Cam Overcome Challenges to Claim 5 points.

The trip to Dartford was always going to present a challenge particularly with the home side beginning to look to be getting their act together and moving out of the relegation zone. So on a breezy afternoon in Bexley it things became even more difficult for the black and ambers who as well as missing a number of key players faced the additional challenge of an official who decided to award them 4 yellow cards during the course of the game while allowing the home side to maintain their full 15 for the entire 80 mins despite them repeatedly conceding scrum penalties in their red zone - a situation which could well have had implications for both the players and the supporters.

So the game kicked off with Cam facing a stiff breeze and they started positively by running back the Dartford kick and played through a number of phases before knocking on the Dartford 10.
Despite a great scrum by Cam the Dartford#8, who was one of the home side's standout performers, managed to surge forward and a couple of penalties soon saw the home side in the Cam red zone and with only 7 mins on the clock the official produced his first card and this was followed by a try for th home side which was converted.
Cam came straight back when the restart was athletically claimed by Dyl and a Cam pen saw Dimples put the ball into touch about 15m from the Dartford line. Cam almost crossed from the lineout drive but when this was held up a quick pass to Dom saw the huge lock almost pirouette (at 6ft 8 inch, 20 stone – yes I know that's old money but impressive to watch all of the same) and cross for a try which Dimples converted to bring the scores level after just 12 mins.
The next period saw Cam lose 2 more players to the bin so at one stage they were reduced to 13 men as they valiantly worked to keep the home side out but eventually in time added on the mismatch of numbers was just too great and Dartford crossed for another converted try. However this was not the final score of the half when, from the restart, Cam applied pressure and when Dartford, with the breeze kicked the ball dead resulting in a scrum back on their 22 the black and ambers monted one last attack which saw Ash cross in the corner for an unconverted try and a half time score of 14-12.

So the halftime break saw Risey Senior and Junior in full voice and their pleas for structure and patience were rewarded almost instantly when the Dartford restart was managed well and the ball was trundled up to almost halfway before young Turton was released about on halfway. We had already witnessed the young winger's pace when he almost won the game against Chichester with 2 outstanding tries so it was no great surprise to see him set off from halfway for the try line and in almost a blink of the eye he was crossing under the posts for a try which was converted moving the score to 14-19.
The next 10 mins saw Cam apply a lot more pressure and they were unlucky not to have added to their score when a great miss pass to the flyer was called forward but eventually the pressure told on the home side and a great lineout drive saw 'Thunderman' claim the points and with Dimples again adding the extras the score had moved to 14-26 with 65 mins played.
We then saw a good break from 'Thunderman' which tooki play up to the Cam 10m and when the ball was swung out wide we saw The Flying Turtle' blow everyone away as he blasted over for another converted try on 68 mins.
By this time the home side began to tire and also lose its shape and so within2 mins Cam went further ahead when Brizzle, who hadn't managed a score for a few games, read the Dartford play well and intercepted on halfway and outpaced the defence to dot down and with Dimples adding the extras this was 14-40 with 8 mins left on the clock.
Great work at the restart by Joe and Dyl saw Cam win a scrum and when the ball was swung wide we saw Ash, who had been relatively quiet, break through to half way and having kicked ahead he stitched on the after burners to chase. For most of the seasoned Cam supporters we already had it down as another Ash try even though the defender was giving him a good run for his money so we were all amazed when The Flying Turtle suddenly appeared having given both guys at least 10m start from halfway to outpace both players and claim his 3rd try of the afternoon.
To their credit the home side did work hard for a score and when the official decided to issue his 4th yellow to Cam the odds were stacked against the visitors but they fought hard to keep the home side from crossing the line with the result that the final act of the afternoon was the award of a penalty try making the score 21 - 45.
Cam made hard work of this win and clearly were not helped by the official but to their credit, particularly in the second half, when, coincidentally they did manage to win a few penalties, they showed that despite missing so many key players, they still had enough quality to win.

Again this week we saw major changes in the backs with young Dimples standing in at 9 and Gary playing his second game at 10, a new combination at centre and The Flying Turtle only in his second start and with Bazza incurring the wrath of the ref at scrum time and so spending most of the game in the technical area, it was a good performance although it is clear that the squad does need to 'manage the official' much better.
So 5 points keeps the side in touch with the leading 3 and with home games against Thurrock and Westcombe Park in the next 2 weeks the league is still wide open.

And Finally – So the C&Ws claimed their 5 points against Montpellier and so sit comfortably in second place in their pool but face a tough ask with the final pool game away in Toulouse next week before they return to the Prem with The Chiefs visiting Castle Grim on the 24th.

Picture by Dinger shows Dom securing good attacking lineout