Droitwich U15’s 20 - Camp Hill U15’s 15

Sunday 27th January 2008

Droitwich again spent Sunday on their travels, this time Camp Hill RFC played hosts. The match was played on a compact and very heavy pitch which didn’t lend itself to flowing rugby.

Droitwich started the game indifferently allowing Camp Hill to dominate the initial exchanges, controlling the possession and dictating the plays, while Droitwich scrambled their defensive lines and looked disorganised.

Within the first 10 minutes Camp Hill took advantage of an off colour Droitwich to run in two early tries into the corner, giving Camp Hill a 10 to nothing lead. The second try and subsequent team talk sparked Droitwich into life, the next play saw the Droitwich pack back to their expected performance levels with excellent support from the backs, pressing Camp Hill into a more defensive game, while Droitwich’s aggressive play saw them dominate the set plays and scrimmaging, recycling the ball regularly as well as creating chances for the backs to also press their advantage.

After a period of intense pressure Droitwich backs broke through the Camp Hill defensive lines, resulting in a penalty try to be awarded to Droitwich which Sam Cave duly converted. The half now followed a set pattern with Droitwich now in the ascendancy, dominating Camp Hill and pressing for their second try only to have Camp Hill show some outstanding rear guard action to keep Droitwich out.

As the end of the half drew near with Droitwich entrenched on Camp Hill’s try line, Droitwich changed tactics and executed a set play which allowed Matt Watts to kick a drop goal, to finish the half with Droitwich and Camp Hill at 10 points all.
The second half started much the same as the first half ended, with Droitwich pressing Camp Hill for the opening try, the Droitwich forwards continued to dominate the Camp Hill pack recycling the ball when attacking but also turning over Camp Hill’s forays into Droitwich’s half. The backs ably supported the team efforts with some coordinated and aggressive tackling, allowing Camp Hill no time to organise themselves when in possession. Eventually the pressure told with Sam O’Brien diving over for a try by the posts which Sam Cave duly converted, giving Droitwich a 17 - 10 lead.

The half then became a battle for position and possession with both teams defending and attacking at will, knowing that the next points could be decisive to the final score. Camp Hill finally broke the deadlock with a scrambled try in the corner but didn’t succeed with the conversion, which left Droitwich with a slender 17 - 15 lead going into the final few minutes.

From the restart Droitwich continued to press their advantage over a tiring Camp Hill, determined to increase their score, working the ball all over the field with some inspired positional kicking from George Bishop and Matt Watts allowed the forwards to again dominate the set plays and provide Matt Watts with the opportunity to kick his second drop goal of the game, increasing Droitwich’s lead to 20 - 15, which was the final score.

Final Score: Droitwich 20 - Camp Hill 15.

Man of the Match: Ciaran Ginty.

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