8 Try Cam back in the Mix

So despite dreadful weather in the week the rearranged game against Horsham at Watchetts was eventually played on the top pitch, as the 1s pitch was still suffering from February's rainfall and the 2s pitch was missing a post brought down by storm Dennis.
Trailing 2nd place Park by 11 points it was essential that the black and ambers collect a maximum in both postponed games to get back into the hunt particularly as Havant and Park still have to play each other.
In the event a rather rusty Cam, who because of the state of their pitches have only managed 2hrs training over the last 5 weeks, were still much to good for a Horsham side who tackled hard but whose set piece was poor and who also lacked a cutting edge.
The game started with Cam playing into quite a stiff breeze and the exit from the kick off was fine and when Dom stole the Horsham lineout this gave Cam the advantage and winning a free kick followed by a penalty from the first 2 scrums we saw the black and ambers throwing in on the Horsham 10.
A great take by Dom followed by a huge drive resulted in yet another Cam pen and from the resulting 5m lineout another Dom take was followed by a great driving maul with Dyl touching down for the first score after just 5 mins.
After another great exit from the restart we saw some of the expansive rugby which we have come to expect from this side and we saw Brizzle well supported by Dyl break through with Dyl tackled just short of the line and it was the talented hooker who again was threatening the Horsham line following more great hands only to be forced into touch just 5m short.
However this hard work was not wasted as, not for the only time in the game, Cam stole the Horsham lineout and following a few pick and goes the ball was swung out to young Dimples who set off on a mazy run and when stopped almost on the line he was able to offload to Pickett who crossed under the post for a try which was converted by TommyD for a 12-0 score on 13 mins.
We then saw a bit of the old Cam when the restart was not managed well giving the visitors some possession in the Cam 22 and in fact Horsham pressured the Cam line for almost 10 mins before they crossed for a converted try on 25 mins.
And the visitors closed the gap further when they converted a penalty making the score 12-10 after 27mins.
Then we saw some classic rugby with Dimples kicking deep into the Horsham 22 and a great steal by Dom saw him brush aside the defence to cross for a try on 30 mins.
The remaining 10 mins were to say the least a tad scrappy from both sides and so the score stayed 17-10 at the break.
So playing with the breeze in the second half the loyal Cam supporters, who had made it all the way from the clubhouse to the top pitch, were expecting to see their side move up a gear and so they were somewhat aghast when a super optimistic Camberley miss pass was intercepted on halfway making the score 17 all on 42 mins.
This clearly motivated the black and ambers and after reclaiming the restart #8 Tio crashed over for a try for 22-17 and securing the Tbp.
Cam were really on a roll by now and a great lineout drive again in the Horsham 22 saw a neat move by #9 TommyD and blindside winger Ash carve right through the heart of the visitors defence to touch down for another try which TommyD converted and so with 49 mins on the clock the score had moved to 29-17.
By this time the immense defensive work of the visitors was beginning to take its toll and despite some rather inaccurate passing on occasions by Cam on 58 mins they added to their score when huge pressure in the red zone eventually saw the ball swung out wide again and a great miss pass saw The Flying Turtle touch down in the corner.
We then saw Cam take their foot off the gas but a battle weary Horsham side did not not enough in the tank to threaten the Cam line and they fell further behind when great Cam defence saw the ball spilled by the visitors and when it was hacked on there was only going to be one result when the Flying Turtle, for the first time in the game, switched on the afterburners and dotted down for his second of the afternoon and in the closing minutes another rampaging run by Tio saw the #8 halted just short of the line before popping the ball to prop Pickett for his second try and a final score of 46-17.

So despite the great difficulties that the coaching staff have endured over the last month or so this was a satisfying result with, as in previous games, untried combinations working well despite the lack of preparation.
The backs played their best game for some time both in attack and defence with Brizzle strong in attack and defence along with Oyoni, Ash and young Turton electric on the wings and the TommyD and Dimples combo looking better by the game.
But as with most games at this time of year it was again the forwards who won this battle with the front row dominating their opposition, Dom and Ryan majestic at lineout time and The Warrior, Tio and Voighty just too good for the visitors and with strong performances by replacements Shawa and Timberman this was a good warm up for the remaining games starting next week at Watchetts with the rearranged game against KCSOB – ko 2.30
Belated congratulations to Dom who became a father for the first time a couple of weeks ago – I understand that young Finlay is keeping Mum and Dad busy 24/7 – we've all been there Dom !! and of course we await news from veteran TommyA who is about to join Dom in the new Dad stakes.

And Finally – well another poor result from the C&Ws away at the Ricoh although they did manage a try bonus point. Apparently there are some signing announcements due in the coming weeks so we all live in hope but I suspect that they will be insignificant in comparison with those announced from Ashton Gate recently – Oh what a billionaire backer can do.