Tabard, desperate for league points, had a good central period of the game against Camberley on Saturday, when they came from behind to build up a lead but Camberley fought back and Tabard found themselves losing a close, hard game.

The game started well balanced, but Camberley were given a bit of room to manoeuvre early on, and were rewarded with a try from scrum half Hughes, converted by Webb, who followed with two penalties, and Tabard were suddenly 13 points adrift.

Undaunted, the Tabard forwards began to mount an unprecedented attack on their opposite numbers and were rewarded when Camberley fouled in desperation.

Stand off Richard Woodard put the kick in close to the Camberley line and, from the line out, second row Mick Finnie passed to his partner in the second row, Rob Sussum.

Sussum drove and, from the ensuing maul, hooker Mark Sharpe picked up and was over.

Although Camberley stretched away with another penalty, just on half time flanker Dallas Adams was over from a short penalty as Camberley were caught in disarray and scrum half Michael Skinner added the conversion.

Half time Camberley 16, Tabard a fighting 12.

Tabard attacked from the restart and a series of forward drives put them in contention, and a try looked as though it had been scored but the referee did not see it cleanly, and Tabard were awarded the five-metre scrum.

From the set piece, the number eight, big Ron Matthews, picked up and drove over the line, with several despairing Camberley defenders trying to hold him back.

Skinner converted to put Tabard three points ahead. Another Camberley penalty evened the score.

However, Tabard were now in full swing, and again incessant pressure on the home side was rewarded with a penalty.

Skinner took the quick kick, centre Peter Webb took the ball on the burst and was over.

Camberley pulled back with a penalty, but Skinner returned and grasped the slender lead back with a good penalty strike of his own.

Then, on the 80th minute, Camberley went ahead again, and this was compounded by a further penalty in the fifth minute of injury time.

It was a harsh result for Tabard after their great fightback.

Tabard: Telling, Higgins, Dudley, Webb P, Drew, Woodard, Skinner, Bromham (Webb T, 60 minutes), Sharp, Lockwood (Sullivan 65 minutes), Sussum, Finnie (Lane, 60 minutes), Johal, Adams and James (Matthews, 40 minutes).

Camberley 32

Tabard 27

National League Three South

*On Saturday Tabard take on Cinderford at home, kick off 2.15 pm, at Cobden Hill, Radlett.

November 7, 2001 14:17

By PETER COOK