The Bastards 2s score a huge W!

The 2s started the game knowing the points were already secured, due to Camberley unable to field a front row. As a result the game was played as a friendly with uncontested scrums, something which received a mixed reaction from the 2s players. Especially with body shapes best described as “wintering”.

Camberley kicked off with a swirling kick, which instantly put the 2s on the back foot. A knock-on on the next phase of play did nothing to eleviate this pressure giving Camberley’s back line an early opportunity to test the 2s defence. The resulting set play came to nothing, due to some resolute defending from the Hammer’s centre partnership of Kioko Searle-Mbullu and Marcus McNeill, a common theme throughout the match.

Having weathered the early Camberley storm the 2s pack started to take control of the only contested set piece available to them, the line-out. Consecutive maul penalties moved the Hammers up to the opposition 10m despite some conservative touch finders, which were greeted with calls of “NOWHERE” from the opposition (alright then mate, you knock one into touch).  Another arrow from Paddy the baddy set up a rolling maul which trundled into the Camberley 22 for the first time. Another penalty resulted, with Camberley unable to deal with the hammer’s forwards. Another nudge into the 5 and even Stevie Wonder could’ve seen what was coming. Another successful Hammers line-out was rewarded with a short push to the in-goal, and the first blood was drawn. With no discernable kicker present, the kicking duty was gleefully taken up by Ains, who to be fair to him, striped his first kick between the uprights.

7-0 to the Hammers Bastards.

Another good kick off from Camberley forced the Hammers to exit to half way. A disruptive line caused the Hammers to steal and through some good forward link up, they soon found themselves again threatening Camberley’s 22.

Camberley were full of running and looked to play with good width, running the ball back into the Hammer’s 10m from a scrum 10m off their own line. The game started to lull with handling errors from both teams making the game scrappy. probably a good thing the scrums were uncontested eh?!

However, the Hammer’s started to link some phases and the good structure and patience paid off, with Bastard-son-of-Rogan Max Hyde cutting a positively disgusting line off the Hammer’s stand-in stand-off, the second big red ball from Total Wipeout (real name Sam).

Hammers 12-0 up with a kick to come. Sadly it didn’t, as Ains put up a spiral bomb off the tee which came down just inside the 5m.

From a good Camberley kick off the Hammers coughed up the ball from another handling error. A ruck penalty, a lack of focus, and a quick tap later, Camberley were in for their first score, less than a minute after kicking off. With an unsuccessful kick though the Hammers were still a score ahead. 12-5 Hammers.

From the resulting kick-off the Hammer’s oversized Trafalgar Square Christmas bauble (Sam) kicked it out on the full, giving Camberley a chance to attack from midfield. The Hammers defensive line once again was resolute, knocking Camberley back to their own 10m.

The Hammers were the masters of their own downfall for large parts leading up to half time with many ‘nearly moments’ resulting in errors. Regardless, as well as Camberley ran the ball, the Hammers always had the answer defensively and failed to let them capitalise.

A good take under a high bomb from Man-of-the-Match Sam Nursey, was followed up by a rampaging run from Dylan Bilinski, who – running away from heartbreak – offloaded to Kioko in a neat piece of link up, which nearly saw the Hammers extend their lead.

They were made to pay though, as moments later another Camberley quick tap caught the 2s on the back foot and a rampaging run from the Camberley 8 saw them reduce the deficit to 2 with little time left on the clock.

The half ended 12-10 to the Hammers, who were frustrated the game was as close as it was, with two lapses in concentration letting a spirited Camberley side back into the game.

The Hammers kicked off the second half with the wind at their backs and positively flew out the blocks.  A darting snipe from makeshift 9 Sam Smith set the platform for a pick and go which saw Hyde dive over for his second from close range. Ains made no mistake with the nudge, knowing kicking duties were being threatened to be taken off him. 19-10 Hammers.

Camberley returned the favour from the earlier kick off and didnt make 10, allowing the 2s backline to have a run at them. A mazy run from Andy Martin gave the Hammers good field position. Strong carries from Dan Ah Kuoi and Valerio Marcantognini were laying a good platform for for the hammers backs to have a go at Camberley, but to Camberley’s credit they held firm and forced errors where it mattered.

The sides traded midfield territory with both teams struggling to find any purchase in attack. The only real exception being Sam Nursey who seemed to relish the open field.

After a rough start to the second half the Hammers once again started putting some phases together. Some good ruck work from Luggage and Russell gave the Hammers quick ball to find holes in the so far resolute Camberley defence. Another good set of ‘pick and gos’ stretched Camberley’s scrambling goal line defence and Ah Kuoi dived into a welcome gap to dot down.

24-10 to the Hammers.  With no Tee coming onto the field, Ains decided to try a drop goal from the 15m… Still 24-10 to the Hammers.

The next 10 minutes passed with nothing much happening. Scrappy play meant the sides exchanged penalties with Camberley probably just edging it.

The 2s needed a lift in the game, with Camberley starting to exert a little pressure. Captain Jack rallied his crew for a big 15, leading from the front with some crucial midfield defence as Camberley looked to get back into the game.

After defending their line for 10 solid minutes the reinforcements arrived from the touchline with the 1s (fresh from also beating Camberley) giving the boys a vocal lift.

A good bit of counter rucking from the back row forced the turnover the Hammer’s goal line defence deserved, allowing them to kick clear to halfway. The resulting line wasn’t straight giving the Hammers a scrum just inside their own half. A show and go line break from Clifford the big red 10 caught Camberley napping. A no-look flick out the back to Sam Smith, who then linked up with the supporting Sam Nursey via a Basketball pass, for a Sam Cubed special, showed the Hammers still had some bite. With 4 to play and territory and score board in their favour, the 2s looked to seal victory in style. Some good pressure led to a Hammers scrum 5m out. Sam Smith picked from the base and drew 2 defenders in to flick an out the back of his own to Conor McGiven who dived over, to take the Hammers lead to 29-10. The Anal-yst penetrates!

Ains, who needed a rest from kicking due to all his hard work round the park, was politely told to leave the ball alone (despite being 50% on the day). With no Tee in sight Sam Smith picked up the ball and split the sticks with a stunning off the cuff droppy.

Some tired legs came off the field after a very physical, hard fought game. The 2s can take a lot from this performance, with a huge team effort getting them a richly deserved win.

Man of the Match: Sam Nursey.