Camelot made to work hard by Finchley
Festival feel to seasons last league game
Finchley were Camelot’s visitors in the season’s final league match at Chaulden Lane last Saturday.
With Camelot already promoted and Finchley safe from relegation both sides wanted to sign off on a high.
Finchley were the first to get on the score sheet when Camelot’s defensive frailty raised its head again. This time it was some weak tackling that allowed the visitors to go over near the corner flag. With the conversion missed Finchley were ahead by 5 points after only 3 minutes.
It wasn’t until the 17th minute that Camelot took the lead when No 8 Hadyn Morgan went over for an easy try. With David St George McKenzie making the conversion the home side led 7- 5. However, Finchley came straight back to score their 2nd try, which with the conversion gave them a 5 point lead. However this was the last time they headed Camelot.
Camelot’s response was to run in 3 tries in the second quarter. The 1st from forward Gary Jahn and converted by St George McKenzie after 24 minutes gave them a 14- 12 lead. The next came from Fly-half Jamie Hearn who scored a fine individual try slicing through a flatfooted defence from 30 metres. This was followed by another from Jahn who powered his way over from 20 metres. With both conversions going astray Camelot lead at half time 24-12.
The second half continued in a similar vain to the first with tries from both side scoring at regular intervals. Finchley scored a try from the restart when Camelot’s defence appeared to be asleep. It was then Camelot’s turn when Morgan got his 2nd of the game but that was matched by Finchley when they grabbed their bonus point 4th try soon after. This made the score after just 11 minutes 29 – 22.
Camelot should have added another in the 17th minute when, with a 2 on 1 just 20 metres from the line, a Finchley player was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and was given 10 minutes in the bin. Camelot kicked to touch and from the line-out drove the visitor’s pack over their own line to score Camelot’s 6th try with 2nd Row Sean Meddeman emerging from the bottom of the heap with the ball.
Camelot scored further tries from Aled Gamble and substitute Nick Merrett. The last try was converted by Sean Johnson. Although Finchley grabbed a consolation converted try, in the end Camelot ran out comfortable winners 46 – 29.
The club bids farewell to utility back Sean Johnson who is moving to the West Country. With Will Temperley also rumoured to be retiring (again), Camelot will have some big boots to fill next season when they return to London 2 North West after 2 years away.
There have been some exciting and entertaining rugby played this year under the Club’s new coach Jason Lowde. Of the 22 league games, Camelot’s record of 18 wins and 4 loses is a great return for the Coach. The side scored 800 points, an average per game of 36+ and conceded only 305 at an average of just below 14 per game.
The team used 38 players in all. However 14 played in 16 or more game with Full back David St George McKenzie playing in every match.
The leading point’s scorers were:
David St George McKenzie played 22 games scoring 162 points from 11 tries, 37 conversions and 11 penalties.
Aled Gamble played 20 games scoring 102 points from 20 tries and 1 conversion.
Jamie Hearn played 16 games scoring 97 points from 4 tries, 34 conversions, 2 penalties and a drop goal.
Scorers
Tries Hadyn Morgan (2), Gary Jahn (2), Jamie Hearn, Sean Meddeman, Aled Gamble,
Nick Merrett
Conversions David St George McKenzie (2) Sean Johnson
Team
1 Matt Kears
2 Nino Massa
3 Jamie McCutchen
4 Sean Meddeman
5 Gary Jahn
6 Will Temperley
7 Gareth Carder
8 Hadyn Morgan
9 Tom Aitken
10 Jamie Hearn
11 Aled Gamble
12 Daniel O’Brien
13 Ryan Doyle
14 Sean Johnson
15 David St George McKenzie
Subs
16 Nick Merrett
17 Ross Merrett
18 Joe Cox
Try
Hadyn Morgan
Try
Gareth Jahn
Try
Jamie Hearn
Try
Gareth Jahn
Try
Hadyn Morgan
Try
Aled Gamble
Try
Nick Merrett
Try
Sean MeddemanKey moments
Highlights
As it happened
- Hemel Hempstead
- Finchley
- 0
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Try 2:30'
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Hadyn Morgan Try 17:00'
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David St George McKenzie Conversion 18:00'
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Try 21:00'
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Conversion 22:00'
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Gareth Jahn Try 24:00'
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Sean Meddeman Try Assist 24:00'
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David St George McKenzie Conversion 25:00'
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Jamie Hearn Try 32:00'
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Gareth Jahn Try 36:00'
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Try 1:00'
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Hadyn Morgan Try 8:00'
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Try 11:00'
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Yellow Card 17:00'
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Sean Meddeman Try 18:00'
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Aled Gamble Try 33:00'
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Try 35:00'
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Conversion 36:00'
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Nick Merrett Try 40:00'
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Sean Johnson Conversion 41:00'
Team selection
St George McKenzie, David
Johnson, Sean
Doyle, Ryan
O'Brien, Daniel
Gamble, Aled
Hearn, Jamie
Aitken, Tom
Morgan, Hadyn
Carder, Gareth
Temperley, William
Jahn, Gareth
Meddeman, Sean
Mccutcheon, Jamie
Massa, Nino
Kears, Matthew
League round up
Other London 3 North West results
Comments
League table
| # | Team | Pl | Pts |
| 1. | Hackney | 22 | 109 |
| 2. | Hemel Hempstead | 22 | 90 |
| 3. | Stevenage Town | 22 | 83 |
| 4. | Grasshoppers | 22 | 67 |
| 5. | Kilburn Cosmos | 22 | 54 |
| 6. | Datchworth | 22 | 50 |
| 7. | St Albans | 22 | 47 |
Team sponsors
Affiliations
Club sponsors
