Sat 18 Dec 2021
Heart Shown but Not Enough
Uttoxeter 19
Camp Hill 33
Uttoxeter showed tremendous heart but were unable to hold out as they fell to defeat against a larger and stronger Camp Hill side.
Following something of a humbling last week at Walsall, Uttoxeter turned up at Oldfields to play only their 3rd league game at home this season. The weather was drizzly, it was cold and the pitch was heavy, so nobody in attendance was expecting a free flowing match. Both teams, however, showed some good skills and played with a lot of guile.
Coach Donald Hayes had more selection changes again, struggling to keep a consistent 1st team squad going into the final game of 2021. Nathan Fletcher and Sam Woolley were at prop, with Aaron Lakin playing at hooker. Brothers Gregor and Tom Hayes started in the second row, with Scott Rockley, Joel Walkaden and Joe Gorman in the back row. James Deaville played Scrum Half, whilst Lewis Bain returned to orchestrate from 10. Skipper Tom Sherratt played centre with Henry Knox, and Joe Cripps and Luke Bebbington played on the wings. Ben Marshall slotted in at full back again, whilst on the bench Ant Davies, Dave Chell and Trevor Tanner were itching to get on having been promoted from the 2nd team.
As has become custom in recent weeks, Uttoxeter started like a house on fire but failed to make the pressure tell. Despite controlling possession, territory and the break down, Uttoxeter struggled to hold their own at the set-piece as the bigger pack of Camp Hill dominated scrums and line-outs. The dominance of the visitors set piece soon told as they went from a line out across the whole back line to the winger to score in the corner. The conversion missed but the visitors were up 0-5.
The home side responded in spectacular fashion, taking the lead with a well worked backs move off a few quick rucks. Bain took the ball to the line, threw a dummy and stepping his marker before offloading to Knox to touch down for one of his easier finishes under the posts. Marshall converted and Uttoxeter, deservedly, led 7-5.
Camp Hill responded like the experienced campaigners they are, playing to their strengths and controlling the set pieces. Pushing Uttoxeter back towards their own sticks, they got the slice of luck their play had earned. Working it tight down the wing, a chip over the top was half charged down by the Uttoxeter defence and dropped kindly into the arms of the Camp Hill right winger who jogged over the line to score a try. The conversion was scored and Camp Hill led again, 7-12.
Uttoxeter continued to play an expansive game despite the conditions and made numerous breaks up field, memorably from Knox who broke from his own half but was unable to link up with supporting players with the line beckoning. Camp Hill tried to match the flamboyant style of the home side, but it led to an error and another Marshall trademark special. Covering an overlap in his own 22, Marshall intercepted a short pass before sprinting untouched under the posts to score, and then convert, another try. 14-12.
Before half time, Uttoxeter were under the cosh as Camp Hill continued to stick to a game plan of bullying the home pack and punishing phase play. Just before the interval, they retook the lead as a scrum pushed Uttoxeter to their own try line and the Number 8 had the simple task of touching down. The fly half converted and the favourites from Birmingham went into half time with a 14-19 scoreline.
During the break, David Chell and Trevor Tanner came on for Aaron Lakin and an injured Sam Woolley.
The second half started exactly as the first had ended. The men from Oldfields were pinned back by their opponents back and conceded another try through the middle after the Camp Hill forwards battered at the line before getting over the line. With another conversion, the score at 14-26, Uttoxeter would have been forgiven for capitulating. The next ten minutes, however, showed the heart and passion instilled into the side this season.
The scrum began to sure up and Uttoxeter used this platform to allow their electric backs to prod and probe about the park. Eventually, the pressure told as Camp Hill failed to find touch with a clearing kick, Marshall threw a 20 yard bullet pass to Bebbington, who squared up his winger before popping to an overlapping Knox who barreled through 2 tackles before touching down in the corner. The conversion kick grazed the wrong side of the upright from Marshall, but at 19-26, Uttoxeter were in with a chance to grab something from the game.
Bad luck eventually took it's toll as line out caller Tom Hayes and flying winger Joe Cripps both received game ending injuries. This meant Ant Davies could get on the field and Aaron Lakin could return, but a full reshuffle of the backs and forwards meant Uttoxeter lost momentum and flow. Camp Hill took advantage as they did very well to keep the ball in the tough conditions and work their way upfield. With space to spare out wide, the winger chipped over Marshall and a foot race ensued. Marshall seemed to have won but a cruel bounce took the ball away from him. He slipped in an attempt to recover and the winger seemed to have an easy touch down before Lakin clattered into him in an exuberant attempt to recover the ball and the referee decided it was an infraction worthy of a penalty try, 19-33.
Uttoxeter pushed hard to earn a losing bonus point and try bonus point to deservedly have something out of the game, but despite a couple of opportunities including a brilliant break from Bain, Knox boshing through a Camp Hill second row to get Uttoxeter close and Bebbington doing the same against 2 defenders simultaneously before losing space 10 metres out, simple errors ultimately cost any chance of getting some points on the league table. Camp Hill saw the game out comfortably in the final 5 minutes and took a well earned 5 points back down south.
Another case of close but no cigar for the home side, who will have the luxury of 8 of their remaining 12 games at Oldfields. Hopefully this will allow the side to get a run of form together after spending much of the season on the road.
Elsewhere, Uttoxeter 2nd XV were again disappointed as their scheduled game against Ashbourne 2nd XV was cancelled to to Covid-19 concerns, but they do remain undefeated so far this season. And finally, on a sad note, the club had a minutes silence in memory of Lisa Woolley, wife of Chairman Steve Woolley and life long supporter of Uttoxeter RFC. We send our love and condolences to Steve and son, Ollie. Thank you to all those who honoured the silence before the game perfectly, including the travelling side and fans. She will be missed.
