charge to the line.
When Renton (10) was given an early shower Tom Wilson subbed in for him and this did nothing to slow down Cranbrook’s attack; the team looks to be well served with its depth at the crucial fly-half position.
The Players
Trinity
Cook (3) and Rasch (5) held their own in a pack that was well beaten by Cranbrook, both in open play and at the set pieces. The backline looked disjointed in both attack and defence. Saofia (13) may be a tad slow to defend effectively at outside centre and his channel has been exploited by opposing teams this year.
On the bright side, Longville (15) is a year 10 boy with some class. Even down about 80 points he continued to put his body on the line, exemplified by a brave try saving head on tackle to stop a rampaging and much bigger Summerhayes. Longville has fast feet, runs straight and can pass both long and deep or short at the line.
When Barkley-Brown returns at fullback Trinity should give serious thought to playing him in the 10 jersey.
Cranbrook
In a team where everyone played well the stand outs were Caroll (13), whose straight running, clean passing and strong defence set up much of Cranbrook’s play; Renton (10), who is a tall and elusive fly-half who shouldn’t let a good kick take emphasis away from his outstanding running game; Summerhayes (6); and Mahony (7).
The Teams
Trinity
Moving forward, Trinity’s lack of depth has become glaring. They are sorely missing Barkely-Brown (15), Fish (13), Siteine (10), Corias (6) and McLennan (1) and need some of their star talent back on the field.
Even after good wins over Waverley and Aloys in Round One and Two, the losses against 2014 powerhouses Knox and Cranbrook were on the cards, but the size of the defeats is troubling.
Cranbrook
The team looks well in the groove and the game against Knox next up should be a cracker.
While Cranbrook may not have Knox’s raw try scoring firepower, they put 13 on today and also look to be more disciplined, to make fewer mistakes, and to defend better than Knox. They also have a big advantage in the goal kicking department.
The wrap-up
There are only two undefeated teams left in the CAS and they meet next week.
Cranbrook are capable of beating Knox if they hold their discipline and have the confidence to kick less and back their forwards to keep recycling the ball. Good luck to them next week in this crunch game which, even at this early stage of the season, is shaping up as a potential decider in the 2014 chase for the Henry Plume Shield.
