Cam Shine under Cobham Lights

On a very cold Friday evening Cam 1s met Cobham 1s for this Surrey KO Cup encounter although as is quite normal at 6 Nation time clearly neither side was at full strength with Cam fielding James Armstrong at 9, Shawa at 7 , Jamie at 11 and Ben at 4, none of whom had serious 1s time in the last few months but who all made significant contributions on the night and also welcomed back Josh Wright who discovered the joys of the scrum half when James had to be replaced following his big shift.
The game got off to a brisk start and from the first scrum the black and ambers claimed utter dominance by shunting the home 8 back 5m, something which, with the exception of a couple of scrums following the break, became the norm although it didn't seem to gain the support of the official.
This first period saw Cam sitting comfortably in the Cobham half and several attacks were pulled up just short of the line before on 10 mins Cam were awarded a pen which Smarty pushed just wide but he soon made amends on 15 mins.
The restart was run back into the Cobham half and when they were awarded another pen Smarty took play to within 10m of the line and after a good drive plus several darts the ball was swung out wide and Jamie came in from the blindside wing to dot down for a converted try on 21 mins.
The restart resulted in a few handbags being waved but another big scrum on the Cam 22 saw a great nudge by Smarty take play back to the Cobham 22. Although the home side then had a period of possession they could not make any progress against Cam's aggressive defence and when they eventually turned over the ball in the Cobham 22 Oyoni was almost over in the corner before the ball was swung out wide for Oli to dot down on the other side of the pitch.
The restart brought Cobhams first score from a soft penalty but Cam were immediately back on the attack when Cobham knocked on in their 22 and when awarded another pen Smarty again did the honours so the score had moved to 20-3 with just 30 mins played.
Cobham then scored a try from the restart when Cam conceded a penalty at a scrum?? but the black and ambers came straight back and Oli was almost over only to be illegally tripped 3m short but the pressure was maintained and eventually the ball came to Dyl and he crossed in the corner for a well deserved score to close the half out at 8-25.
The second half saw a period of scrappy play but the pattern soon returned when a great run from Mac took Cam again deep into the opposition half and on 50 mins Smarty converted another pen.
With poor drills at the restart Cam had a few mins of defence but the home side frankly appeared to have no serious attacking options and play soon moved back into the home side's 22 and several pick up and goes were followed by a lovely miss pass by Smarty to Ash for the player/coach to feed Jamie for a well worked try.
The next score was not long in coming when after great work from the restart Smarty just missed touch with a hugely ambitious attempt to put his team back on the Cobham line. However Cobham's defensive kick only found Oyoni on halfway and his lightening pace and physicality was just too much for the tiring opposition as he sliced through to dot down under the posts.
Cobham from the restart won a 5m lineout but the black and amber defence was more than a match for the home side and when the defensive pressure created a mistake Ash was their to pick up the loose ball and cruise over from 80m.
Ash and Jamie then combined well from the restart only for the game to be called back for a forward pass but when Cam won their first scrum penalty Smarty put the ball deep into the red zone and a big drive plus a couple of darts before the ball was swung out wide and again blindside winger Jamie was in position to scorch through and touch down almost an exact copy of his first, making the final score 8-56.
This was an excellent performance from the black and ambers who, despite a couple of periods when their concentration and intensity lapsed, won every aspect of the game against a hard working but quite limited opposition and with that win are rewarded with a home tie against Chobham.
So next Saturday the 1s and 2s are away at Effingham & Leatherhead in their return League fixtures before the London Cup semi against Rochford Hundred at Watchetts on the 24th.
Cam enjoyed more success under lights when the 2s visited Old Reigatians 2 and came out on top 13-5 so continuing their unbeaten season.

And Finally the C&Ws entertain the Tigers at CG this afternoon as they start their next block of games which includes visits of the Pests, Queens and Falcons to CG plus a visit to the Warriors so all C&W followers are looking for the team to consolidate their league position with hopefully a good points haul over this 6Nation period.