Camberley title and promotion hopes extinguished by Welsh
FARNHAM overcame a determined Salisbury side on Saturday, winning 28-11 away in Counties
Two South Central.
Although Farnham won the reverse fixture convincingly, Salisbury were fired up having to win well to stay to avoid relegation.
Farnham handed a debut to academy graduate Jake Harris at scrum half while the experienced Ben Adams returned to first XV duty to bolstering the side at number eight.
Salisbury kicked off and looked to take advantage of the strong breeze behind them. Their first attacked was thwarted by a thunderous tackle from Josh Watson to force a knock on. However they opened the scoring moments later with an easy penalty to make the score 3-0.
Farnham needed to get their hands on the ball and get into the game. The strong breeze made the lineout difficult but Jonny Vincent and Jemi Akin-Olugbade cleaned up any scraps and kept Farnham moving forward. Penalties cost Farnham field position. After another penalty ten metres out, Salisbury took a quick tap and bundled over in the corner for the first try of the game. Conversion missed, 8-0.
Farnham reacted almost immediately winning a breakdown penalty that allowed a kick to the corner. The initial drive was halted, however Jonny Vincent broke away and beat two defenders to power over for Farnham’s first score. Conversion successful, 8-7.
The momentum had shifted. Farnham enjoyed long spells in the Salisbury 22 but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Salisbury’s aggressive defence twice held up Farnham over the line. A yellow card for the Salisbury 12 reduced them to 14 men on half-time.
Farnham kicked off with the breeze behind them and looked to pin Salisbury in their half. A lineout ten metres out gave Farnham a great opportunity that was well taken. Max Williams ran a backs for Archie Healy. Jack Buxton and Fin Basil were effective in the loose while the kicks from brothers Toby and Mike Salmon found good territory.
The next score came from a loose play from Salisbury. A knock on fell into the hands of Callum Jones who found Max Williams who sprinted in from 60 metres to give Farnham some breathing room. Conversion successful, 21-11.
CAMBERLEY’S promotion and title hopes ended on Saturday as they lost 33-57 at home to London Welsh in Regional One South Central.
A silence and clapping for Camberley Rugby chairman Paddy O’Meara who passed away on Tuesday aged just 61, preceded the start of the match.
The large attendance saw the visitors score in the very first minute. From a scrum on 30 metres they drove forward to score an unconverted try.
Eight minutes later and another score. Camberley lost the ball in defence and the quicksilver Welsh backs pounced to score under the posts; 0-12.
But Camberley soon fought back. A penalty then lineout on the five metre mark, then the familiar forwards drive to see prop Nick Barry over with the score converted by Matt Smart.
But in 17 minutes the Welsh were further ahead. More pressure to see them over in the left corner the score well converted to give a 7-19 lead.
On 26 minutes, the Camberley defence was again evaded for a score in the right corner. Again converted so a 7-26 lead for the visitors.
Then with ten minutes to the interval the first half Welsh dominance was complete. A strong Welsh attack although repelled several times could not be finally held so try number five was driven over by the forwards with an easy conversion; 7-33.
Camberley rushed to the dressing room at half-time to look into steps they clearly needed to reduce the big arrears.
And it worked as try number two came two minutes into the second half. A good attack then Alex Hughes was over to score with the conversion by Smart.
But then Welsh increased their lead just three minutes later. They converted a penalty in front of the posts to go 14-36 in the lead.
With the Camberley pack growing in confidence despite the reversals they scored the third try in nine minutes. Good work to the left saw Alex Hughes over again but the touchline conversion attempt could not be gained so 19-36 to the visitors. But even with the forwards clicking well another loose ball saw Welsh gather and the try was under the posts the converted score giving the 19-43 scoreline with 25 minutes remaining.
Respectability was certainly needed by Camberley being now 24 points adrift.
It did start in the 22nd minute as more good forward play and the final drive saw Mac Duaibe over with the conversion by Smart.
But the narrowing of the score could not be improved upon as in 32 minutes Welsh mounted a fierce attack and despite repelling constantly by the line, Camberley could not finally prevent the eventual score.
The well taken conversion saw the fifty points up for Welsh.
This should really have signalled the final scoring but three minutes remaining and on losing the ball in midfield Welsh easily were able to run through to score under the posts and convert to leave a 26-57 scoreline.
Clearly stung by this try, Camberley surged forward in injury time with fine forward driving seeing Duaibe over again for the try converted by Smart.
The final scoreline then was a merited 33-57 to London Welsh. They scored eight tries converting seven and adding the penalty. For Camberley it was five tries, converting four.
The point gained from the match secured second place assured in the table for Camberley with Havant as confirmed winners.
The last matches are on Saturday, April 6 with Camberley to visit CS Stags in Chiswick.