Camberley v Bournemouth

Team Selection: Ryan Morrel, injured in the Banbury game, was replaced by Ash Taylor on the right wing. The unavailable Grant Hancox was replaced at inside centre by fly-half Antony Fitch, Mike Pope replacing Fitch. In the forwards, the only change was the returning Joe Desmond replacing the injured Jake Guildford at No 8. On the bench Bailey Andrews, made his first appearance of the season for the 1st XV, and Pat Fraser, was making his first appearance since the 2019/0 season; the pair replacing Jack Young and Henry Turner respectively.

The weather was bright and sunny with little wind. Underfoot, the pitch was in excellent nick.

Camberley prove too strong

Bournemouth kicked off towards the clubhouse and to their left.

Camberley were penalized early on enabling Fitch to find touch to his left on the Camberley 22m. Driving off the line-out the Bournemouth forwards moved right and pressed for the line-out with Carkeet in the van. They released the ball left but, when nothing came of the move, referee Randall brought play back for a Bournemouth penalty in front of the posts. Fitch kicked the goal and Bournemouth had a three-point lead.

5m: Camberley 0-3 Bournemouth

This early advantage was nullified just a couple of minutes later when Bournemouth were caught offside at the restart and from a 5m line-out, Camberley drove over to score and take a 7-3 lead. With Bournemouth finding it hard to cope with the hard-running Camberley backs Bournemouth had conceded the try-scoring bonus point with just a quarter of the match gone

20m: Camberley 24-3 Bournemouth

Bournemouth struck back however when right wing Ash Taylor finished off a strong three-quarter move by scoring in his corner. Fitch kicked the goal from wide out.

25m: Camberley 24-10 Bournemouth

Bournemouth only just kept Camberley out right from the restart and the Bournemouth defence was rewarded with a 5m-scrum. However, when Bournemouth kicked clear Camberley ran the ball back through their threes. The forwards continued the move by pressing for the line. When nothing came of it the referee brought play back for a Camberley penalty. Bournemouth did well to keep Camberley out from a 5m-lineout but when they had a dropped kick from the try-line, Camberley ran it back and scored wide out on their left.

32m: Camberley 29-10 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were caught offside in the first movement after the restart but won the resulting line-out outside their own 22m. A kick right was well chased down by Taylor but a good Camberley defence kept Bournemouth out. Camberley were awarded a scrum but were penalized for ‘pulling it down’ and Fitch kicked his third goal of the afternoon.

39m: Camberley 29-13 Bournemouth

Bournemouth set up a promising three-quarter move having ‘stolen’ the ball at a Camberley line-out at the restart but could find no way through the Camberley defence and resorted to a chip through which Camberley kicked clear. From the line-out another promising Bournemouth move came to an end when a pass didn’t go to hand and found themselves defending a Camberley break out instead. A knock-on on the Bournemouth 22m saved the visitors any further embarrassment. When the resulting scrum had to be reset, referee Randall blew for half-time.

40+5m: Camberley 29-13 Bournemouth – Half-time

Bournemouth ran the restart back, but a Fitch pass back inside didn’t go to hand for a Camberley scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Camberley promptly countered with a strong passing movement left and scored in the corner.

42m: Camberley 36-13 Bournemouth

A series of penalties against Camberley found themselves defending a line-out 10 yards out from their own line on their right. Bournemouth drove off the line-out but were forced in field by the Camberley defence where the home side were penalized once again. Fitch found touch to his right this time on the Camberley 5m. Despite being forced left, the Bournemouth forwards weren’t to be denied and apparently Manning was driven over to score his first try of the season.

49m: Camberley 36-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s restart kick back was run back by Camberley, but a knock-on brought that threat to an end. From the scrum, left wing Josh Wickens had a good run down his flank but couldn’t weave his way through a good Camberley defence and were penalized for their efforts anyway. From the half-way line on their right, the Camberley forwards drove before releasing the ball left. Another knock-on gave Bournemouth the scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Bournemouth kicked right but ‘straight out’ for a Camberley line-out. Camberley attacked first right and when they came back left muscled their way over for unconverted try.

58m: Camberley 41-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth almost recovered their restart but Camberley managed to clear left for a Bournemouth line-out on the half-way line. The forwards released the ball left and Wickens had another run down his wing but Bournemouth were penalized for ‘holding on’. Camberley found touch to their right inside the Bournemouth 22m. With some clever passing, first left then back right, Camberley proved too strong for the Bournemouth defence and went over wide out.

62m: Camberley 48-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were penalized at the restart as they contested for the ball in the air and found themselves defending a line-out outside their 22m on their left. Camberley’s attack left broke down when the final pass didn’t go to hand for a Bournemouth line-out on their 10m. Camberley nicked the throw-in and attacked first left and were almost in when they came back right but contrived to pass to a grateful Bournemouth player instead but who was forced into touch on the 5m line. Bournemouth were awarded a free kick and Fitch found touch to his left for a Camberley line-out outside the Bournemouth 10m. Camberley attacked right but the alert Warr intercepted the pass and ran in from some 30 yards out for Fitch to convert.

69m: Camberley 48-27 Bournemouth

Camberley attacked left from the restart but a knock-on halted their progress. However, Bournemouth couldn’t cope with their drive in the resulting scrum and were penalized. Camberley found touch to their left on the Bournemouth 5m. Driving off the line-out, the Camberley forwards were almost in but, regathering themselves, eventually forced their way over wide out on the left.

75m: Camberley 53-27 Bournemouth

Bournemouth struck back almost immediately when the turned the ball over as Camberley attacked from the restart and Warr was over under the posts for Fitch to score his sixth goal of the afternoon.

79m: Camberley 53-34 Bournemouth

Despite some spirited play in those final few minutes, a mix of passes not going to hand and a determined Camberley defence, Bournemouth couldn’t find a way through and had to settle for the way things as they were.

80+6m: Camberley 53-34 Bournemouth – Full Time

Camberley proved too strong for Bournemouth and their robust play proved too much of a handful in the end but at least they came away with try-scoring bonus point.

Bournemouth’s next match is this Saturday (November 5) home to Brighton, KO 2.00PM. However, you are advised to check the KO time before travelling. Ed

Doug Warren

Scribe, Bournemouth RFC.