This was a game of Effingham’s experienced but less mobile forwards versus Camberley’s youthful team and pacey backs.

The game started brightly with a lengthy spell of play in both directions and in which Effingham threatened the Camberley line with their pick and go tactics. Camberley defended resolutely and with a clearance kick from Max Jary and a charging run from Tom Dunne before a succession of scrums on the Effs, 22m line. Soon after the ball made its way to Fijian wing Henry Anafe who ran in to score a converted try. E&L 0 – 7 Camberley

From the restart and subsequent catch and drive lineout Effs scored their own converted try. E&L 7 – 7 Camberley

Camberley’s pod system seemed to be working well and when Kai Durrant burst on to a pass, no one expected him to keep running – but he did, all the way from outside the Effs 22 to the try line. Nice work Kai – and your first try for the club which was duly converted. E&L 7 – 14 Camberley

Effs restarted strongly and Camberley went to sleep, but fortunately Ritchie Lampitt (all 41 years of him) got stuck in and stemmed the attack. Further good tackles by Jack Lear, a good rip out of the tackle by Captin Zac Maher led to a pass to wing Henry who rounded the covering tackles and scored another converted try. E&L 7 – 21 Camberley

There then followed a lengthy break in play to attend to Caelen Davis who had hurt his neck in a scrum when his much older opponent, had a rush of blood to the head and caught Caelen off balance and the ensuing injury. A stupid and unnecessary moment in an otherwise very enjoyable friendly. Fortunately dear reader I can report that Caelan was cleared by the hospital following a scan and we look forward to see him up and about soon.

Camberley then scored a good running try when the ball came to Charley who ran and spread the ball to the opposite wing where fullback Dels ran on to score an unconverted try - E&L 7 – 26 Camberley

The game continued and was lit up by a stunning burst in open field by James Alcock (yes, son of Dickie) who intercepted a loose pass outside his 22 and ran the length to score under the posts for a cracking converted try. E&L 7 – 33 Camberley

Effingham fought back with a good try of their own, albeit fortunate in that the ref seemed to miss the otherwise very obvious drop and knock on just prior to the score, but Camberley didn’t really mind. E&L 14 – 33 Camberley

In the second half Camberley went on to score again thanks to scrum half Max Jary making a fine solo run to score an unconverted try. E&L 14 – 38 Camberley

Second row Tom Dunne then showed a clean set of heals to run on to the ball outside the 22 to score a try similar to Kai Durrants earlier effort which went unconverted. Such runs have become a feature of Toms play and one can think of similar efforts in the previous matches have led to this score. E&L 14 – 43 Camberley

Camberley made a few changes with the luxury of a “bench” and a magnificent effort by the fly half replacement Josh who went all the way to the line before popping to another replacement on the wing Sam who scored in the corner a great try which was converted. Final score - E&L 14 – 50 Camberley