Cam Experience Ups and Downs on visit to Brighton

On a glorious afternoon on the rolling South Downs Cam opened their season away at Brighton, a team who have become established in in London 1S over the past season.
The game started with both sides making early mistakes but when the home side dominant in the first few scrums the omens were not good but a great defensive kick by Oyoni took play from the black and ambers 22 deep into the visitors half.
However after winning the lineout Brighton decided to open up in their own 22 and after a couple of missed tackles out wide it was only a last ditch tackle by Ash which prevented a try but from the resultant field position, following a scrum, the inside centre crashed over for the firat score on just 9 mins.
From the restart Cam started to exert some pressure and good interplay between the 2 wingers Oyoni and Jamie saw Oyoni cross for a try which was converted by Smarty making the score 5-7 on 17 mins.
The restart was not handled well by Cam and the resultant pressure in the end produced a penalty to the home sid3 who retook the lead on 20 mins.
Cam then experienced a period of possession with the ball being moved across the backline and when JamieT popped up in the centre he scorched through the opposition to dot down for another try converted by Smarty making the score 8-14 on 27 mins.
However managing the exit from the restart was again not handled well by Cam and the resulting converted try edged Brighton ahead on 30 mins.
We then had a glimpse of the expansive game that was the trade mark of the team last season with the ball being shifted swiftly between backs nd forwards and when Mac surged down the wing JamieT was on hand to take the pass and dot down for his second of the afternoon and a Cam lead of 15-21 with just 5 mins to the break.
However the home side were not to be denied and again poor restart drills saw them regain possession and score a converted try just a minute short of half time to make the score 22-21.
The second half saw Cam lose their momentum, fall out with the official and in what was a scrappy and somewhat disjointed second 40 they contrived to play 20 of those a man short which proved to be just too much of a handicap and as a result they conceded a further penalty and converted try and with this, the possibility of 1 or 2 bonus points.
Despite the result, this was a valuable run out for the young squad most of whom have never played rugby at this level where the physicality, pace and speed of decision making is definitely a notch higher. In addition they will have learned that missed tackles generally has a very poor outcome for the team and that the RFU's new zero tolerance approach to players appealing for penalties and cards can be costly.
So overall plenty of positives to take from the afternoon and, as always, plenty of work ons for Risey and his coaching team at training this week. Mac had a rousing game at #8 and was Brighton's MoM and young Tommy at 9 and veteran Tommy at #15 both had good games with the old man at the back showing on several occasions that he hasn't lost it just yet!!
On the adjoining pitch our 2s had a good afternoon's work as they opened their season in the Zoo league by winning 38-21 scoring 6 tries to the home side's 3.
Next week 1s and 2s entertain Havant at Watchetts in a rearranged fixture as the Hampshire club are having their 4G pitch installed. Both games will ko at 3.00.
And Finally - so it was also the first week of the Premiership and the C&Ws, playing their 5000 competitive game since they were formed, on their brand new hybrid pitch, negotiated the visit of The Sinners despite managing to follow Cam's example by picking up 2 yellows and they will hope to carry that form forward when they visit The Wreck next Saturday.