FIVE Star First-Half Seals The Victory

Rampant Camelot deliver knock-out blow

Camelot Under 14's went into the history books as the winners of the first ever competitive match on Cheshunt's plush new 3G artificial pitch, and they did it in emphatic style delivering a knock-out performance to a stunned Barnet side that were on the ropes right from the kick-off.

An evening match under the floodlights always adds to the occasion as the boys in blue & white shone with some scintillating rugby in the first 25 minutes that saw them rattle in an incredible 8 tries as the hosts struggled to have just about any possession in the Camelot defensive half.

The scoring opened after an attack broke down just as it looked as though Freddie was going to break the line, but the penalty clearance failed to reach touch, instead being superbly gathered by James Norman at full-back who didn't need to think twice about taking the opportunity tobreak through at pave and score the first try of the match. The conversion fell just short, but Camelot were up and running.

The wait for the second try was short, a strong run from James Isaac, he spots Dan running on at pace, the perfect pass and it's 10-0. The conversion gets closer, but just misses.

The pressure was now relentless, the speed of pass causing Barnet all sorts of problem. A defensive clearance once again went in the direction of James Norman at the back, he couldn't quite gather control of the ball, but Eddie Ridgeway was on hand to gather the ball and take it into contact, creating the space for Tommy to take over with another powerful run that broke the defence and from then on there was no doubt he was going to score. Again, the conversion was just wide...but was getting closer.

By now both sets of parents on the sidelines were purring at the quality of the rugby (so much more entertaining than the previous weeks stop-start match at Saracens) as a fourth try soon followed when this time it was the opposite wing where John score in the corner after a superb move that saw Caolan and Freddie fool the defence with a switch to the short side rather than going wide as the defence expected. 20-0...and the conversion hits the post!

Within a minute of the restart Camelot were on the scoresheet again, Dan breaking the line with a combination of strength and pace, not needing any support as he runs into score under the posts...This time he has his eye in, the conversion is perfect and Camelot lead 27-0 with a little over 15 minutes gone.

Despite the comfortable lead, there was no taking the foot off the gas. Another attack, Freddie making the break through, popping the ball out to Dan who shows great basketball skills to pass the ball back out to Caolan who has an easy to run in and score. 32-0, and Dan again adds an additional two points from the conversion.

From the kick-off Dan catches the ball deep in his own half, he immediately breaks into a run that pretty much goes unchallenged as he heads all the way to the try line to complete his hat-trick, before picking the ball up and pinging it over there posts with ease to make the score 41-0.

It had been an incredible display of rugby with some superb individual skills on show with Dan's kicking and running stealing the limelight, but the best try of the match came just before the break when superb hands across the backline, each player receiving the ball comfortably at pace before taking a few strides and passing on to the next man before eventually finding Seb who weaves over the line to score...followed by huge applause from the increasingly impressed audience around the sidelines. Dan converts, making the score 48-0 at the interval.

At this point it was agreed to finish the league fixture, Camelot taking the win. Another twenty-five minutes was played with mixed up teams making for a more evenly contested run out for both teams in a game that saw Freddie score a couple of tries for Barnet, plus James N got on the scoresheet in a Barnet shirt as did a Barnet player who superbly received a cross field kick from Dan...which in fairness, looked pretty dodgy when it left his boot!

A good, enjoyable evening of rugby, as always superbly hosted by Barnet, on an excellent playing surface...Camelot needing just 25 minutes to convincingly becoming the first ever victors on the pitch - Something that will stay in the ground's record books forever!

FT: Barnet 0-48 Camelot
Tries: James N, Dan 3, Tommy, John, Caolan, Seb
Cons: Dan 4