Turned out nice again!

After a chastening couple of games for the boys, it was a double header for both As and Bs against our near neighbours from Surrey. Last year the B’s had played a tough, high scoring game down the road at Camberley, and there were remarkable similarities between that game and this.

For a start, Camberley scored first – deservedly – and for much of the game it was a close run affair, and indeed with just 11 minutes remaining, the visitors had led by 28 to 26. The other remarkable similarity was that last seasons game saw two players share 7 tries between them, and again this time around it was not Theo and Sam, but Toby and Ryan who scored 4 and 3 tries respectively.

Those were the headline grabbers, but they were the first to heap praise on their team-mates at the end for the hard work that made their try-fest possible.

So many highlights to recall, but to start off, Camberley playing down the slope opened the scoring, with a big run through the middle. Fraser then tore up the middle of the pitch through several tacklers from around half way, and with Joe converting the scores tied a 7 a piece.

Cue another robust run by Fraser, carried on Kyle and Oakley, quick work by the forwards and with Ryan hanging off the breakdown he picked a good line off Josh and crashed over for a score. Captain Lewis added the extras.

Almost immediately, a good backs move, with swift passing saw Camberley bring the scores back again to 14-14. Just before half time a turnover in the middle of the pitch saw some quick passing find the ball in Toby’s hands and he scooted off on a wide arc around the flailing defence to cross in the corner and open his account for the game.

So 19-14 at half time, and slope in Bracknells favour for the second period. It all started so well, with more good work from the forwards, a good interchange between Joe and Toby, and Toby was through the line, past a couple of defenders to score under the posts. Joe’s conversion making it 26-14.

Thereafter, Camberley came crashing back into the game with two good, converted tries, the second from an interception in the middle of the pitch, and suddenly Bracknell were behind.

However, with Seth leading a forward charge and just about being held up on the line, the forwards started to exert pressure as the Camberley pack appeared to tire, and with Alex and Fraser making good solid drives the gaps were sure to appear, and soon enough in a very similar move to his last try, Toby was put through the centre to score his third to drag the score back to 33-28.

Camberley came back again and pressed hard for another but turnover ball saw the backs run from deep and Matt and Oakley, not to be left behind by Toby’s try scoring made very good ground forward. Eventually, Camberley won a scrum, but with a huge effort the Bracknell pack won the ball against the head and with the Camberley defence out of position, Josh to Joe, to Toby again saw him dot down his fourth.

With just 4 minutes left, there was just time for another two tries, firstly with Ryan popping up at inside centre (Toby’s position!) and powering over for a try, and with the last play of the game, with his pack mates securing another breakdown ball, Ryan ran in from some 30 m (downhill) to grab his hat-trick with possibly his last breath.

So 4 tries and 3 conversions (drop-kicked) in the last rampant 11 minutes. Possibly a little unfair on the Camberley boys who certainly gave us a fine game, but after two difficult games recently it was a very good return to form, and a deserved outcome for all of the hard work and commitment that the boys had put in. Not so many names on the score sheet but the running out wide of Matt, Oakley and Tim (not to mention their sterling defence) certainly deserved a try.

Up front, against a powerful Camberley pack, the boys worked really hard to win the ball that made the score what it was, and their breakdown work is really to be commended as it got better and better throughout the game.