EIGHT TRY CAM KEEP UP THE PACE

Match number four in London 1 South as Camberley with maximum points hosting Dartfordians at Watchetts. A good attendance for the match after the President’s luncheon all anticipating a good afternoon’s rugby.

Good conditions as rain mid week led to a the good nicely grassed pitch. Kicking off Camberley soon were in their stride exerting pressure and took the lead after only three minutes. A breakaway mid field and then away was Oyoni on the right wing making his usual good ground then his pass inside seeing Ash Wright complete the touch down. The conversion by young stand off Matt Dalrymple saw the 7 – 0 lead with just three minutes played.

The early points paved the way for general match control which Camberley very soon exerted. So we saw two good moves ending near the opposition line but after 14 minutes the pressure led to a penalty under the posts duly put over by fly half Matt. Visiting Dartfordians then showed good resilience and after gaining merited possession were rewarded by a try under the posts by their full back. So a quarter of play gone and a 10 – 7 scoreline.

The score perhaps did not reflect the match situation as the Cam forwards were instrumental in setting up soon set up several good moves for the backs. After seven more minutes these moves from right to left saw wing Jayde Cruickshank over in the corner. Seven more minutes passing so after 34 it was 20 – 7 with another try. A fine mid field break saw Oyoni away again off loading to Ash for his second try wide out right. Both tries could not be converted so Cam still had a modest 13 point lead only.

The narrow lead proved short lived as the visitors pressed forward and after two scrums near to the line then scored under the posts the conversion giving them a 20 – 14 scoreline against them. Then with half time approaching Cam exerted real pressure to the visiting 22 and were rewarded with two straightforward penalties duly converted to see an interval score of 26 – 14.

Clearly not content at half time with only a 12 point lead Cam raced out of the blocks after the interval . A fine break out left set up Ash who finished well in the far corner with two minutes played. An excellent conversion by Matt Dalrymple so the scoreline 33 – 14. Ten minutes later and the spectators were robbed of a score for popular hooker TJ who fastened on to a neat chip ahead but was foiled by his knock on in sight of the visitors territory. But the pressure continued and after 15 minutes the game was safe as full back Tom Allen was over on the right after yet another good set up. Three more minutes then after 18 more another was scored this time by wing Jayde Cruickshank. At 43 – 14 the safety was consolidated despite both scores not being converted.

Brave Dartfordians fought back and four minutes later broke through to score their third try on the right being unconverted so a scoreline of 43 – 19 and still 18 minutes to play. This reversal was not for long as in three more minutes another aerial attack by Cam saw a knock on in defence and resulting scrummage near the posts. Over went Jayde wide out after the ball was retained then distributed through the backs but with no conversion it was 48 – 19 and thirteen minutes remaining.

As the match approached the end it was still Cam pressing and setting up moves. They were rewarded in added time with the fine work by the forwards seeing prop Greg Franzel scoring by the posts duly converted by Matt so a 55 – 19 final score.

So an eight try victory and resuming after four matches at the top of the table with Westcombe Park and Havant. Three tries apiece for backs Ash and Jayde so with full back Tom adding his it was the “magnificent seven” !
A fine all round performance with the pack and backs in control the young side showing their merits throughout.

Report by Neil Doody