Nottingham put on a dominant second half display to take a bonus point win from their visit to a blustery Ellgia Fields as they ran in seven tries in total against Cambridge, including a brace for both Ryan Olowofela and Jack Dickinson.
The first half was a see-saw affair and it was the hosts who struck first after 10 minutes with Ben Brownlie driving over in the corner. In unfavourable kicking conditions the conversion was missed.
Olowofela, restored to the full-back role for the first time since mid-October, got the first of his two tries just over five minutes later, darting over in the corner, and Gwyn Parks, making his first start since the win over Doncaster, gave Nottingham a two point lead.
In what was an end-to-end encounter at this point, the pendulum soon swung back in Cambridge’s favour as Eli Caven edged his side back in front, squirming over the line in similar fashion to his opposite number only three minutes previously. Again, the conversion was missed.
Nottingham Head Coach Craig Hammond was once again complimentary of his forwards: “It’s a hard place to come. They have a pretty big pack. But up front, set-piece wise I thought we did pretty well. Our scrum, lineout and maul were pretty good.” And it was in this manner that Nottingham were able to take a seven point lead into the break as Jack Dickinson finished off two driving mauls ten minutes apart, making it Cambridge 10-17 Nottingham.
The home side were wondering if the wind would slightly favour them in the second period but that optimism was soon undone when Olowofela got his second try of the match moments after the restart when he returned a high ball with interest to secure the bonus point.
It was largely one way traffic from this point on as November Archer of the Month James Cherry continued his fine form by adding the finishing touches to another kick chase return move for Nottingham’s fifth.
The visitors continued to exhibit their all-court game as Harry Clayton touched down from a driving maul just after the hour mark and, soon after, the ball was spun wide to Harry Graham to add Nottingham’s seventh and final try of the afternoon.
The Blood and Sand did try and regain some momentum in the closing stages but The Archers’ defence remained resolute, making the final score Cambridge 10-43 Nottingham.