Sat 3 Feb 2024
Maldon welcomed Campion to Drapers Farm on a spring-like day, with an early kick-off due to the 6 Nations. Arrival was disrupted by a burst water pipe nearby, but both teams managed to get there before the referee.
Some unavailability & some positional changes meant a different team than previous weeks, but nothing of concern with the players coming into the team.
Maldon started promisingly, running hard, linking together well, kicking sensibly & moving down the field. After 10 minutes Campion threw a miss pass, Zak Knight reacted to this and went for the interception, taking the ball, evading the tackler & sprinting under the posts for the first try, converted by Joshua Chadwick, 7-0. Maldon continued with the positive approach, making ground through the forwards, moving the ball well in the backs, generally on top. Campion spent some time inside the Maldon 22, but good defence stopped the threats. Back inside the Campion 22, there were a few attempts to cross the line, but these were in vain, until Zak Knight crossed from close range for his second of the game, 12-0 to Maldon, 25 minutes gone. This gave Maldon some encouragement & they started to play a more expansive game. But, one promising attack resulted in a lost ball, which Campion quickly moved wide. Maldon missed a number of chances to tackle the ball carrier, allowing the powerful Campion winger to run in from his own 22 for an excellent try, 12-7. Within 5 minutes, Campion scored again, this time, the result of a number of phases. Maldon heads were down & Campion were on top. After superb work rate around the pitch and numerous tackles, it was no surprise that No.8 Jim Roblin came off with an injury, allowing a returning Max Knight to take to the pitch.
Maldon were glad of the half-time whistle. Scrums were struggling for the first time in a long while. Line-outs were not working & the Campion Number 8 was starting to dominate the contact area in attack & defence.
The second half saw Campion on the front foot in attack, always crossing the gain line & strong in defence, knocking Maldon back regularly. Campion scored 2 good tries, both unconverted, for a 12-22 lead. Maldon didn’t look like scoring, as they were playing as individuals, rather than as a team. Campion played like a team that were very keen on winning & they were more determined in the ruck area, winning all 50-50 situations. The final score of 12-22 was a fair result for Campion, the better team overall. Maldon will need to pick themselves up for their next league fixture, away against East London in a fortnight.
MAN OF THE MATCH -
Ryan Martin - for a solid game on his first 1st team start, doing well in the scrum & the loose.
