1XV push Promotion candidates all the way

This Saturday was to be the first encounter with old rivals Bromsgrove for some eight seasons and having travelled ridiculous distances last season only to be relegated would be in no mood for coming second as the aim of this season is a return to the Midlands Premiership.

Purely on recent statistics no one would expect Camp Hill to come away with anything from this game in the way of a victory but at half time you were left wondering from the touchline what the final outcome might be.

The game kicked off in conditions that a free running Bromsgrove were to relish and having gone ahead after four minutes from a superbly struck drop goal they immediately followed with a try from a kick ahead ably converted from way out to give the visitors a ten point lead, the faithful could be forgiven for thinking we were on to a sizeable defeat.

A further five minutes were to pass with Camp’s starting to ease their way into contention and one of many penalties conceded in the first half gave Ian Briggs the chance to reduce the deficit which he did with ease and in a similar situation he doubled Camp’s score some
five minutes later – score now after fifteen minutes - Camp’s 6 – Bromsgrove 10.

On twenty minutes Bromsgrove were awarded a penalty that followed a good kick up field for touch, which saw a lineout set the ball released to the free running backs to score a good try near to the corner flag, which was well converted to give a score line of Camp’s 6 –
Bromsgrove 17.

What was to follow for the remaining twenty or so minutes of the half was simply Camp Hill at their most determined and after trading converted penalties the pressure was to tell on Bromsgrove who were probably lucky to complete the half with a full complement of players failing to contain extreme pressure from our scrummage and a deft pass from scrum half Lloyd out to Liam Lindsay resulting in an unconverted try to give a score line of Camp’s 14 – Bromsgrove 20. The clock said we had been playing for forty minutes but with injuries and ill discipline
stoppages there was to be enough time left for Simon (Barney) Edwards to be given enough time by his forwards to strike not one but two incredible drop goals to give Camp Hill a share of the spoils at half time with the score of Camp’s 20 – Bromsgrove 20.

Hopes for a repeat performance in the second half were probably a little too much to hope for but failure by the Bromsgrove loose head prop to deal with his opposite number Jan gave Ian Briggs the chance to give Camp’s a somewhat short lived lead from another well
struck penalty.

Bromsgrove began to take control off matters for most of the half and it is to Camp Hill’s credit that they managed to limit Bromsgrove to one further try followed by two more penalties to deny the home side by eight points, one less and we would have come away with a losing bonus point and all who watched would not have denied the team that.

With telling injuries to hooker Adam (Winkie) Willis early on in the game and a neck injury to Lloyd Roberts early into the second half I feel sure our boys would enjoy there well earned beverage more than their opposition.

Beach House Man of the Match as voted for by Pinny went to Simon “Barney” Edwards (pic)

Next Saturday we travel to Burton where we can expect another tough encounter.