On Chairman's Day, 1XV put pay to Wolverhampton's Promotion hopes

In celebration of Chairman’s Day and the retirement of long-standing Chairman, Dave Maiden, Camps finished the league season with an outstanding all-round performance to defeat a strong Wolverhampton side that had started the day in second spot in the division, scoring six tries in the process. The visitors played their part in what was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of rugby, scoring three tries of their own.
Wolverhampton started strongly and when they won a penalty in kicking range they elected instead to kick for the corner. Camps, however, held firm and when they soon had two penalties of their own in the opposition half adopted a more pragmatic approach but kicker Dan Robinson was off target.

The first score went to the visitors when a kick into the Camp Hill 22 was not dealt with and the ball fell into opposition hands. The last ditch tackle by Matt Clarke was deemed to be high and a penalty try was awarded with the winger sent to the sinbin for 10 minutes.

Camps came back strongly with Shawn Lindeque and Harry Cunningham combining to good effect and then it was Steven Leach and Harry Cunningham combining to send scrum half Stu Watts with a chance of reaching the line. Although the chance seemed to have been lost the ball popped up for Barney Edwards to dive over for the try. Dan Robinson converted.

Wolves then took advantage of their numerical advantage after player coach Stephen Halbert seemed harshly penalised for a steal at the breakdown. The result was a try in the corner for the visitors to give them a 12-7 lead after 25 minutes. Restored to a full compliment, Camps were soon back on the front foot and Dan Robinson reduced the arrears with a penalty and then when a nice passage of play involving full back Jordan Oliver, and Cunningham was stopped at the expense of another penalty, Robinson kicked the home side into their first lead of the day.
The game was fast and open with both sides throwing the ball around at every opportunity. Wolverhampton won another very kickable penalty and again opted to kick for the corner where they were thwarted once more.

Camps showed them how it should be done when they kicked a penalty into the 22, won the lineout and drove towards the Wolverhampton line. Although stopped short, the ball was released to Barney Edwards who went over for his second of the day and the 136th of his career, a record for the Club. Robinson’s conversion made it 20-12 at the half.

Wolves started the second half strongly and another well-worked try brought them back to within a point with most of the second half to play.
Camps then produced an excellent try of their own following a superb break from replacement Ian Briggs. The move was carried on by skipper Mitch Lee and winger Robinson who slipped the ball inside for Number 8 Steven Leach to score his 17th try of the season. Robinson converted to restore the 8-point lead.

Camps were beginning to gain the upper hand in all areas of the pitch and when the visitors conceded another penalty, the reliable Robinson added 3 more points.

Wolves were struggling to get out of their own half now, and when a 22 drop-out landed in the hands of Briggs just inside their own half he ran the ball back, beating several tiring defender before slipping the ball to centre Mark Lisle to score. Robinson made light of a tricky conversion to make it 37-19.

The next try was set up by further good running from Briggs and Watts and the power of the Camp Hill pack which had been on top of their opponents all game. The visitors were driven off their own ball. Leach made another surging run from the back of the scrum and fed Robinson who added a try to his points total. His conversion hit the post.

Another long range attack led by Leach and Briggs carried Camps deep into Wolves territory and although initially stopped, the power of the forwards gave Leach the chance to squeeze over for the try which saw him move ahead of Barney Edwards as leading try scorer this season.
A superb afternoon of rugby and probably the best Camp Hill performance of the season means the Club has finished the season with seven consecutive wins. We will be hoping to make that eight when we face Kidderminster Carolians in the North Midlands Shield Final at Dudley Kingswinford on Sunday 12th May. Kick off is 3.00 pm and we will be looking to take our usual large support.