Courageous Cam Come out on Top

On a bright but bitterly cold Saturday the 1s travelled to Old Reigatians knowing that any sort of victory could create just a chink of daylight at the top of the table but they were also very aware of the size of the task awaiting them.
In the event we enjoyed an excellent game of rugby with both sides showing great quality in defence with Cam eventually claiming the win as their outstanding pace and skill in attack just outweighed the very successful driving maul of Old Reigatians.
The game started well for the black and ambers as they forced a penalty on the ORs 22
almost from the kick off and TommyD gratefully accepted the opportunity to put his side ahead after just a couple of minutes.
However from the restart a couple of Camberley mistakes plus a penalty saw ORs with an attacking lineout and their drive was set up perfectly to take the lead with an unconverted try.
Cam appeared to have taken retaken the lead when a great break down the wing involving Hoff saw JoshL fly down the touchline to dot down only to be brought back for a Camberley penalty on the OR 22which TommyD converted to regain the lead after just 13 mins played.
At this stage it was Cam who were trying to play their expansive rugby but this was nullified by a well organised defence and we saw the black and ambers start to lose patience and some silly pens kept the hosts in the game and from another attacking lineout we saw the OR threequarters join another driving maul from a lineout to claim a try which was converted for a 12-9 score on 22 mins.
The next quarter served up much of the same with Cam desperately trying to pierce the ORs defence but making too many errors which on a couple of occasions almost cost them dearly but on 38 mins TommyD converted a penalty to narrow the gap although we saw ORs add 2 penalties of their own, making the score 18-9 at the break and with Cam having one man in the bin their challenge for the second half seemed immense.
The second half continued with Cam making several good breaks but again patience and ill discipline were costing them dearly but on 55 mins eventually good hands saw Ash on the charge supported by JoshL bursting through the tiring defence with HT on hand to dot down and bring the score to 18-14.
Then we saw another piece of magic when, from the restart initially a wild pass in the Cam 22 was skilfully picked up off his toes by centre Oli who carved through the Reigatians defence and with brother Ash in support drew the last defender before passing for Ash to score in the corner for another unconverted try and at last the black and ambers had edged infront on 58 mins.
Things then started to look a little better for Cam as the players began to tire allowing the game to open up and Cam were soon back in the ORs 22 following a good break by HT and TommyD kicked another penalty so the score moved to 18-22 with just 61 mins played.
We then saw the Cam 8 returning the favour when 2 great scrums on halfway saw the ORs pack lifted and pushed back like rag dolls creating chaos at the base of the scrum and when TommyD was the first to react as he hacked the ball forward before the Fijian Flyer completed the task with a pick up and touch down and with TommyD adding the extras the score had moved to 18-29 with 66 mins played.
ORs to their credit came straight back and following a free kick in the Cam 22 we saw them pick and go patiently until they were able to cross the line for a converted try making the score 25-34. So in 15 mins the score had moved from 18-9 to 25-29.
After such furious change the scoreboard was static for about 10 mins until from another good scrum on halfway we saw Mac at #8 pick up and drive forward and when the ball was recycled Oyoni started on one of his powerful arcing runs which took him deep into the opposition red zone before he found Hughsey in support to score in the corner for the bonus point try.
The drama, however, was not over as ORs pressed for a LBP and forced a lineout deep in the Cam 22 and again their driving maul was too good for Cam as they crossed for their bonus point try with just a couple of minutes on the clock.
We then saw Cam at their best and most determined as from the restart fierce defence by all of the black and ambers saw them strangle any attempt by the home side to break out of their 22 and that is where play was when the final whistle was blown to the relief of the travelling players and supporters.
This was an extremely good game of rugby with both sides pretty much cancelling each other out with their excellent defensive systems and with Cams ability to run from anywhere on the park just about outweighing the ORs pack's ability in the driving maul and I am sure that we will be in for another corker when ORs visit us at Watchetts later in the season.
Today we saw a great team performance from the black and ambers and when, in the second half, the game opened up a little they showed the quality of their expansive rugby and again the squad will have benefited immensely from lessons learned in this game.

It was doubly good news for Cam as the 2s, also playing ORs at Reigate remained undefeated with a comfortable 22-7 victory setting themselves up for their Surrey KO Cup game v Old Hamptonians away on Saturday.
The 1s now have a week off to recover before their next challenge this time Twickenham are the visitors to Watchetts in another 'must win' game.

And Finally – well if you are a C&W supporter life could not get much better with another fantastic result up in the frozen North where points have been difficult to win over recent years but on Friday they came away with 5 to consolidate their position in the top 6 and record their 4th W on the bounce and all of these based on a tremendous defence.