Extra XV v Camp Hill: 8-24 (Away)

Written by Aaron Dudey

Saturday, 24 January 2009

Old Leamingtonians Extras ended up playing against Camp Hill 2nds in their Pool fixture this week. With several players aching from the bruises and scrapes of Wednesdays floodlit 40’s cup game, and missing a few familiar faces to work and 1st team Rugby, the Extras were forced into calling in favours from several irregulars; we travelled over with 12 of our own players, fielded 2 players looking for employment from Harbury and borrowed a winger from Camp Hill themselves. With this in mind, perhaps victory was something to be hoped for as opposed to expected against a team from a higher division. The Extras were on the back foot from the off; Camp Hill attacked with intelligent kicks and utilised speedy wingers (though with a head-start past the offside line ANYONE looks fast). Alas that one such attack led to an eventual try, Camp Hill utilising the spaces left in an Old Leamingtonians defensive line. No conversion. Old Leamingtonians rallied and were able to score with a monster penalty kick. Gary Bevan, borrowed for the day from Harbury RFC, making the 40m+ kick seem easy. The Extras were unable to capitalise on this narrowing of the margin, with Camp Hill scoring again after spinning it wide from a lineout. The Extras were determined to play to the last, alas that this determination did not stop the Camp Hill outside centre picking a superb line of running following a lineout in our 22. His line took him past the tacklers tracking across from the lineout; credit where credit is due, this was a good try. However, this was not all doom and gloom. In all honesty, Camp Hill’s tries were all isolated moments of class. OL’s fought tooth and nail to keep hold of the ball, it was passes at pace that let us down and some excellent last ditch tackles by Camp Hill. Tom Hockney, the young lad borrowed from Camp Hill proved himself to be a veritable threat down his wing, making me believe that these guys perchance regretted lending him to us. Quality work Tom! All we needed to do was put in that extra 10%-worth of effort. The forwards needed to get there earlier so that the scrum-half could get the ball out quicker. The wet and muddy conditions gave ample opportunities for players to wrong foot their opposite men. Howard Wicks, Gary Bevan and virgin full-back Robin “The Binman” Durrant chose some lovely lines of running, slicing through the Camp Hill three quarters not unlike a heated cutting implement through a well known dairy product. Kudos should go to the Old Leamingtonians pack; these guys owned the scrum and competed in all of the lineouts. The new look back-row trio of Josh Turner, Colin Day and Chris Clapham worked hard in some unfamiliar circumstances. “Work hard” was the expression of the day, something that we all did a little more in the second half. Alas, this sentiment and determination did not stop Camp Hill from scoring another try, the outside centre cutting another lovely line and scoring to the left of the posts. Old Leamingtonians did get the try their performance deserved. Captain and scrum-half Aaron Dudley crashed over following one of his numerous tap and go penalties. The scorer (and author of this article) would like to thank his team mates for nominating him Barcode man of the match. The author would also like to let it be known that the much coveted Barcode “DoD” award went to Robin Durrant for firstly nominating himself for man of the match (yes it was done in jest but did you REALLY think it would go unpunished???) and secondly for wearing a really girly set of boots. Welcome back Binman! The phrase “we won the second half” may seem like trying to pull a victory from a loss, but this was one of those games where if it had gone on for another twenty minutes or so..... Anyway, honourable mentions go to the following; Phil Gallagher for firstly being there and secondly forming a formidable ‘enforcer’ combo with the ever enthusiastic Toby Godridge; Nick Bingham for taking on the role of vice-captain and putting in some typically thumping tackles and runs; Andy Croney for his improving work in the lineout and Richard Deaville for his hard work around the edges and in the scrum. Yeah we lost but this was one of those games where we walked off the pitch having given EVERYTHING. Next week we travel to Southam, these guys have a point to prove against us so we are expecting some serious competition. Let the fun begin......