Two good games. The score in 2s was a draw: CHS 26 - CAS 26. I can't comment on the game as I only saw the last few minutes.
The I's was a match of two halves. CAS came out very structured and looked well organised, and were by far the better side to start with. It looked for a while like it might have been a bit of a runaway at half time when the score was (I think) CAS 21-CHS 5. However, the CHS boys pulled up their socks and had a much better second half. They got a bit of verve going for a while and came back to a more respectable full time score of CAS 28 - CHS 19.
As Mr Jarse has commented earlier, the CHS boys often take a while to get it together as a team, and perhaps that was the problem today. It was also a bit greasy (didn't rain during the match, but the ground was wet from the morning rain) and there was a lot of dropped ball, but CHS seemed to fumble a bit more than CAS. The CHS backs really need some more work together as the back line really looked a little raggle-taggle compared to the CAS boys. Just basics - like passes falling short of the mark, taking a look and fumbling the catch, kicking a bit aimlessly neither to touch nor over their heads, etc.
The forwards matched it up pretty well and I think the CHS pack had it over CAS. They each won all their own scrums, but the CHS jumpers/lifters stole two CAS lineouts against the throw. Some great pilfering by the CHS forwards at crucial times in the match. They were camped on the CAS line for a good 15-20 minutes in the second half, but couldn't quite get the last pass off a number of times to get over the line. Great defensive effort from CAS.
The man of the match for each team (as voted by the opposition team/coaches) was #8 Nick Makas (Cranbrook) for CAS and #2 and captain Ed Craig (Epping Boys HS) for CHS. Both players worthy recipients for their performance on the day.