Cam have just enough to maintain their unbeaten record at Welsh

So we arrived at a very grey and misty ODP with the cloud base so low that one could only hear the planes on their approach to LHR, on a good day its a great vantage point for plane spotters, but thankfully the pitch, despite the sub zero temperatures, was in its usual excellent condition although the pre match playlist still left something to be desired!!
However those 300 or so hardy souls who braved the cold and the music, witnessed 2 sides put their bodies on the line for the full 80 mins and while those in black and amber breathed a big sigh of relief when the official blew to end proceedings, those in red were probably both proud of their side and also a tad disappointed that their full on occupation of the Cam 22 for the final 10 mins or so, did not produce a winning score.

Cam started proceedings and with the home side knocking on we then witnessed some scrum coaching by the official as the Welsh loose head regularly 'folded' under pressure from Bazza, and after playing a long advantage we came back for the pen and Smarty put the ball into the corner and several pens later we saw the lineout drive successful with hooker Spencer claiming the touchdown on 5 mins.

The restart saw Cam fluff their exit lines resulting in a Welsh throw 15m from the line and following a good drive the #9 crossed for a converted try and the lead on 9 mins.

So after this electric start the game settled down a tad but still was moving from one end of the park to the other and a splendid break by Spencer took the ball deep into the Welsh redzone subsequently forcing a drop out from beneath the posts which was run back by Macca and eventually our Fireman found touch close the the Welsh line.

However Cam could not control the ball and when a kick went out on the full the Welsh initially had a pot at goal from the 10m line which went wide but, from the ensuing lineout, they swung the ball wide and their backs produced a neat move to cross for an unconverted try and a 12-5 lead after about 20 mins.
Cam then showed their quality by coming straight back almost from the restart with Macca running back the Welsh defensive kick and quick ball saw a beautiful kick by Smarty followed up by our Flashing Fireman, who outpaced everyone to score in the corner.
And Cam were soon to retake the lead when Smarty knocked over a pen from almost halfway following another dominant scrum making the score 12-13 at the half hour mark.
The restart was initially handled well by Cam but then a wonderful bit of show and go, repeated several times by their #10 saw Welsh add another try but a poor kick limited the score to 17-13.

And Welsh were soon back on the attack close to the black and amber's line but a great jackall by Big Dom turned over possession and play moved back to halfway and we then saw a typical Max break, well supported by Brizzle and George, take play into the red zone and although they were held up, quick ball saw another kick pass by Smarty, this time to Macca, for the dominant #8 to collect and score, again wide out and with Smarty adding the extras with a difficult kick the halftime score was 17-20.

The second half again got off to an explosive start with Cam initially not handling the restart very well and despite Max taking play up to almost halfway good work by the LW backs saw them add another 7 points before some of the home supporters had made it back from the bar.

The following 10 mins again saw the game ebb and flow with neither side able to break through but following another scrum time pen we saw Smarty put the ball into the corner and a great lineout drive saw Spencer score his second of the afternoon and Cam move back into the lead 24-25.

Cam then showed a bit of what they are capable of when almost from the restart they quickly moved play back into the Welsh 22 and when it seemed that they had managed to screw up a backs move, the ball was hacked forward and young Bowers was first to react to touch the ball down wide out for a 30-24 score with 20 mins left.
The final 20 mins saw both sides working desperately hard to both add to their scores and also defend their lines and this involved some massive D, particularly from Cam, as the home side tried to take the points and the game was also somewhat disrupted with a string of stoppages as players bodies began to react due to the physicality of the game.
In the event the final 10 saw the home side camped in the Cam 22 but unable to breach a magnificent defence and the game was closed out without needing to disturb the scorer.

With Havant's game being postponed this 5 points has pushed the black and ambers to top spot and with local rivals, Bracknell, beating third placed Tunbridge a small gap has opened between the top 2 and the rest although with Cam at home to bogey side Maidenhead then away at Bracknell in the run up to Christmas all of this could change.
Overall I suspect that despite the 5 points the coaches will be a tad disappointed by their team's performance as the team were clearly were not as focussed as they need to be if they are still going to be challenging for the #1 spot at the end of the season.
Having said that, the overall work rate in defence was fantastic and the pack, particularly at scrum time were always dominant with the front row of Tony, Spence and Bazza absolutely awesome against a very good Welsh side who have come on a lot since the 58 point drubbing we inflicted on them last season in the corresponding fixture.

And Finally - well being a C&W supporter doesn't become any easier as they managed to claim just a single point in the local derby against fellow strugglers Brizzle – some would say 'why do you carry on supporting them' but I'm not sure that to un-support your team of many decades is possible (that, of course. applies to Cam who have been from level 3 to level 9 and back during my years at Watchetts as well as Glaws who, since the start of the professional era, are one of just a couple of teams who have never been relegated)

Pic by Dinger shows the team entering the hallowed London Welsh pitch