1XV keep Promotion hopes alive

Report by 'The Puff'

A guard of honour, made up of Camp hill Under 11s,welcomed the teams onto the pitch and the home side responded with another excellent all round performance, running in 6 tries and only conceding one on the last play of the game. In doing so they avenged defeat in the first league encounter at Tamworth and kept the pressure on the two teams above them with just two rounds of matches to go.

Tamworth were competitive from the start and it took an excellent line out steal from skipper Mark Newton to stop the visitors taking advantage of an early 5 metre line-out. Camps were soon on the attack and camped in Tamworth territory where the visitors were forced to concede a string of penalties to keep them at bay. The visitors paid for their indiscretions with a yellow card and soon afterwards flanker Adam Pinfield was able to force his way over for the opening score. Fly half Barney Edwards kicked off an outstanding personal afternoon with the conversion.

Tamworth reduced the deficit with a successful penalty but continued to find themselves under pressure. Another smooth line out saw the ball swiftly out to Edwards who dummied and then bundled his way over the line for a score he improved to 7 points.

On a rare visit to the Camp Hill 22,Tamworth again threatened from a 5 metre line out but this time it was number 8 Rob Hunt who stole the ball and cleared the lines. Camps put the game to bed either side of half time with a burst of four tries. The first half came to a close with the irrepressible fly half Barney Edwards making a break on the opposition 10-metre line and when the defence opened up in front of him he crashed over the line like a runaway truck. The conversion was a formality.

The second half started with two more spectacular tries. Harry Cunningham and prop Jan- Erik Andersen combined in midfield to give The Beech House Man of the Match winger Matt Clark (pic) the chance to stretch his legs for the corner. When he was stopped short he found Jan-Erik somehow up in support and he fed the ball along the line for replacement number 8 Stephen Halbert to score under the posts with his first touch. Another superb move involving Clarke, Jan-Erik and Adam Willis was eventually completed by Jake Shilston in the opposite corner. Barney made light of the difficult conversion to stretch the lead to 35-3.

Camps were now completely in control and passing the ball beautifully between forwards and backs. Fittingly, the final try went to Jan-Erik who again showed deft handling skills to engineer the break and then turned up in support to take the final pass and dive over. Barney’s conversion attempt hit the post. Camps could have scored again when an excellent break from Halbey nearly sent Nobby Freeman over in the corner but it was Tamworth, who remained competitive to the last ,who scored with the final play to make the final score 40-8.

Next week Camps travel to Veseyans in a game they must win to keep the pressure on the top two teams who play each other at Stourton Park. All support would be very much appreciated.