Students Teach Rams a lesson or two
1st: Camden 14 Uni 23
2nd: Camden 15 Uni 18
3rd: Camden 17 Uni 15
Camden Rams hosted Wollongong University, and with a surplus of past greats filling up the stands for ‘Back to Camden Day’. The spirits were high. In first grade the Rams were hoping to improve on the last few rounds where they had sufficiently competed with higher placed teams but had been unable to come away with any significant amount of competition points. Unfortunately rather than reversing this trend, round seven further highlighted this predicament, losing 23-14.
The first half was evenly contested and after a try a piece Camden went to the break 10-7 down, only a long-range penalty the difference. Camden were their own worst enemy in the second half, squandering many promising attacking raids and allowing Uni to capitalise on their territorial advantages with a further try and another two penalties. Camden worked hard to stay in the match and were rewarded with a strong try to Gavin Holder, his second for the day and was converted by Tyler Aitken to take the final deficit to the sum of the penalty goals conceded. Camden’s obvious best were Holder, Aitken and David Gleeson.
A severe injury in the reserves clash may have stifled Camden’s momentum, which also went down for the second week in a row. Flanker James Crisp scored midway through the first half to counter Uni’s first 5 pointer, but two penalties gave the visitors a lead nearing the break. After an extended half time break, Camden had limited time to mount a comeback and started slowly. Time was the ultimate enemy, with a try a piece closing out the game, and Camden finishing a short 2nd half 15-18 in arrears. Fullback Andrew Brown, lock Clint Mclelland and Hooker Dave Kay-Spratley were strong performers.
The term ‘get out of jail free card’ was frequently bandied around after the Ram’s third grade won 17-15 with a try on the bell to winger Mark Jordan. Jordan also opened the scoring for Camden after tough opening exchanges with the only addition to the scoreline was a Uni penalty goal. Lock Mat Wakeford scored early in the second half and Camden appeared to shut up shop. A loose Camden pass allowed Uni to score their first try and go to within two points of Camden. Camden again were lackadaisical chasing a kick down and Uni countered well to score in the corner and take a 3 point lead. Camden had one last shot at it from the kick off, after a Uni knockon. Paul Weston hit a hole and was taken down millimeters from the chalk. The ball went back the other way and Mark Jordan beat his man on the inside to crash over and seal the unlikely victory. Half Toby Quelch, Jordan and flanker Christian Paige were impressive in the victory.
Camden travel down the coast to take on another in form club Tech Tahs next weekend.
