Development XV Match Reports
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Camberley 2nd XV 0 - Raynes Park 2ndXV 9 12th December 2009
Without a game for 3 weeks, as their last two league fixtures were cancelled due to lack of opposition, Cam 2nds were further hampered by a number of late unavailabilities which particularly affected the pack for their game against Raynes Park 2nds.
So with a completely new front row, a second row consisting of 2 back row players and several threequarters discovering what life is like in the pack, the signs that this team could continue its recent successes were not promising.
In the event the team performed well above expectations and in the end narrowly lost to an experienced Raynes Park side 9-0.
With Cam playing away from the clubhouse in the first half they soon discovered that they were completely out scrummaged by the visitors and all afternoon were driven back at the set scrums. Cam did win a little more ball from the lineouts with debutant hooker Paul Nolan hitting his jumpers quite well considering the challenges they all faced but they attempted to make up for their lack of ball in the loose where they were able to turnover a significant amount of ball.
Unfortunately throughout the match the ref, assisted by at least 4 opposition players who throughout the game believed that they were also in charge, seemed to have some concern as to the methods being used at the breakdown and so Cam did concede a disproportionate number of penalties.
The first half saw both sides try to play open rugby with the Camberley backs, ably managed by skipper Andy Fleming, making some good breaks particularly through centres Chris Annan and Jim Benson with Gareth Hunt also showing his abilities from fullback.
The visitors, with their scrum winning lots of possession certainly had the territorial advantage but excellent defence by the entire Cam team prevented any tries and so at halftime Raynes Park had only managed to score 2 penalties.
In the second half Cam spent more time in the visitors half and were unlucky on several occasions being held up on the try line. On a rare move into the Cam half Raynes Park added a further penalty on 65 mins and that, despite more pressure by Cam, proved to be the final score of the game.
Credit must be given to the whole team who battled hard for the 80 mins and especially to those forwards who despite playing out of position performed way above expectations. They were ably led by Simon Brown, back after a long layoff, who had a big game in the second row. The backs looked dangerous despite the limited possession they enjoyed with Jim Benson, Chris Annan and Emanuel Hovette all making valuable yards whenever they had the opportunity. However the key to this team performance was scrum half James Herriott who marshalled his forwards well, created havoc for the opposition around the scrum and was always a threat when he had the ball.
With the next league game not until Jan 16th managers Gareth and Chris will no doubt be working hard at getting some friendlies arranged for the blank weekends
Squad: J Kaye, P Nolan, G Hutchison, S Brown, J Bucknall, M Milne, J Hoare, C Kaye, J Herriott, A Fleming, E Hovette, J Benson, C Annan, D Humphries, G Hunt
RogerB
Camberley 2nd XV 27 – Old Blues 2nd XV 18 7th Nov 2009
Old Blues arrived at Watchetts determined to end Camberley's unbeaten league record. In the event, despite playing 20 minutes with 14 men, Cam proved too strong for the visitors and ran out comfortable winners.
Cam started brightly and quickly moved play into the visitors half but conceded a penalty and returned to their own half and when they transgressed again the OB's were able to open the scoring with a penalty after 4 mins.
Cam came back strongly and were unlucky not to score when Al Joiner was held up over the line. However the visitors defended strongly and the pressure went unrewarded.
The Cam forwards continued driving forward through their tight 5 and they were eventually rewarded with a penalty which was converted by Stuart Hayter to level the scores after 18 mins.
Soon Cam were back in the visitors 22 and following a series of powerful drives by the forwards, the ball was released to the backs and Stuart Hayter skipped over a couple of tackles to touch down under the posts. With Hayter converting his try Cam went into the lead after 25 mins.
Again Pete Jackson made good ground from the restart but again having taken play into the visitors 22 they lost some of the advantage following a silly penalty.
However Cam forwards continued to exert pressure and after several 'near misses' winger Geoff Kingston was put over in the corner making the score 15-3 after 35 mins.
Strangely the ref then blew for half time which considering the time lost through injuries was at least 5 minutes early on the spectators watches however this was an unexpected bonus to some of the Cam Vets in the forwards.
The second half started poorly for Cam who seemed to believe that the game was already won and as a result after 50 mins the visitors had reduced the deficit to 2 points with a try and a penalty..
At this time Cam were down to 14 men and struggling however they had returned to their forward dominance when restored to 15 men but within 5 mins they 'won' another card and were clearly intent on making life as difficult as possible.
However the resultant penalty kick was collected by Cam and a great break by winger Jim Benson took play deep into the visitors 22 when the ball was fed to the other winger Colin Bell who crossed wide out to take the score to 20-13 after almost 70 mins.
Old Blues however, soon capitalised on their numerical advantage and reduced the deficit to 2 points after 75 mins.
Restored to 15 men Cam then took play back into the visitors 22 where in the last play of the game Stuart Hayter slipped some tired tackling to score a neat try which he converted with the last kick of the game to make the score 27-18.
Again this was a good win for Cam with forwards Dave Jolliffe, Al Joiner and Charlie Payne always in the vanguard of a great forward display. Pete Jackson had another good game where he dominated the lineout and also found the energy to make some telling breaks. The young backrow played well and are improving in every match while the backs had few real opportunities but took their chances well.
Overall the team played with loads of passion and commitment and produced an exciting performance which pleased their supporters.
RogerB
Merton 2nds 3 – Camberley 2nds 10 24th Oct 2009
Camberley 2XV won this game through sheer grit and determination. After the previous weeks try fest, this game lacked the sparkle and running brilliance which has been a feature of the Camberley 2XV so far this season.
It went wrong for Camberley right from the beginning at the Watchett’s clubhouse, late call ups to the first team on Friday night, travel delays on the M3, only a 10 minute warm-up, and then the whistle went to start the game with Camberley suffering from car-lag and unprepared for a game which should have been easily won. Camberley never really engaged the right gear, playing up the slope and against a swirling wind. In a dour first half, Camberley conceded a penalty after 20 minutes which Merton slotted over to take the lead. As persistent Merton infringements at the breakdown went unpunished, Camberley struggled to put any phases together, although Jerrard Stirzaker’s work rate at open-side was impressive, he lacked the much needed support from his fellow forwards in securing the ball and making Merton pay for their spoiling tactics. Late in the first half, the front row trio of James Brown, Karl MacIntyre and Club stalwart Chris Lee took one against the head, feisty scrum half James Herriott supplied quick ball to Captain Stuart Hayter, whose accurate kick through put his team close to the Merton line. Camberley pressurised the Merton defence but ran out time. Half time Merton 3 Camberley 0
After the break and water refreshments - bottles and carrying case reluctantly sponsored by the first team – the second half began with as much zeal as the first half did. At last, Merton started to get punished for their misdemeanours and lost their discipline. Injuries to prop Chris Lee and Pete Jackson meant that the game continued with uncontested scrums. From such a scrum, quick ball along the Camberley backs created confusion and panic in the Merton defence. Chris Eccles cheekily robbed the ball from Merton’s crumbling defence to score a well deserved try under the post. Captain Hayter nonchalantly slotted the ball deftly between the posts.
Further indiscipline and back chat from Merton gave Camberley a penalty 30 metres out, and again Captain and Man of the Match Stuart Hayter put his side further ahead with an amazing kick straight between the posts.
GarethJ
Camberley 41 Law Society 2nd XV 25 17th Oct 2009
Camberley 2nd XV entertained Law Society 2nd XV to Watchetts with the visitors kicking off towards the clubhouse.
Cam soon won a penalty on their 10m line but the quick tap and go was untidy and the opposition stand off intercepted a poor pass and following a mazy run through the Cam defence he went over to score wide out.
However Cam came right back from the restart and from a ruck in the visitors half a clever box kick by scrum half James Herriott saw him win the chase to touch down and equalise the scores after only 5 minutes.
Cam soon increased their lead when from a good lineout win by Pete Jackson the ball travelled quickly across the backs to winger Chris Kaye who beat 4 men to touch down under the posts leaving an easy conversion for Stuart Hayter.
At this stage the vistors still looked dangerous when they had the ball and following some poor tackling by the Cam defence they scored another unconverted try to narrow the margin to 2 points after 20mins.
Cam then applied some serious pressure through their forwards and camped on the Law Society line for some time always taking the lineout option when awarded penalties confident in their ability to score a try.. In the end this tactic was justified when Pete Jackson won his lineout and the forwards mounted yet another drive for the line with Jon Kaye being awarded the try.
The Law Society then kicked an easy penalty to make the score 17-13 and then on 40 mins they scored another unconverted try, much against the run of play, to go to half time leading 18-17.
The second half started well for Cam with the winger just unable to touch down a neat chip ahead following a fine break by the backs.
However Cam were soon back ahead when a great outside break by Matt Gomm left winger Rhys Lewis to run in from the 22 and touch down wide out.
At this stage it was all Cam and they soon added to their lead when James Herriott picked up slow ball from a ruck on the visitors 22 and the visitors defence opened up to allow him a simple run to score close to the posts.
The Cam threequarters were now rampant and a good break by fullback Rob Bamford saw a neat interchange between him and winger Chris Kaye before the winger scored his second try of the game. This made the score 34-18 to Cam after 65 mins.
Cam then started to relax and were quickly brought back to earth when the visitors exploited a huge overlap to score a converted try after 70 mins.
The final score of the game followed another powerful run by Chris Kaye and when he was tackled just short of the line Graham Hutchison had just enough energy to pick up the ball and collapse over the line.
Overall this was a very good team effort by Cam with a number of 'stand out' performances. In the forwards Pete Jackson was particularly effective in the lineout and Robbie Nicholas had a great game at flanker doing the work that goes largely unnoticed by most supporters such as winning valuable turnovers and securing the loose ball on the ground as well as leading the forwards from the front
In the backs the centre pairing of Matt Gomm and Paul Davies worked very well both in attack and defence and winger Chris Kaye was always a threat when he had the ball and he also worked hard in defence. With Rob Bamford leading the side from fullback and making a number of telling incursions into the threequarters this was a very promising performance from the 2nd XV against decent opposition.
Squad : J Kaye, K McIntyre, R Mugford, P Jackson, D Rose, J Norman, R Nicholas, J Hoare, J Herriott, S Hayter, D Humphrey, M Gomm, P Davies, C Kaye, R Bamford, R Lewis, J Brown, F Deroubaix, J Bucknell, R Visser
RogerB
Camberley 2nd XV 18 Farnham 2nd XV 10 25th Sept 2009
Camberley 2's started their 2009 League campaign with a home fixture against local rivals Farnham.
Despite a scrappy start a good break by winger Chris Kaye soon saw Cam deep in the Farnham 22 and although the the visitors took play back up to their 10m line they were penalised for not releasing and Stuart Hayter kicked the penalty to open the scoring after 5mins.
Following the restart play became a little scrappy with neither side able to exert any real control and with too many loose kicks giving possession away. The Cam forwards seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the tight but it became clear even at this stage that the hosts lineout was just not functioning and this proved to be a problem for the entire 80 mins.
Farnham were the next to score when with Cam conceding a couple of unnecessary penalties they were able to slot home a kick from the Cam 22 after 20mins.
The Cam restart was returned deep into the Cam 22 by Farnham but some determined running by Jason Chappell and Chris Kaye took play back into the Farnham half before the ball was knocked on. However from this scrum Cam scored the first try of the afternoon following a fine move by the backs with Stuart Hayter looping his inside centre and feeding veteran Neil Budd whose break and beautifully timed pass allowed fullback Jason Chappell to cross wide out.
Cam could not add the conversion but after 22 mins they were back in front.
The black and ambers next score was not long in coming and was outstanding. Again a loose Farnham kick was run back by Jason Chappell and when the ball was recycled close to halfway Neil Budd made a half break before feeding young flanker Dave Rees on the Farnham 10m line. Rees just took off and his determined running beat 5 or 6 desperate Farnham defenders in a 40m dash to score his sides second try of the afternoon.
Despite more concerted efforts Cam were unable to add to the score and at halftime the score was 13-3.
The second half started well with centre Matt Gomm taking the ball from his own 22 to the Farnham 22 before the ball was kicked into touch.
Following several deft chips by Stuart Hayter Farnham were soon defending a lineout 10m from their line and although Cam lost the ball they quickly turned it over and in a replica of their first score neat play by the backs saw Neil Budd again timing his pass to perfection to allow Jason Chappell to cross for his second try making the score 18-3 after 45 mins.
To their credit Farnham did not let this score affect them and following some scrappy play with the ball being kicked rather aimlessly between the two sides they found themselves with a big overlap on the blindside and ran over to score under the posts making the score 18-10 after 50mins.
This proved to be the final score of the game as neither side seemed able to control the game which became scrappy and error strewn possibly as a result of both sides tiring quite noticeably in the warm September afternoon.
Overall this was a promising performance by Cam with their backs showing that with good ball they have the ability to score from anywhere on the park. Winger Chris Kaye ran with aggression and whenever he had the ball Farnham were under pressure and it was also good to see long time 1st XV player Neil Budd marshalling the backs and still managing to make a few of his trademark tackles.
The forwards had a good day with flankers Reuan Beukes and Dave Rees tackling well and first at most breakdowns but they will all need to work on their skills and fitness if they are to maintain this winning start.
Squad: K Storr, J Kaye, A Cardwell, A Mathewson, G Hutchison, D Ellis, R Beukes, G Fleming, J Herriott, S Hayter, E Hovette, N Budd, M Gomm, C Kaye, J Chappell, S Brown, R Visser, J Brown
RogerB
Phoenix 45 - Camberley 2nds 13 19th Sept 2009
A fantastic start by the Camberley Development (Squirrels) side which faded in the last quarter against a Phoenix side smarting after their 56 point previous week defeat.
On a concrete hard pitch, Robbie Nicholas’s Squirrels had the best possible start by going ahead 4 minutes into the game. A well won scrum on the Squirrels 10 metre line, with slick hands from the backs, an intelligent kick through from full back Jason Chappell, with the resulting ruck turned over by feisty Dave Rees, saw evergreen Squirrels prop Russell Kirby knock the Phoenix defence over like nine pins to score a brilliant try which stunned the Phoenix supporters.
Six minutes later, Phoenix were penalised for not releasing the ball, were marched back 10 metres for dissent, and Squirrels fly half Stuart Hayter kicked the penalty to put his side 8 points ahead.
A shell shocked Phoenix side, who play in the Berks, Bucks, Oxon Premier League, regrouped and played tight rugby scoring 2 tries in quick succession. A period of concerted pressure by the Squirrels was not rewarded with tries when, with their back screaming for quick ball, the forwards lacked the vision to see the 2 man overlaps created by their backs.
Injuries to Hooker Jon Kaye and Jason Chappell affected the Squirrels rhythm and Phoenix took the advantage by scoring 3 tries. Undaunted, the Squirrels forwards at last provided the perfect platform for their backs with in form winger Chris Eccles storming over in the corner.
Half time Phoenix 25:13 Camberley Squirrels
The second half got underway with the Squirrels firmly in the driving seat. They kept the ball close and pressured Phoenix on their own line for long periods. Phoenix were unable to escape their own 22 and a try for the Squirrels went begging with a knock-on that would in all probability have reduced the Phoenix lead to just 5 points. Phoenix, using rolling subs, steadily wore down the Squirrels and scored three tries in the last 20 minutes.
All was not doom and gloom, the Camberley backs showed pace and potential with Chris Eccles winning the Golden Nut Award