Walsall, despite dominating the game for long periods, found it very difficult to convert their pressure into points against a battling Camp Hill outfit last Saturday. Indeed, there was genuine concern amongst the visiting supporters, when it was still only 10-15 with just ten minutes left to play. But, to their credit, the Walsall team finished strongly and displayed some good skills to score three tries during this final period.
The visitors started well with the ball being moved wide at every opportunity. But a combination of good defence and wayward passing resulted in opportunities being missed. The hosts,however,were frequently guilty of transgressing in the tackle area and Matty Wood opened the scoring with a thirty meter penalty. The lead was short lived as the visitors conceded a silly offside penalty in front of their own posts. Robinson converted the easy kick to make it 3 – 3 after fifteen minutes. The first try came from a Walsall counter attack that covered seventy meters. Centre Daniel Simpson made a strong break, and with good support play it resulted in a scrum close to the Camp Hill line. A powerful drive by the Walsall eight resulted in Rod Dickson gathering the ball for the touchdown which was converted by Wood. Indeed the Walsall scrum proved to be a powerful unit throughout the match and Camp Hill’s No 8 Rob Hill produced a number of outstanding pick-ups at the base of his retreating scrum. But the hosts got themselves back in the match when flanker Bowles pounced on some poor Walsall lineout play to cross near the corner flag. Robinson’s well struck conversion levelled the scores. The visitors worked hard during the closing stages of the first half and were rewarded with a score by lock forward Alex Hawthorn. The former England Under16 international supported well as Simpson, Halbert and Greenslade made strong runs towards the Camp Hill line before the latter delivered the final pass to Hawthorn.
During most of the second half Walsall created several more scoring opportunities, but once again, they failed to deliver the final pass or possession was lost at crucial moments. But the final ten minutes was a complete contrast as the visitors retained possession and the players produced some very effective running and support play. The Walsall backrow had been very evident throughout the afternoon and the effectiveness of Max Hughes on the flank was very evident. Even after No 8 Rod Dickson was forced off at half time through injury, his replacement Geoffrey Williamson proved to be a dynamic force. Williamson was involved in creating the next score as he,Hawthorne,Hughes and lock forward Mark Reeves produced some good ball carries before a well-timed pass by Chris Mould resulted in centre Daniel Simpson crossing for try which Wood converted. This style of play was repeated two minutes later, when this time it was hooker Dan Clarke,prop forward Tim Hucknall and captain Steve Halbert who gained the ‘hard yards’ before the ball was moved wide. Flanker Hughes was on hand to deliver a delightfully delivered pass to Paul Naylor who scored, the bonus point try, near the corner flag. The final move of the match saw Halbert and Williamson breakthrough would be tacklers before some quick passing saw Lloyd and Wood link together before the latter found Chris Mould in support. The Walsall full back then showed some superb running skills to dart in for a try from fifteen meters. Outside-half Matty Wood completed the scoring with a well struck conversion.