Eight Try Cam stay Top

Holding a narrow one point table lead Camberley visited the south coast for the second week in succession meeting lowly New Milton. Fielding a workmanlike side with a strong back line Camberley looked to score points in the good yet cold conditions at New Milton.
Points certainly looked the order of the day with four tries scored in the first twelve minutes three of these to Camberley as they raced to a 19 – 5 lead. Cam were soon on the attack and were rewarded after 2 minutes with a try out left by Phil Cresswell not converted. But the hosts fought back and 3 minutes later they burst through for their try also way out left this unconverted.
9 minutes gone and a well worked move saw Camberley score on the right as wing Liam Lazarus was over the try converted by Tom Dunne. Then after just 12 minutes a break and slick pass to flanker Sam Voight saw him over with the conversion by Tom Dunne. New Milton undaunted by the early setbacks mounted promising moves but frustrated by errors. They did then narrow the deficit at 32 minutes scoring out left easily beating the defence for the unconverted try.
Camberley soon increased the lead at 35 minutes with a straightforward penalty by Tom Dunne for a 22 – 10 scoreline. Good pressure by Camberley using the slightly favourable wind conditions saw a fine series of moves as the half ebbed away and fly half Tom Dunne was over by the posts for a 40 minute try which he duly converted. Half time and the 29 10 score reflected well the pattern of play with the try bonus already earned for Camberley.
Camberley brought on scrum half Roger Wood to start the second half and soon set up attacks . New Milton defended well and after 8 minutes broke away and scored on the right an unconverted try to leave them within some range at 29 – 15 down. This encouraged the home side who set up several moves and with 15 minutes gone scored again a well worked move after an attacking lineout seeing a try in the right hand corner. Although unconverted the score at 20 – 29 was a real boost for New Milton.
Camberley certainly needed to step up their game especially given the fine early three try start to the match. This they did as with 20 minutes remaining an excellent break by Liam Lazarus through the defence set up number eight Mac Duabie for a try unconverted to retain the lead at 34 – 20.
Yet again brave Milton fought back and at 26 minutes they were rewarded by a forwards try duly converted and once more were in range at 27 – 34. But Camberley soon broke well out of defence and worked the ball to the right as wing Phil Cresswell was over for his second try well converted by Tom Dunne. With 10 minutes remaining the score at 41 – 27 looked comfortable for visiting Camberley.
This comfort saw 3 minutes later more good work out of defence as Camberley profited by a great break by centre Ash Wright who scored himself the try converted by Tom Dunne so 48 – 27.
Then a frantic last 10 minutes saw three tries in this free scoring match two to hosts New Milton. First they attacked the line and earned the forwards try but as time ran out Camberley again scored on 38 minutes flanker Josh Watson over to bring up 53 points but then unconverted. New Milton as throughout the match kept their momentum going and keeping the ball in play scored a last gasp try duly converted to leave a 53 – 41 scoreline to Camberley.
A free scoring match with fifteen tries and eight of these to Camberley and a 94 point exhibition by both sides in the good conditions. Bold New Milton can surely look ahead to better times after this display but Camberley proved workmanlike winners and retained the top slot after eight matches played.
There is a break next week then Camberley host Old Tonbridgians on 5 December.

REPORT BY NEIL DOODY