The CS Stags travelled by train down to Tunbridge Wells for the re-scheduled league match that was postponed the previous Saturday, due to a waterlogged pitch. No rain this week, so the second, far pitch at Wells, had dried out sufficiently, though conditions were still soft underfoot, and a stiff easterly breeze throughout the match.

Both sides had attacking forays at the start, with Stags starting with the wind behind them. However, it was Wells that got on the board first after fifteen minutes with a converted penalty in front of the posts. Not to be outdone, Stags marched promptly up-field to win a penalty themselves on the Wells 22, and Al Mackenzie (10) converted to make the score 3 apiece. And just a few minutes after some good pressure by Stags, and several held up rucks, the boys flung the ball out wide right to Fred Cracknell (14) to open the try count in the corner. No conversion by Al Mack, score now 3-8 to Stags. More good pressure by Stags was to follow, and after a well taken five-metre line out movement, Zinny Norman (7) bundled over for a try just right of the posts, that Al Mack converted. 3-15 the score to the Stags, and things were looking good. But just before half time Wells hit back with a try and conversion after a turnover. In the dying seconds, Parimal Shrestha (9) only just failed to touch down before out of bounds in the right corner, after his own kick and chase ahead. The first period ended 10-15 to Stags

Stags were against the stiff wind second half. But it took Wells a good twenty minutes before they could capitalise, and score in the right corner through their winger. A successful conversion, and Wells take the lead 17-15. Wells then went over in the left corner five minutes later, following a five-metre line-out, and took a 22-15 lead, having missed the conversion. Stags did not capitulate, and spent most of the last fifteen minutes camped in the Wells half, exerting some good pressure. There was a yellow card apiece in this period as well. But despite several continuous attacking thrusts, Stags could not snatch what would have been a deserving equaliser third try, and the match ended 22-15 to the home team.

Summary: On what should have been the last free weekend of the league season, with many away at international matches and for the Mother’s Day weekend, plus the unfortunate re-scheduling of this match from the previous week, CS Stags dived through hoops to get this team out on the day (albeit with only two subs on the bench)! The whole club are immensely proud and grateful for the team that showed up on the day, and fought their socks off to compete and hold their heads high throughout the match. Credit to you boys! The entire team and squad get ‘Man of the Match’ for the grit shown, with special mentions to first team debutantes lock Mitch Stringer (4) – who was the Stags player chosen by Wells for their man of the match – and also to centre Charlie Maskrey (17). Both had solid games, along with the whole squad.

Tries (2): Fred Cracknell, Zinny Norman – 10 points
Conversions (1): Al Mackenzie – 2 points
Penalties (1): Al Mackenzie – 3 points