Ross Stewart looking for a more clinical Cambridge approach

Battle to win go-forward ball

Ross Stewart is looking for Cambridge to sharpen up their ability to break down stubborn teams.

Their difficulties at Volac Park continued last Saturday when they were beaten 27-16 by Blackheath.

The visitors were clinical finishers, putting the game to bed in three second-half minutes after Cambridge had dominated territory and possession.

But they were only left with tries from Jake McCloud and Rob Conquest and six points from Jack Green to show from the game.

And director of rugby Stewart was left to rue Cambridge’s shortcomings in attack.

“A bit of onus has to go on us around our ball presentation and our work around the contact,” he said. “An extra yard means so much in this game. A dominant carrier means so much, and we got a bit out-muscled in that area on a few occasions, but they were big occasions; they were big moments.

“The game is really simple, it’s about go-forward; and when Blackheath attacked they got go-forward with quick ball and you are working hard to compete.

“For us, there wasn’t enough go-forward to put them off their stride. The game slipped away from us in a five to 10-minute spell, which is disappointing.”

Stewart has now set his sights on vital points in the run to Christmas.

“We’ve got to keep plugging away at areas,” he said. “We’ve got a big three weeks. Esher, Bishop’s Stortford and Loughborough are all playing decent rugby at the moment and have hit some form so it will be a challenge for us. But one we are certainly capable of delivering on.

“We’ve got to make sure we convert; whether that’s being cleverer, patient and working penalties if we don’t feel we have the attack on or actually having a few more options.

“We were a bit one-dimensional. We’ve talked about a plan if we’re near their line but we’ve still got to have multiple options to use.”