Last gasp penalty gives Civil Service the win

Report as last week provided by Mark Bruce as our usual pundit shouting for europe at Ryder cup.

Gs squander good opportunity

Errors and poor discipline cost Gs what should have been their third victory of the season.  It started badly when messrs Montgomery and Ward decided to take the scenic route and arrived at the ground 15 mins after kick off.  

Worst was to come as against a poor CS Rugby side who had 4 players sin binned and one sent off for stamping Gs failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage as a last minute penalty saw CS Rugby score the vital kick to win 30-28.

As with the previous week Gs started brightly only to see a wayward pass by Gray intercepted by the the CS winger who then ran 60 metres to score under the post. Conversion scored (7-0).

After 12 mins Gs found themselves 12-0 down.  A good passage of play was turned over and CS kicked through scoring out wide as the ball bounced kindly for the CS winger.

Having introduced the missing two players Gs were soon being marched back 20yds for an infringement and then failing to retreat.  Gs were then penalised at a scrum only to see the kick skew wide.

This was a wake up call for Gs who then had their best passage of play.  After good play by the backs CS Rugby picked up the first of their yellow cards for a tip tackle in midfield.  From this and a further penalty Gs got back to 12-6 as the half came to a conclusion.  

Having seen a second yellow for not rolling Gs had a great opportunity to get back on level terms .  Having kicked to the corner and set up a rolling maul it looked odds on  for the score only for a knock on when the line beckoned.   CS. Rugby regained possession and raced down the other end to see a fine passage of play end with another score (17-6) at half time.

The second half saw Gs start on the back foot with a scrambling cover defence keeping the service out.  Klus put in a big hit on the CS Service centre which lead to a breakdown and what should have been the telling moment of the game as the CS prop was red carded for stamping.

Making the numerical advantage count Gs drove the ball a full 20 yards before good work by the forwards who we're having a much better afternoon released Temi to skip through and score. Montgomery added the conversion (17-13).

Two minutes later Gs took the lead after a line out drive was taken forward and big  Dave Irvine crashed over to score. (17-18)

The lead did not last long as Gs soon found themselves 24-18 down as the CS pack rallied with the big number 8 crashing over from close in.   CS. Received their 3rd yellow for a player not rolling away allowing Montgomery to add the points and close the gap (24-21).  This did not stop the Service team who came straight back with a penalty (27-21).

With the clock ticking downs the Gs pack who battled away all afternoon drove the ball over with Sox claiming the decisive points,  Montgomery scored the conversion from out wide and took Gs into the lead 28-27.

From the restart CS Rugby kicked the ball straight into touch and with the clock ticking down Gs opted for the scrum.  Gs were then guilty of feeding and penalised.  The kicker didn't have the distance and what looked like a final chance seemed to have passed.  CS though had other ideas and came straight back. Gs gave away two penalties which ended with CS having a penalty right in front of the posts (30-28).

This was a game Gs could have and should have won.  The forwards were much improved this week and how a side which has been pushed back more than 20 yards during the afternoon concedes only one penalty against the Gs three only the ref can answer.  The backs showed a good deal of commitment but lacked the confidence and accuracy to make it count.

All in all a much better week on the field but the result still disappoints.