Bonus Point 'W' at Longton leaves 'The Puff' breathless !!!!

The trouble with rearranged fixtures is that regular players, quite understandably, make alternative arrangements for “blank” Saturdays. Last week Camps travelled up to Newcastle with a side missing seven first team regulars and for the trip to Longton eight members of that side were unavailable. So, Camps retraced their steps up the M6 with a squad of seventeen players including no less than eight front rowers, including Jan-Erik who has not played first team for a little while.

I’m sure that Longton would have had players missing too but whilst they have had their troubles on the road their home record is a formidable one.

Camps faced a strong wind in the first half but were quick to get into their stride. Dan Robinson was a steadying influence at full back, marshalling two inexperienced wingers and Ian Briggs made the first of several breaks from fly half to get the team going forward. When he made a second telling break after 10 minutes scrum half Stu Watts was in support and he scored in the corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Tom “Crabby” Smith made an excellent try saving tackle, as befits a wing forward playing on the wing but generally Camps were having the better of a scrappy game. Line outs were tricky in the strong wind but on several occasions Matt Nightingale, playing at flanker, put his body on the line to clear up messy ball. Camps lost Jan-Erik after 25 minutes with a knee injury but had the luxury of replacing him with Will Wallwork from the bench.

A Longton penalty sailed on the wind to the Camps 5 metre line but from the attacking line out Halbey leapt like a salmon to take the ball and the danger was cleared. Another break from Briggsy looked promising but when the ball was turned over it was Longton who managed to break through and go over under the posts. Luckily for Camps when the ball blew off the tee at the conversion, the Longton kicker elected to pick up and attempt a drop kick which sailed wide. So, the score remained tied 5-5 at half time and Camps had put up an excellent performance into the wind.

Camps looked to play the second half in opposition territory and when Longton knocked on trying to play their way out of their 22 they were able to exert some pressure.

Ben Brogden, who had put in a good stint in the front row was replaced by Tom Fleming and skipper Dan O’Grady moved from the back row to the front as the Camps scrum began to show signs of getting on top.

A rare incursion from Longton was stopped by a Matt Nightingale turnover and Camps were soon back on the attack. A couple of excellent, wind-assisted kicks from Watts and Briggs set up a position in the Longton 22.Steven Leach, made good yards in the centre before the ball went out wide and a clever delayed pass from Briggsy gave Crabby the chance to finish, like a winger, in the corner.

Longton were still trying to run the ball against the elements but when they over -played things Man of the Match Briggs stepped in for the interception for a try under the post which he converted to stretch the lead to 17-5 with 10 minutes to go.

Camps superb battling display looked to have secured the points, but we were in for a crazy finish to the game.

First Aaron Kelly, another of our front-rowers who had a solid game in the second row was shown a yellow card for a “no arms” tackle and suddenly Longton sparked into life. With a little over 5 minutes left their winger broke through some, understandably, tired tackles to score in the corner. Having not really been the game, they immediately broke through again this time it was under the posts to level up the score. It looked like, for all their brave efforts Camps were going to have to settle for a draw but ,remarkably there was still time for a two on one situation to be manufactured in the Longton half, Dave Williams drew his man, timed the pass perfectly and the admirable Matt Nightingale was over for the try to secure a bonus point win with the last play of the match.

A brilliant effort, led by skipper Dan O’Grady and coach Halbey, with every single player playing their part in what could be a very important win.

With Stafford losing to Wolverhampton, Camps are 3 point behind the leaders, who have a game in hand, and 8 points ahead of third-placed Stafford who we visit at the end of the month with just 4 games to go.

There is no game next week but, on the 21st March, we actually have a home game against Shrewsbury.

Kick off is 3.00pm so let’s get behind the team for the final run-in.

Gusto Man of Th Match - Ian Briggs