Kiama Sneak Home against Rams
1sts: Camden 24 Kiama 29
2nds: Camden 5 Kiama 27
3rds: Camden10 Kiama 19
It’ll go down as a day of missed opportunities when Camden travelled to Kiama. With all grades having shuffled line-ups due to the flu and injury, the day looked like it may present a challenge. First Grade hit the ground running and looked like a side that had something to prove to the travelling fans on the sideline. They scored their first try within minutes of the opening whistle, when Gav Holder busted the Kiama defence up the middle and centre Ethan Whittington supported to score under the posts. What seemed like only moments later, fly Half Chris Ravlich supported a half break and scored out wide to take the score to 12-0.
Camden continued to dominate and field position was converted into another 5-pointer when winger Jake Saddler outpaced his opposite to the corner. However this is when things went pear-shaped and Kiama, methodically edged their way back into it with two tries before the break and one soon after gave Kiama their first taste of the lead 19-17. Camden continued to pressure Kiama and were rewarded with a try to Pete Graham, as Saddler made a break down the left, chipped the fullback, who proceeded to take him out of play. Graham came from nowhere and pounced on the lose ball and scored under the posts. Kiama again bounced back with a late try and took a 2 point lead. As both teams searched for the killer blow, a clearing kick from Camden gave the Kiama enough fullback whose 40m field goal was the final nail needed to put the Rams away 29-24. Best for Camden were Saddler, Whittington, Clint Mclelland and winger Matt Tedesco.
A lethargic reserve grade were never in the running when they contested the warm-up to the main game, losing 27-5. Although serviced well by their forwards the defence was constantly tested and was found short on a number of occasions. Camden got on the board mid-way through the second half, when after controlling the possession for several phases, flanker Nathan Prior squeezed over after a solid run from prop Ryan Martin. Along with these two, Simon Wine also contributed strongly. Second Grade will be hoping to turn around their unexpected run of two losses after six previous wins next week against University.
Third Grade started the day slowly but showed signs of improvement after a few losses on the trot. A vastly different backline and front row posed hurdles for the Rams early on. Two early individual efforts from Kiama backs floored Camden and had them behind 12-0. The first was a single chip and chase from the half and even more surprisingly the second was a three kick effort that was initiated and finished by the same player. Camden bounced back and showed that they were actually the dominant team and scored tries from sustained pressure to prop Mick Bonarcorso and centre Nick Daley punt Camden back in the game 12-10. However an intercept try immediately after the second try blew the score out to 19-10 where it stayed for the remainder of the match. The second half was closely contested with neither team managing to cross again and the play stifled regularly. Best for Camden were winger Paul Weston, skipper Matt Searle and flanker Ryan Kimber.