Try-happy Brownlie’s hooked on first place

By BEN JAYCOCK

Prolific: Ben Brownlie has 21 tries from 22 games

CAMBRIDGE hooker Ben Brownlie has scored a remarkable 21 tries this season to sit top of the National One try scoring charts as his side make a late charge for the title – and promotion to the Championship.

Brownlie is a fan favourite at Cambridge after re-joining his boyhood club in 2020 after five seasons in the Championship with Nottingham.

His 21 tries in 22 games is an incredible strike rate, particularly for a forward, and Brownlie says he owes a lot to his fellow forwards.

“Our driving maul has been a big weapon this year, which makes a change from the usual backs-oriented Cambridge teams we’ve had in the past,” Brownlie told TRP.

“Our director of rugby Richie Williams has put a very strong pack together and we’ve been reaping the rewards with our set piece play, which has served me well.”

Unlike others who claim to not have an interest in the scoring charts, Brownlie has kept a close eye on his tally and hopes to fend off his big rival – fellow hooker Nathan Taylor at Cinderford to the crown.

Brownlie said: “I’ve been aware of it the whole way through. Nathan is second in the scoring charts and we had a chat about it when we played Cinderford – he’s keen to chase me down! Hopefully I can remain there until the end of the season.”

Fourth place Cambridge have won nine out of their last ten games and Brownlie hopes they can chase down league leaders Caldy, who they trail by ten points but with a game in hand.

He said: “We’ve got to take it one game at a time, make sure we take maximum points from every game. We’ve got a couple of big games towards the end of the season against Rosslyn Park and Rams as well. We know other teams have got to slip up for us to have a chance but we’re going to do everything we can to put ourselves in the best place to have a shot.

“We had a slow start after losing our first three games, but we’ve gelled as a team since and have got more of an understanding of each other. We’ve managed to put together some runs to put us in the mix at the top of the table.”

Brownlie was disappointed when the RFU revealed there would be no promotion from the Championship this season and eagerly awaits the result of Doncaster’s and Ealing’s appeals.

He said: “It was a bit upsetting when the news came out. Having two go up from our league will obviously give us a better shot of promotion. It’s disappointing because promotion and relegation are fundamental to giving every team who’s got ambition to go up a chance. But we’ll have to wait and see as it’s out of our hands.”