Cambridge edge victory over Peterborough by 2 tries to 1

Cambridge South XV

1. Loosehead prop:             Sean Gardiner
2. Hooker:                             Ben Talmage
3. Tighthead prop:               Sandy Taylor ©
4. Lock:                                  Ky Ho
5. Lock:                                  Will Rainsford
6. Blindside flanker:            Rich Alderton
7. Openside flanker:           Will Burscough
8. No 8:                                  Wilco Dijkstra
9. Scrum half:                       Jo Dant
10. Fly half:                             Rich Barrett
11. Left wing:                          Daniel Galantini
12. Inside centre:                   Dan Talmage
13. Outside centre:               Andy Thomas
14. Right wing:                       Oscar O’Rourke
15. Full back:                          Rob Barton

Cambridge South maintained solid form to beat a Peterborough side at Long Road.  The first half started with a strong South forward line driving the Peterborough defence, with a succession of rolling mauls(1) to push the ball to the opposition 25-yard line.  Play flowed in both directions, with turnovers from loose play, and one or two skilful up-and-unders from the South flay half(2).  Daniel Galantini finished a smooth move with slick passing along the back line before going over between the posts for the first try(3).  South won a succession of lineouts(4), culminating with a line-out on the opposition 5-yard line from scrum-half Jo which flashed along the back line.

Peterborough struck back late in the first half, moving the ball out to the left wing and making yards on the Cambridge defensive line, eventually going over for the equalising try and levelling the score at 1-1.

The second half saw an increase in intensity, with a succession of rucks and mauls(5) in midfield, and an increasing reliance on the long-ball game from Peterborough as the half wore on.  South ended a fine move with a drive into the D and a clean finish from Rob Barton, taking the score to 2-1 and a strong Cambridge win, lifting South to third in the table and on the rise for a strong finish to the season.  The win means that South M6 has beaten every team in their division.

1. Inspired defence and midfield play, winning a majority of the 50-50s
2. Decisive balls to the wingers and back into the D
3. A well taken field goal, overloading the Peterborough defence with three players running in to their D and passes splitting the defence apart
4. Sideline balls, taken powerfully into the Peterborough 23
5. Clean and fast midfield play with a succession of free hits