Cam Maintain Pressure with another 8 try win

Good conditions at Hurlingham Park as Camberley travelled to the South East London club for a crucial match as now just four points behind leaders Havant, with three matches to go.

Hosts Hammersmith & Fulham raced into a seven point lead in just two minutes. They took advantage of early loose play and used well a penalty award. Cam were rewarded with a penalty after ten minutes duly slotted by Matt Smart in only their first real attack.
Rfour minutes later and Hammersmith scored again after a free kick from a line out duly converted so 14 – 3. But Cam fought back and after a good move out right a fine cross kick by fly half Smarty saw a gather then try in the left corner by George Owen. Smarty celebrated with an excellent conversion from wide out.
Boosted by the score the forwards started their now usual control and in 30 minutes a solid drive and over went loose head Greg Franzel and with Smarty converting it was a 14 – 17 scoreline. But more loose play and untidy handling let the hosts in for a try by the posts duly converted in 38 minutes. Half time and an interval score to Hammersmith of 21 – 17.
Clearly there must have been interval strong words to Cam. The words paid off with a score in two minutes in the second half. Forward Ed Grosvenor had entered the fray for the second half and he obliged with the try from a drive following a line out. The conversion gave a modest three point lead. This was again short lived with yet more loose play – losing the ball in mid field - then Hammersmith scoring after a kick ahead. The conversion meant a 28 – 24 scoreline and only five minutes played.
But with the pack now very dominant the lead was regained after seven minutes in real style. Scrum half Max McCarthy gathering in midfield broke through his pace evading the tackles to score a magnificent try between the posts. With the conversion Cam were now in the lead again at 31 – 28 and could now accelerate the match tempo. In another ten minutes twelve more points were achieved and only twenty minutes played. Firstly Cam attacked left after a penalty on the twenty two for George Owen after being brought down. He then duly scored in the corner. The next try was created by tight head Nick Barrie with a bullocking run on the right setting up lock Dom Sammut to score by the posts for Smarty to convert.
At 43 – 28 there was plenty of time for more scores. After thirty minutes a good break by full back Ben Stevens created the movement to then score himself in the right corner. Another fine touchline conversion by Smarty brought up the fifty points.
The scoring was completed with three minutes remaining. The defence was wide open as Connor Hayhow strolled through for the final try with Smarty converting. So a 57 – 28 scoreline with a dominant performance throughout yet with several handling errors. The pack yet again in control with Nick Barrie catching the eye with a fine match.

Leaders Havant have beaten Bracknell and are now three points ahead of Cam with two matches to play. Cam now face the in form London Welsh and in the last match are away to C S Stags who are only the second club apart from Cam to beat Havant. An exhilarating finish in store !!

Report by Neil Doody - pic by Dinger shows Max dotting down after another scintillating break