The Cavaliers - A North stand perspective

Worcester Cavaliers vs Bath United on a cold Monday night in January is the setting. The game itself is a friendly as the 'A' League for the 2011/12 season is already over ...

On walking into the ground it appeared that Bath Rugby had arrived, not Bath United. The team coach in all of its branded glory was parked behind the West stand, but that is where the 1st team comparison ends. A 20 minute warm up would seem to indicate that Bath United had brought 15 budding fly half's as every man and boy relished and celebrated their, mostly failing, attempts to kick between the posts. Until the customary team hug 25 minutes before kick off the only lad warmed up was the poor ball boy having had to fish out 10 or more balls strewn around the North stand seats.

In a blue and gold contrast the Cavaliers ran on to the pitch as a uniformed brigade of Warrior suitors fighting for a chance to play to capacity crowds on match day.

I think that sight must have shamed United's hierarchy, or it was simply coincidence but instantly Bath United started drills, team chants and crying with organised and well versed echoes of team work and dependability.

Though seemingly younger than the starting Cavaliers, this appeared to be game on!

Danny Gray is the captain for the night and one of the great things about Monday night games, you can hear the calls, the shouts, commands, the reassurances and the on pitch banter. Having seen Danny in action a few times this season, we are in good hands.

Pre match entertainment by Bradders, has been a welcome addition to Monday night rugby this season. Today though is Andrew Eastern.

Straight from the kick off Fatiaki nails the ball carrier and smashes him to the ground, to a nice cheer form the West Stand. The first 5 minutes show great promise from the Cavs with a cleanly taken lineout and the first of many penalties against Bath at scrum time.

A penalty for Bath not rolling away leads to the first of many good kicks from hand by Danny Gray but the resulting line out is claimed by Bath who clear their lines.

Some mixed attacks by Cavs and solid early defending by Bath result in tit for tat penalties and the ref pushing the penalty 10 for back chat from the pack.

20 minutes in and from deep Errie gets the ball to Josh around half way and there is only ever going to be one winner in this foot race, the resulting kick is clean between the posts from Gray and the Cavaliers make the perfect start 7-0

From the North stand I can hear the Bath chat saying they are “dominating contact but letting us play rugby.”

Right from the restart Richard M shows his ball carrying skills and gives Tom Arscott the first of many chances to break the Bath line. Fast ball and a change of direction leads to Josh breaking on the wing and passing the Andy Short who just loses control of the ball on the try line, just missing out on his first score of the night. The resulting scrum ends in a penalty to the Cavs which Gray kicks to make the score 10 – 0 with less than 30 minutes on the clock, followed by "can I kick it, yes you can..."

The Bath 15 is replaced and their 11 drops to full back, unlucky for him their 15 shirt seems jinxed as not long into the position switch he also needs some repeated treatment.

5 minutes before half time Andy Short manages to charge down a clearance and somehow controls the awkwardly bouncing ball to dot over the line, followed by another great kick from Gray and a score line 17-0.

The Cavaliers at this point are really pressing Bath with fast ball from the break down, plenty of off loads and hard hitting moves by the forwards. One such hard hitting move results in Nile Dacres breaking and running 60m before being brought down and passing the ball to Hayes who crosses the line, but the ball from Dacres was forward.

From this great forwards move the Cavs maintain the pressure, partly thanks to Bath opting to kick a free kick into touch. From the line out Richard M makes a run at the Bath defence, the ball gets out to Errie who tries to break the line, followed by another attempt by Hayes. Quick ball from the break down gets to Gray who hears the call from Tom Leach in the corner. A sublime chip lads perfectly in Tom’s hands who crashes over then line for his try. Gray misses the tough conversion attempt but still Cavaliers are dominating the match at 22-0.

For the final few minutes of the half the Cavs keep Bath in their own half with repeated attacks from Tom Arscott and Richard M. If I was to be uber critical if Richard had listened to the calls from Arscott to off load we would have had a further score before the half time whistle was blown.

At half time the only real negative was the 3 separate occasions the ref felt the need to walk Cavaliers back a further 10 for back chat following penalties at the break down.

No changes at half time but for the first 5 minutes Bath achieve some ground and manage to string together their best attacks of the game. It seems that once they allow repeated break downs Cavs get back in amongst them, turn the ball over and fast ball from Ollie Frost turns the screw a bit more.

Scrum dominance persists and from the North Stand each scrum in the United half, which is where the majority of the game is to be played, looks like a pile of burning bodies with masses of steam rising into the night sky.

Just over 10 minutes into the half Fortey, Currie and Penn come on to replace Hayes, Douglas and Claassens

I wish I could describe the build up to the next score but there were so many moves, phases and most of the backs involved, but still – TRY! More quick ball and Andy Short again 27-0. Gray kicks in off the upright to make it 29-0

At this point the competition is over, plenty of penalties from scrums and a multitude of handling errors.

20 minutes in and Sione T replaces Andy Short to a deserved mini ovation from the West stand crowd.

Josh makes yet another exciting break, 40, Richard M, Arscott and Gray all involved. Off loads, quick ball at break down but tackled to touch. Great move gets a clap from the ground

25 minute mark see’s the Dacres brother switch.

Followed by all the other subs replacing Gray, Tom Leach, Ollie frost and George Porter all of whom played really well.

The balance of the competition sees a variety of penalties given by both sides and the changes seem to have slowed down our reactions and actions at the break down.

Josh runs 50m through 3 tackles but drops the ball just before the line. Again Tom Arscott was on his shoulder, a pretty simple off load would have resulted in another score.

Cavs give away a pen in the resulting scrum

I think it was quite fitting that the game ended with a Bath knock on, kind of summed up their night.

There were many positives from the night and yet again it made for an exciting Monday night of rugby.

Richard M was very good, some bruising ball carries and very good at the scrum.

Josh, as ever still no passing but very exciting every time he gets the ball going forward.

Andy Short had another great game. Offered everything in the centre that Warriors fans seem to be calling for at 1st team games. 2 very good scores and almost had his hat trick. Very unlucky not to be my man of the match.

Tom Arscott is my man of the match. Didn’t score but his work rate was second to non. I watch most games from the side so seeing the lines ran, the positional changes and defensive and attacking moves I was very impressed. Looked every bit a 1st Team player.

Fatiaki is solid. Every tackle was a massive hit and made some good runs. Seems to communicate well with the lads.

In general the pack were brilliant. Probably the best performance yet by Ollie Hayes, showing great work at the break down and almost getting on the score sheet. Port was rapid and Dacres had another steady performance at 6 adding that extra touch in the line out and Tom Leach, hard hitting as ever with a very nice score.

Gray’s kicking from hand was inspired. Still didn’t look like he could last more than 60 minutes though. Did a great job as captain on the night