Valiant effort against League Leaders on VP's Day

Saturday October 16th 2010

Midlands Division One West

Camp Hill 13 - 21 Dudley Kingswinford

With a lot of ex-players / old friends / vice-presidents on view in addition to our local MP Lorely Burt this was, certainly for me, a really happy and memorable occasion.

It would have been topped perfectly with a win but against the league leaders now with a record of played 7 won 7; we performed with pride, passion and no little skill and definitely lasted the pace as well as Dudley Kingswinford.

Full back Ian Briggs gave us the lead with a penalty after six minutes but our visitors replied in kind through fly half Gareth Bown nine minutes later. With both sides' defence in good working order incursions deep into opposition territory were few and far between in this half. Consequently we had to be satisfied with another kick from "Briggsy" plus two more from Bown to bring us a half time scoreline of 6 - 9.

As the second half developed it was becoming clear that we were giving a lot of penalties away which led to the first try , in the forty eighth minute as tight - head prop Alex Francis was forced over in the corner.

Just four minutes later a quick tap penalty then brought the DK pack into unison to drive lock Ollie Shakespeare over for a score , improved by Bown to make it 6-21.

In several previous matches this term Dudley have taken over at a similar point and run in a lot of late tries. If they expected the same here they were to be disappointed. Camps dug in well (their fitness is as good as I've seen it ) and is if to make a point they then made seven.

A swift and telling break out of their half bringing a combination of well-timed passing and good support was held up just short of the visitors' line but centre "Barney" Edwards then received from the ruck to dive over to the right of the posts."Briggsy" added the extras and with fifteen minutes remaining we were within eight points of Dudley..

Both sides worked really hard to produce further scores but defences were again opposition-proof and the score stayed unchanged but although DK deservedly gained the points we must have retrieved more self awarenmess and no little confidence from a display of which all should take some pride.

You can tell that I enjoyed this one and hope to do likewise when we travel to Leamington on Saturday Kick Off is at 3.00 p.m.

See you there.

Oscar