Seaside Trip Sees Start of Cam Recovery

So the big question on the trip to Gosport was would Guy Fawkes weekend provide the bang which the coaches and supporters were looking for following the last three games when the team has not performed to its own high standards and the answer was apparent within the first 2 mins when the Cam eight drove over from a 5m lineout with TK claiming the try.
This pattern of play was repeated almost from the restart when Cam's attempt to run the ball out of defence saw it eventually end up in touch again within the home side's 22. The seige then started with the black and ambers stealing the host's lineout ball and Rory breaking the first line of defence before Gosport were penalised. Opting for a lineout Cam then set up another great drive which was brought down illegally again. The next lineout saw the ball played out wide with Ash and TommyA, playing the advantage, combining well but held up just short so we saw yet another 5m lineout followed by a big drive and when Gosport infringed yet again the official had no choice but to award a penalty try, and this with less than 10mins on the clock.
Cam, who were in this half playing into a stiff breeze, then showed their abilty by running the ball back from the restart and during 5 or 6 phases when the ball was switched across the park several times the black and ambers again entered the hosts 22 and when the ball was spun out wide again there was no one who was going to stop #8 Mac from forcing his way over.
The game then, predictably, went into one of its less structured phases as far as Cam were concerned as for 10 mins or so the team lost its shape and rhythm as everyone wanted to get onto the end of a scoring pass so although the black and ambers were embedded in the hosts half for most of that time Gosport were let off the hook on a number of occasions when Cam became too ambitious. In addition despite the official trying hard to keep the game flowing the lack of understanding by the home side on the Laws regarding playing the ball in the ruck while not supporting their own bodyweight created many penalties which only heaped pressure on themselves and created a stop start game.
However with almost 30 mins gone Cam again launched a big driving maul and when that was stopped Smarty was almost over in the corner but from the resultant scrum 5 the ball was quickly moved along the line and Ash had the simple job of stepping his opposite number to dot down and claim the bonus point.
Again Cam tried to run the restart kick back but when they lost possession the Gosport #15 quickly spotted a gap in the black and ambers defence and raced through from the 10m line for a converted try on the stroke of half time.
Cam, now with the cold wind behind them again were first to trouble the scorer when great interplay between Ash and Oyoni saw Ash again brought down just short of the try line but #8 Mac was there in support to clear out, pickup the ball and dot down for his second of the afternoon which was converted by Smarty.
Again the restart was fielded by TommyA who was seeing plenty of the ball and again play quickly moved deep into the hosts half and from a scrum on the 10m line blindside winger Oyoni joined the line and created the overlap before burning off a flagging opposition to make the score 7-34 after just 55 mins.
Cam did not handle the restart in their normal efficient way enabling Gosport to put a few phases together but they were soon turned over and we saw The Warrior charging over halfway and again win a penalty which saw Cam back into the red zone but a soft penalty followed by a couple of missed tackles saw the hosts take play to the Cam line but great D and a good kick by Ben Bowen relieved the pressure however with 70 mins played Gosport did get some reward for their efforts when they scored wide out and they were next to score again when an over expansive backs move by Cam failed and the loose ball was pounced upon by the Gosport winger who sprinted in from his 10m line for a converted try and a score of 19-34 with 75 mins on the clock.
So with the home side looking for the try bonus point Cam decided to switch on again and finished off with 3 more tries, the first came from a quick tap penalty taken by Smarty and his long miss pass saw Mac cross for his third of the afternoon and despite Gosport almost scoring again good D by Cam saw them on the attack again and we saw replacement prop Dan burst down the blindside before feeding TK who crossed under the posts and, with just one min to go as a tired Gosport restarted we saw a great run by Dyl from deep in his 22 before finding Oyoni who made good ground before Ben Bowen drew the last man and let TommyA have the glory for an outstanding score and with the final two tries both converted by Smarty the ref blew the whistle with the score 19-55.
This was a much improved performance by the black and ambers, much more physicality in defence and despite a couple of blemishes concentration and focus at a much higher level that we have seen over the last few weeks and when you couple this with many outstanding examples of running rugby there could only be one result.
To a man the 18 players all contributed immensely to this win and credit must go to the coaches who's decision to recall Roger Wood in the absence of TommyD was fully justified as the Yappy Yorkshire Terrier provided the management and leadership this side really does need.
Again great shifts by all of the pack who remained totally dominant throughout - their driving mauls from lineouts were outstanding, with special mentions to Mac who was superb, The Warrior who had 80 mins of awesome physicality, I'm sure there will be a number of Gosport players having nightmares about him tonight, and to Dylan who was having his first game of the season following a bout of glandular fever (which we all thought was Man Flu) and was lively in the loose and his lineout throwing percentage must have been 90% in pretty poor conditions.
The backs too were outstanding although once or twice soft shoulders allowed the opposition to break through but their pace and interplay was superb and it was great to see Veteran TommyA, returning from injury, seeing a lot of action and creating lots of opportunities for his side.

So next week we are at home again this time the visitors are Eastleigh - kick off is 2.30 and the game is being sponsored by Guy Salmon the Land Rover specialists from Ascot.

And Finally you really didn't think that I would skip last Sundays result from the Wreck did you - anyway for those who did not get to watch it the C&Ws won their local derby at the Wreck with a last minute try which saw those wearing blue, black and white shirts left with nothing to do but jump into the Avon (good job JJ was in Woking - perhaps he could manage the Basingstoke canal????)