Sat 8 Mar 2025
It was Chairmans day at Camp Hill.
A festival of rugby with minis and juniors competing and three senior teams entertaining the large crowds, enjoying the rugby in glorious sunshine.
OC’s dampened the mood of the home support. They would have hoped for a victory which would take them further ahead of OC’s in the table.
It wasn’t to be. The boys today, put in a terrific all-round performance to secure the victory. Trailing by 12 points at the break, OC’s would restrict Camp Hill to a single penalty goal in the second period whilst adding 3 tries and a couple of penalty goals to take the victory 35-25.
Great playing conditions today. Sunshine with a slight breeze across the pitch. Great to see a lot of support from player colleagues on the touchline. The Extras had played on Friday night but many of them had travelled to the game to support their mates. Great camaraderie and club spirit.
Camp Hill kick off and they make their intentions clear very early. Within the first minute they are attacking on the left side about 30 metres out and a deft kick through for the left wing brings that early score in the left corner.
5-0 in the first minute.
Our second row pair of Jack Fennell and Dan Anderson are looking sharp already in the lineout. A Jack take and a penalty gets us to Camp Hill 22. The subsequent lineout is crooked, and Camp Hill have the feed for the first scrum of the match. Over the last few weeks our scrum has been strong and so it would be today. We made it very difficult for our hosts to deliver good ball. On this occasion Camp Hill manage to relieve to our 22. From a scrum mid field Ollie Cunningham and Emosi Nabakeke, try to weave some magic on the left with some footwork worthy of Strictly Come Dancing. We’re halted just short of the line and Camp Hill race away to our 22. Camp Hill win a lineout and the ball moves swifty through the hands for the left wing to find a bit of space and score in the left corner.
10-0 after 10 minutes.
Chat Senavirathne at No10 sees his restart knocked on and we have a scrum on the camp Hill 22. Great Scrum. Elliot Sheepy picks up at No 8. Sam Miles at No9 loops round to the right to make ground before the ball comes back left through the hands for George Curtis to score our opener.
10-5 after 13 minutes
We make an error receiving at the restart which allows camp Hill to attack on the right. A forward pass stops the attack, and from the scrum Chat briefly gets the ball to the opposition half. Camp Hill are full of running and they race back at us. A loose ball gives Josh James the opportunity on the right wing to attack. He evades a couple of tackles in his 40 metre run but he is finally bundled to the ground. Chat is demonstrating some deft footwork and we are going through a few phases on the left. The referee pulls play back for a Camp Hill high tackle. We take the penalty quickly and move it left for Alex Kelly to cross for the first of his three tries this afternoon.
10-10 after 20 minutes.
From the restart Camp Hill have most of the play but OC’s defence was excellent. A cruncher from full back Ollie Cunningham brought a gasp from the crowd. Chat manages to relieve to half way and Jack Fennell robs the Camp Hill lineout. We begin to run it out but a long-missed pass is intercepted which gifts a try to Camp Hill in front of the posts. The conversion is good.
17-10 after 33 minutes.
We’re ringing some changes, smartly using our bench. Chris Cain is on at pro and we are driving a scrum 20 metres out on the left. Ollie almost makes it but we are penalised and Camp Hill relieve. They put together multiple drives at our line. From a scrambled lineout the ball comes left and Camp Hill have space for another score on the left.
22-10 at the break
12 points down but there have been a few “might have been’s” in the first period which gave comfort to the support that we could get back into this game. We’re in the middle of a terrific match. Both sides have a lot of talent and are keen to run the ball at every opportunity. From the restart Camp Hill relieve to our 22. Jack takes the lineout and we are attacking on the camp Hill 22. A couple of penalties against us gives them a breather. They decide to go for goal with one , which is successful and Camp Hill extend their scoring .
25-10 after 5 minutes of the second period.
That would prove to be the end of the scoring for camp Hill this afternoon and OC’ launch a tremendous come back. Some aggressive work from OC’s now. Elliot and JJ combine. Jordan Kelly is on in the back row and he is causing trouble. Finally, brother Alex bustles over for a try on the left.
25-15 after 15 minutes
From the restart we continue to put pressure on Camp Hill in their 22. Jordan has it again and makes good ground. He feeds Chat who eludes the tacklers and feeds Alex again for his hattrick of tries on the left. 10 metres from touch and Chat is successful with the conversion.
25-22 after 20 minutes.
The game is being played in the Camp Hill half now. Emosi nearly makes it on the left but kept out. Camp Hill have a scrum on their 22 in the middle. They are penalised and Chat must take the 3 points to level the scores.
25-25 after 25 minutes.
OC’s are dominant now. We’re attacking down the right. Jordan, George. Alex and Chat combine. Chat crosses the try line but selflessly gives the ball to Elliot to ensure a safe touchdown.
25-32 after 30 minutes.
There are some anxious minutes left in this game. We are on the rampage and get close on the left but a pass is intercepted and Camp Hill run back at us and have a lineout 20 metres out on the right. They take it cleanly but are penalised which gives us the opportunity for another attack. Dan Anderson and Emosi combine on the left then back inside to Chat who tries to seal the game with a drop goal attempt. It misses but we are still pressing and Camp Hill are penalised in a kickable position just right of the posts. Chat takes his time and the kick is successful. Ten points clear now and we deny Camp Hill a losing bonus point`.
25-35 with injury time only to play.
Camp Hill still show some grit and have a scrum in our 22. They cross the try line but are held up. We survive that final flurry to record a win which takes us above Camp Hill in the table with two games to play. Both sides have to play Luctonians. Camp Hill play Barkers and we play Droitwich in our final matches.
An exciting end to a season of excellent rugby. Needless to say everyone was immense today. We have some depth of talent. Alex Kelly was deservedly awarded “man of the match” today not just for his 3 tries but his defensive work and his attacking runs which on most occasions committed two defenders to stop him. The forwards were untiring. A pleasure to watch you boys each week.
