Cam Deliver New Year Try-Fest for Midwives

On a glorious, bright and crisp January Saturday at Watchetts, coaches and supporters alike were curious as to how the black and ambers would perform following their extended Xmas break and the limited training time they had had due to the waterlogged pitches.
At the final whistle, despite a scoreless first quarter, they had enjoyed a display of attacking rugby which yielded 11 tries and left all of those on the touchline with a warm glow as the win maintained their position as League leaders.

Playing away from the clubhouse in the first half Cam showed their lack of recent game time as they struggled to overcome a weakened Midwives side despite their dominance in the set scrums where, for the entire 80 mins, the visitors found themselves backpedalling often at a rate of knots.
The first quarter was littered with dropped passes and poor ball retention but on 21 mins tight head Dan Neal emerged from a ruck in his own half and made 30m before feeding fellow prop Jack and although the movement was halted temporarily under the visitors posts quick ball saw #8 Mac cross for the first try which was converted by Tommy D.

From the restart good drills saw the ball moved out wide and a brilliant pick up off his bootlaces by Joe took play deep into the visitors 22 but again lack of match practice was evident as the black and ambers wasted a good opportunity in the opponents red zone.
However with the Cam front 5 so dominant it was clear that the next score was not far away and when Mac made good yards from another scrum turnover and again took play into the visitors 22 better control saw flanker Jono make a telling break before feeding loosehead Jack Robinson who dotted down for a converted try.
Cam were clearly now gaining control across the park and when the restart failed to make 10m the resultant scrum saw Dan Bright chip ahead and catch the Midwives fullback in possession deep in his 22. From this ruck quick ball saw Joe and Phil both held up close to the line but the ball was recycled and Tommy A went over for another converted try making the score 21-0 after 33mins.
The closing stages of the half saw Cam relaxing and as a result they conceded a couple of pens which were converted leaving the score 21-6 at the break.
Cam started the second half full of intent and although some of the errors remained their play was generally much more accurate and they scored their bonus point try in the first 5 mins when good work by the forwards set up an unconverted try for fullback Dan Bright.
The restart resulted in a lineout on the Cam 10m line and Dan the prop again showed his speed by sprinting 25m before handing over to Jono who unselfishly drew the last defender and passed back to Dan who crashed over, as props tend to do!!) scoring his first try for the 1s – again the try was converted by TommyD.
The restart saw Midwives play a few phases of their own but their lack of confidence showed when their attack was halted by a forward pass which flew into touch.
Again Cam won the scrum, this time driving the visitors eight back and a quick break saw play return to the visitors 22 and eventually their defence cracked when scrum half Tommy D skipped through a gap at the breakdown and fed hard working Josh who touched down for the converted try making the score 40-6.
The restart was again taken by Josh who made good yards before releasing the ball and play returned almost immediately to the visitors 22. When the Cam pack turned over scrum possession yet again, quick thinking by Will saw him dart through a gap before linking with Tommy A who strolled over for his second of the afternoon with 60 mins on the clock making the score 47-6.
By this time Risey was unloading the bench and within 3 mins Cam had made it 50 with a quite brilliant try by Alex Hughes who had only just come on when he forced himself through a series of tackles down the right hand side to dot down in the corner – this time Tommy D was unsuccessful.
By this time the visitors were really struggling and although another great take and charge by Josh from the restart came to nothing it wasn't long before the Cam 8 were again running their opponents backwards at scrumtime and the resultant pressure saw Greg W cross for another converted try.
To their credit Midwives, who competed until the end, then had a few minutes of pressure in the Cam half but they were turned over and soon found themselves back in their 22 and a poor 5m lineout saw Mac pounce on the loose ball and score his second of the afternoon – Tommy D managed to hit the post for the second time in the afternoon, this time the ball bounced back!!
The final score came from the restart when good drills saw the ball played out wide to the left and winger Ash broke through several tired tackles to power his way over from halfway for the final converted try.
This was an excellent performance by Riseys team who clearly needed 20 mins or so to get back in the groove but they again showed their all round quality both forwards and backs with a performance which warmed the spectators even more than the news from South Africa.
As with the game against Teddington the forwards held the key to the success with the front 5 all immense.
The front row of Jack, Dylan and Dan were simply awesome and are clearly enjoying their rugby - their speed around the park both in attack and defence is outstanding particularly when you consider the work they are doing in the tight. Locks Sam and Hoff are a great duo and provide the solidity which Alun is demanding for the pack and the back row were at the heart of everything today – Josh with his warrior charges, Mac who was outstanding at the base of the scrum and Jono, usually the try scorer, who turned provider today on several occasions – clearly this must be the 2016 version of the openside!!!
The backs worked hard both in attack and defence and the longer the game went on so their fluency began to return.
So a great, if belated, start to 2016 and now all eyes are on our visit to Ironsides next Saturday – ko 2.00, the first of 3 fixtures on the bounce which could define the black and ambers season with Farnham and Old Tiffs to follow.
And finally for all of you C&W followers, the boys maintained their 100% record in the Challenge cup and need a win at Zebre next week to ensure a vital home quarter.