League Champions Show their Class

By Tim Wynne-Jones

Camelot come up against a side that did most things right while failing to do the same

Camelot welcomed Hackney, this seasons London 3 North West league Champions to Chaulden Lane last Saturday.

They came to Camelot unbeaten and put on a display that showed why they are Champions scoring 5 tries to Camelot’s 1.

After last weeks disappointing defeat away at Stevenage where Camelot went down 24 – 18 in a match which also served as a Semi-final for the County Tankard, there was hope that they could return to their early season free flow play.

From the kick-off Hackney exerted the early pressure, keeping the home side in their own half for the first quarter. Hackney reward was a well taken converted try after 17 minutes from they lively 7.

From the resumption Camelot began to come more into the game and setup an overlap on the right when No 8 Haydn Morgan gave a perfectly weighted pass for winger Aled Gamble only to fumble the ball with a clear path to the line. Soon after Camelot were on the offensive again but this time the final pass was not the best and anther chance was squandered.

With Camelot only 7 points adrift at halftime they would have hoped to stay in the game. That proved to be beyond them as Hackney continued where they had left off in the first period. With consistent pressure they ran in tries on a regular basis adding converted tries in 6th and 25th minutes to extend their lead to 21 – 0.

Camelot had their chances to score when Sean Meddeman, coming at pace in the centre took a wonderfully floated cutout pass from Jamie Hearn, only to be pulled down just short of the line.

Although effectively out of the game Camelot continued to press and got a small reward with a well constructed try with Ryan Doyle taking the final pass from Daniel O’Brien to score near the posts. David St George McKenzie added the conversion. That was the only chance Camelot could take as they trailed 21-7.

As the clock ran down Camelot took too many risky chances to get back into the game which enabled Hackney to run-in 2 late tries, both converted, to close out a well deserved victory 35-7.

Camelot will hope to sign off their promotion season with a better display against Finchley who are the visitors at home next Saturday.

Final Score 7 - 35

Scorers

Tries Ryan Doyle

Conversion David St George McKenzie

Team
1 Matt Kears
2 Daniel Thompson
3 Joe Cox
4 Gary Jahn
5 Sean Meddeman
6 Nino Massa
7 Gareth Carder
8 Hadyn Morgan
9 Tom Aitken
10 Jamie Hearn
11 Aled Gamble
12 Ross Merrett
13 Ryan Doyle
14 Sean Johnson
15 David St George McKenzie
Subs
16 Nick Merrett
17 Daniel O’Brien
18 Scott Whittaker