Careless Cam again miss out in close game

So with the 1s pitch still unplayable due to a faulty drain we saw them moved to the second team pitch with the 2s playing on the smaller top pitch and the 3s/development left to pick their way through the pretty much grassless training pitch.
This was always going to be a stiff test for the black and ambers and it was made much more so when #10 Tommy Dunn tweaked something during the warm up and so young Gary Hardy was pulled up from the 2s, a daunting ask for anyone and although Gary slotted in well it was clear that the experience and accuracy from the tee of Smarty or Dunny was sadly missing on what turned out to be a very close game.
So the game got off to a good start when Big Dom collected Gary's kick off and this created a period of Cam pressure until the ball was eventually lost on the Medway 22 and it wasn't until almost 10 mins had elapsed that the visitors made it out of their half courtesy of a scrum time penalty.
At this stage it seemed that the visitors had a real advantage at scrum time although our coaching staff were convinced that the problem was caused by the Medway prop driving into our hooker (who would argue with our scrum guru Alun) and in all fairness to them they were clearly proved correct as when the suspect prop was replaced after about 30 mins scrums became much more even and stable.

We did see Ash receiving the ball in his 22 breaking several tackles before chipping ahead only for the ball to go into touch on the Medway 22 and moments later a clever chip by Tom Chennell into space saw TommyA charge through and collect the ball only to be pulled down 10m short.
In fact, apart from these glimpses of skill, the the first half was basically a big arm wrestle – great D from both sides with few if any clear cut opportunities except possibly a penalty missed by Cam and so very unusually the half closed at 0-0.

Whatever was said by Risey at the break we saw a much more focussed Cam starting the second half and they eventually went ahead after a penalty and a great lineout drive took them into the red zone and patience eventually saw Ash cross for a try on 50 mins.

It was good to see the restart handled better and a good take by Ed G saw TommyA speed over the halfway line and from a penalty awarded for not rolling away the black and ambers were soon back in the red zone and another great catch and drive from a 5m lineout saw Dyl cross for a second try on 55 mins.

Again the restart was handled well and at this stage it looked as if Cam had taken the sting out of the visitors but to their credit, despite their relationship with the official becoming a tad fractious with 2 penalties reversed, they continued to attack and with Camberley's Thunderball sent to warm the bench within a couple of minutes of making his entrance, in the last game he had scored within 2 mins of coming on, the task became tougher for the black and ambers .
The game itself became very lose and ill disciplined and on 75 mins the visitors eventually got on the scoreboard when a cross field kick found their winger, who according to the majority of black and amber supporters must have been 5m in front of the kicker, and he dotted down in the corner to make the score 10-5.
The game from that point became even more scrappy with errors on both sides but in the 10 mins??? of time added on the visitors crossed for a converted try, the conversion being the last act of what had been a pretty disappointing day for the home supporters but brought great pleasure to the large number of Medway supporters who had vociferously encouraged their team for the 80+ mins.

So a somewhat lacklustre performance from Cam as they really should have consolidated their position and shut down the visitors once they had scored their 2 tries but instead again poor control and decision making kept Medway interested.

The 2s hosted Medway 2s and won 27-7 while the 3s lost their cup game v Vandals.

Next week the 1s travel to Dartford for another tough game as the Kent side continue their efforts to move out of the relegation zone.

And Finally – Great news for all C&W supporters as their side claimed 5 points at Castle Grim against the ultimate enemy - those unmentionables from down the A46. In what seemed to be a strange match with most of the action in the second half, Glaws scored 4 tries and 1 pen while 'the other lot' could only manage 5 pens.