Feast of rugby for Sunday Lunch

Like several of our local rivals, Camberley have always proved to be robust opposition for Bracknell, and it was anticipated that this game would be no different. Despite the final score line, this game was in many areas just as we would expect from a match up with Camberley, and for most of the game, the play between the two 22m lines was very even.

The Camberley pack was strong in the loose, and as good as any forward pack we have played this season in the scrum. The main difference was the use of the ball by Bracknell when it was won, with the running in the second and final thirds of the game exceptionally impressive.

With a shortened warm-up, a brand new hooker (good work Alex) and a debut for Tom R in the back row, it was pssibly no great surprise that the boys started a little tentatively. From the KO, we let the ball bounce, knocked on, gave the ball away, won it back, took it into a maul, lost it and let one their big ball carriers scoot off from around just inside our half to score. Just like the previous week five-nil down and barely caught breath.

A quick exercise in re-grouping and focussing behind the posts, and the boys headed out for the restart. Camberley ran it back to us, got held up in midfield, where Sam set the tone for the day by driving powerfully up the middle, the forwards recycled and drove on for a couple of phases, before debutant Tom R picked the ball up, saw some space on the blind side, ignored it, and ran through a couple of defenders instead and levelled the scores for a fine start to his first game.

Back came Camberley, and in a portent of things to come, our forward counter rucked effectively on our defensive 22m, quick ball from the inside backs, allowed Max to release a straight running Sam up the middle, and when he was caught, found Theo on his shoulder who broke a couple of tackles to race in from half way and score (despite the dodgy dive) under the posts. After just missing the first conversion attempt – from wide out – Oscar popped this one over, and indeed every subsequent conversion for the remainder of the game.

Again Camberley came back and after a series of drives, and quick taps, they forced their way over to bring the score back to 10-12. Before the end of the first period Bracknell came close to extending their lead after a marvellous counter attack by Tim, who fielded a kick from Camberley, and with support from Max, great breakdown work from Daniel, almost enabled Tom to squeeze over the line. Unfortunately this was Tim’s last contribution as he succumbed to the bug that had been hindering him all week, and was replaced by Aggie at full-back, who for the remainder of the game patrolled the back like a modern Alistair Hignell, returning the ball well and adding impetus to the attacks.

10-12 at the first break and all to play for. The second period really saw Bracknell kick on. To start with, after winning a turnover in the middle of the park Bracknells very quick hands down the line found Tom who took a fantastic outside line from around halfway and flew over in the corner. He then realised why we preach putting the ball down with two hands, and the ref correctly signalled for a 22m drop out to Camberley. Unfortunately for Camberley, and in the strange way that these things tend to happen, the drop kick went straight to Sam, who stormed through a few tackles to score under the posts. Try assist for Tom?

Next points came when another ball was turned over by Tom D in our 22m and instead of kicking the ball sped through Josh, Oscar and then Joe’s hands again to find Sam who burst out from our own half, only to be tackled by the Full Back, but in a great show of support play - again, he found Theo bursting forward onto his shoulder to take the scoring pass some 30m out from the line.

Next try was almost the length of a pitch and a bit of a body blow for Camberley who had built some good phases, as the ball was turned over by the forwards within our defensive third and instead of kicking, the ball sped out wide to Sam who broke through a gap to again run in from distance.

Almost from the restart the boys scored again after securing the ruck ball, Josh E saw the space and set off Theo down the blind side, again from some distance, for his hat-trick and despite some strong play, Camberley found themselves down by 10-40.

Three more converted tries were scored in the final third, two by Sam, and one, certainly the best, by Tom who remembering his earlier experience, made doubley sure this time. Literally.

The try was set up, again from turnover ball midfield on the right and this was followed by a succession of forward drives with Josh W prominent, and very quick recycling of the ball, surely as good as anything seen at the highest levels, eventually being driven on by Tom D who came agonisingly close to a first try. At this point, with the Camberley defence stretched and scrambling, Josh E spread the ball wide, to Joe, who missed the well marked Sam, straight to Oscar, who faced with a simple 2 on 1 made the perfect draw and pass to Tom who applied the finishing touch with two hands securely on the ball.

So the game finished well in Bracknells credit on the scoreboard, but to Camberley’s credit their team kept coming back, particularly their forwards, who made our pack work very, very hard, and clearly brought out the best in them. So special mention must go to the whole pack who continually won and set the ball up beautifully, in particular the two Toms in their first and second games and Alex playing his first game at Hooker. Great credit also to the inside backs who played skillfully and selflessly throughout to keep the ball moving to the outside backs who scored all (bar one) of the tries.

Got some hard work to do on the clubhouse singing though!