Cam's 8 try Feast Flattens the Hill

Cam welcomed Burgess Hill to a very breezy and often wet Watchetts for this second round Junior Vase tie. The visitors aka 'The Sussex All Blacks' were an unknown quantity although they currently are 2nd in Sussex 1 and came here off the back of an 80 point win last week.
Coach Risey decided to rest a number of his key players and so we saw first time starts this season for Ben Harrison. Chris Parnaby and Sam Voight but this didn't seem to effect the black and ambers who , while kicking off into a stiff breeze, were on the board in less than 3 mins when, following great work by the centres, quick hands saw winger Dan Ward dot down in the corner.
Despite facing the strong breeze Cam were still in control, able to burst through tackles almost at will while their aggressive defence ensured that the visitors would not make any progress. In fact in this period the only way the visitors made any territory was via a Cam mistake but when they were awarded a scrum 5 close to the Cam line the black and ambers pack drove them back at a rate of knots, turned the ball over and took play back into the visitors half. The conditions were not conducive to open play but the backs, well directed by #10 Tom Dunn were a real handful and both centres and winger Frank Priest tested the defence during the first quarter.
Then on 20 mins Cam added the score they had been looking for when a good lineout break by Sam Voight say the black and ambers then win quick ball and centre Joe Dolman charge over for his first try of the game which was converted by Tom Dunn.
The lead was extended on 28 mins when we saw more outstanding work by the 2 Camberley centres take play to within a few metres of the visitors line where they were awarded a penalty and quick hands and a fierce handoff by winger Phil Cresswell saw him dot down and with Tom adding the extras the black and ambers were now 19 points ahead on 28 mins.
Things got decidedly better for the Camberley faithful when, great work at the restart released Joe Wood who made 40m before passing to his partner Joe Dolman for him to cross for his second try taking the score to 24-0 on 33 mins and despite several great attacks by the black and ambers this remained the score at half time.
However the signs at the start of the second half were not good as, following some changes in the pack, we saw the black and ambers retreating at the first 2 scrums which was a very worrying situation although the multitude of mistakes still being made by the visitors made this less important than in other games and despite this Cam were first on the scoreboard in this half when a series of terrible mistakes by the All Blacks following their penalty on the 22 saw Phil Cresswell sneak in and touch down on 45 mins and with the conversion Cam extended their lead to 31-0.
We then saw a period of pressure from the visitors and with Cam down to 14 men for 10 mins they were rewarded with a pushover try on 52 mins.
Cam then scored again when, following a lineout close to the visitors line Ben Bowen spotted the overlap and his long pass saw young Phil over for his 3rd try of the game on 55mins.
Joe Dolman then went over again but was ruled in touch but by now the forwards had regained their authority and following a handbags incident which really just illustrated the frustration of the visitors the home pack drove the Burgess Hill 8 over their line for Sam Voight to touch down and claim the score and with Ben Bowen popping over for a try on 77 mins that completed a pretty good day for Risey's young team with a final score of 50-7.
This was a good display by the team in sometimes difficult conditions and it is clear that this was made possible largely by the aggressive defence which is becoming a feature of our play. However we still give too much possession away cheaply and against better opponents this could prove costly.
In a game like this it is difficult to pick out individuals but clearly Joe W and Joe D in the centre had a huge impact on the game as did Josh Watson and Phil Cresswell but overall a good performance by the whole squad and now we look forward to the draw on Wednesday.
So next Saturday it is back to the league as we are at home to Old Cranleighans who returned to this league with us this season so Risey, JJ and Hilly will no doubt be working the squad hard this week in an attempt to maintain our position in the league - ko 2.30.