Courageous Cam Sooooo Close

So today's visit to Wimbledon was always going to be special particularly as Cam dented the Wombles pride in the first game of the season at Watchetts and although the home side had already wrapped up the one promotion place it had been decided that todays game would also be for The Surrey Cup.
So, with Clarkey withdrawing today, did he trip over the dog in the kitchen again one may ask, and with Voighty, Hughsey and skipper Chris Bird all still injured plus Liam playing with an injured leg this was always going to be a tough ask for the lads from Watchetts to squeeze anything from a side who were on a 20 game unbeaten run.
In the event an absolutely outstanding performance from the entire squad saw them push The Wombles all the way in a hugely physical encounter where all 18 put their bodies on the line for 80 mins and , to a man, they must be extremely proud of their performance, one of the most gutsy displays, particularly with so many senior players missing, I have seen from the black and ambers in my many years of watching them.
So on this cold Saturday with a fresh breeze blowing from right to left Cam found themselves playing into the breeze for the first 40 and things got off to a pretty poor start as they fiddled far to much with the kick, eventually conceding a lineout on their 22. The home side clearly enjoy the catch and drive and although the first drive was halted the ball was shipped out blind and try #1 was scored within 2 mins of the kickoff.
Cam showed their quality right from the restart when they eventually reclaimed possession and playing several pen advantages they remained patient with their pick and goes until Ali decided to move it out wide and a clever run by Vic saw the fullback dot down for a score of 5-5 with just 7 mins gone.
The next 20 mins or so saw both sides testing each other with both having spells in each other's red zones and despite a great scrum 10m from the Wimbledon line the hosts, using the wind effectively moved play into the Cam half and a further pen saw them with a 5m lineout and the inevitable driving maul saw them cross for a converted score on 29 mins.
However Cam kept plugging away and we saw our Flying Fijian make several darts in this period and the shouts of approval from the home side and their supporters whenever he was tackled showed what a danger he poses (Head Coach Voighty was more than a tad miffed as he cannot remember any time throughout his playing career when the crowd had applauded when he was tackled!!) and eventually the deadlock was broken by Wimbledon again when they pushed another pen into the corner and converted their lineout drive to 7 points almost on the stroke of half time and score of 19-5.

So with the wind at their backs it was important for the black and ambers to get back into the game early doors and that is exactly what happened as The Wombles knocked on the restart deep in their 22 and several pens later we saw a period of Cam lineout drives followed by good patient pick and goes until Ali decided to switch the ball wide and Blue Lights George sliced through the defence to claim a converted try on 45 mins, moving the score to 19 – 12.
The next 15 mins saw both sides with periods of possession but the defence from both sides was magnificent and when our Mighty Nepalese Warrior, otherwise known as Shawa again showed his party trick when he chop tackles an opponent (size no issue) then gets up so quickly he wins the pen for holding on. We saw the ball swung wide again by Jaid who put the Flying Fijian over in the corner, (no applause from the home support this time!), and a score of 19-17 with 20 to go.
Again Cam came back and threatened the Wombles whitewash but 2 poor attacking lineouts saw the home side escape and with 75 mins played, following a period of Wimbledon pressure, they dotted down for a converted try moving the score to 26-17.

But again the spirit within the black and ambers squad is absolutely amazing and from the restart we saw Woody, usually a centre but playing as a 6 today, flying up and tackling the receiver so comprehensively that Cam won another pen and we then had yet another period of seeing Cam camped within the Wimbledon 22 and with the home side reduced to 14 for a silly high tackle the pressure eventually paid off and, again Ali decided the time was right for George to add the sirens to the lights as he again made mincemeat of the tired defence to score his second of the afternoon and with Liam knocking over the extras on his one good leg this brought proceedings to a close – so nearly the result we had dreamed of but the home side are not unbeaten for nothing in a run of 21 games and they certainly knew they had been in a contest.

So congratulations to The Wombles crowned as League Champions and also Surrey Cup winners and so with 2 points from the game Cam now need 4 points from their rearranged home fixture at Watchetts next Saturday to claim 2nd spot.
Also congratulations to the London Soc of Refs for sensibly providing 2 assistant refs which meant that proceedings went extremely well with no players or supporters providing their own running commentaries ie constant shouts of offside, high tackle, needs a yellow etc etc – I just wish at this level we could have that every week.

No doubt there will be a lot of sore bodies on both sides on Sunday as they gave their all for 80 mins, in what was a full on game with neither side backing down and The Cam coaching team will be extremely pleased with the overall performance of the 18 but I image they will have been particularly taken by the physicality, guts and amazing skills of the back row BLS at #8, taking over a spot held for 20 games this season by The Shed, Birdy and Hughsey, was simply massive and he produced in spades Then we have Hamish, well he was due to be in Rome today but the fates were with us and his flights were cancelled – what a find he has been this season, pacey and what a tackler too – look out for him next season. And then we have the little man – only in height I hasten to add – I have been a real fan of Shawa since a cup game at Dover well before covid when, as a mere 17/18 year old. he showed that if you do it right anyone can tackle and did he deliver that again today – simply immense – and it is nice to see him and BLS operating together again as they did in the Academy some years ago.
A magnificent performance by everyone and regardless of the final position this has been a outstanding season for the squad and the coaching team who must take a lot of credit for the way the side has performed this season.

Pic by Dinger shows Shawa (with scrum cap) and BLS getting ready to chop the wimbledon attack