Camp Hill 3rd XV 24 Spartans 3rd XV 22

For their second league fixture of the season, Spartans III's made the short trip down the M42 to Camp Hill III's.
In their previous meetings, Spartans had yet to beat their league rivals, and were focused on making amends to that on what was a gloriously sunny day.
Spartans started well, putting their full back under pressure, and forcing a line out, but the Camp Hill set piece was well drilled, and following a scrum near the Spartan 22, they opened the scoring with a well taken try down the blind side. Their number 10, bang in front of the posts, missed the extra 2 points.
However, gaining confidence from the opening few minutes, Spartans set piece was also working well, and it wasn't long before Spartans found themselves well inside the oppositions 22 and showing the skill and dance work useually found on Come Dancing, Anthony Hodgetts managed to find the smallest gap to fandango his way over the line for a try wide out. Narrowly missing the conversation, Spartans leveled the score at 5 a piece.
Spartans defense was working well, and Camp Hill where forced to kick away possession a number of times, and it wasn't long before they found themselves with a scrum in the Camp Hill 22. Again, the forwards worked hard, securing possession. Anthony combined well with the debutant inside center Luke who burst through, drawing a few defenders and with a deft offload put Spartans full back George Hesketh over for his first try of the season. Converting the try, Anthony gave Spartans a 12 - 5 lead.
Camp Hill rallied, and again their forwards gained momentum in the maul to draw a scrum well inside the Spartan 22. This time, it was their fly half who showed good footwork to slide between the defense and put himself under the posts. Converting his own try drew the game level and this is how it remained until half time.
Spartans Captain, Juddy Smith, who along with the forward pack had already dominated their part of the game, rallied his players. With only a small number of subs available, Spartans made slight changes to the team, whereas Camp Hill could afford to bring on a number of players. Fresh legs apart, it was Spartans who started the second half well, gaining possession and territory, but it was the Camp Hill winger who showed tremendous pace after a good break by their center to score under the posts. The try was converted to give Camp Hill a 7 point advantage.
With tiring legs and a few injuries, Spartans were again forced to make changes, and found it difficult to get out of their own half. However, the tackling and defense did not allow Camp Hill a sniff at a score, even though they had younger fresher players. In fact, the Spartans forwards started to dominate, drawing indiscipline in the Camp Hill ranks resulting in a yellow card and allowed Anthony Hodgetts to take 3 points from a penalty. Into the last 10 minutes, both teams were tiring, Spartans made ground into the oppositions half. Good phase play and another break from Luke and Spartans found themselves just inside the 22. From a break down, quick thinking and a clever pass from veteran Gary Farquar put George Hesketh away from his second try. Anthony again converted, giving Spartans a slender 3 point lead.
With minutes left, Camp Hill restarting, and pressuring the breakdown found themselves with a penalty deep in Spartans territory after indiscipline also left Spartans a forward short. With one of the backs having to operate in the scrum, Spartans defense was under great pressure and held firm but a 5m scrum was awarded after Camp Hill went over with the ball being held up. This time Camp Hill took the ball out and their big number 8 made a charge for the line. A brave tackle from Hodgetts stopped him, but he managed to squirm his way around and over the line. The ref blew for full time and even though Camp Hill again missed the conversation, the final score was Camp Hill 24, Spartans 22.
Spartan III's continue their league campaign this Saturday at home against Old Edwardians 2's. All support welcome!