Hard fought battle ends in home loss

Crewe gave a 1st team debut to colt Tom Fenney ,and welcomed Camp Hill to the Vagrants who were relegated from Midlands 1 the previous season.

Camp Hill started the stronger, Crewe defending well and eventually turning the ball over, a series of forward drives moved Crewe up to halfway From one of these drives scrum-half Charlie Hutchins broke blind and his clever chip was gathered by winger Elliot Meredith to score out wide conversion missed 5-0.

Camp Hill bounced back quickly, a scrum in the Crewe 22 saw their no. 8 go over in the corner, kick missed 5-5.
Crewe won a penalty from the restart which they kicked to the corner, a number of good drives from the forwards sucked in the defence for the ball to be spun out wide for Meredith again to go over out wide .Good conversion from fly-half Jim Creighton 12-5.
Then from a lineout in the Camp Hill half Crewe back row Scott Heiren's reaction to his opponents initial foul play resulted in a red card , leaving Crewe one short for 65 minutes.

Crewe to their great credit restructured well, turning over a lineout from which Creighton's clearance kick was knocked on. Quick ball from the resulting scrum gave centre Thomas Roberts the space to bulldoze over for a good try, conversion Creighton 19-5.
Pressure in the Crewe 22 was defended well but eventually the Camp Hill wing forward forced his way over the line, kick converted the half time score 19 -12

The second half started fairly evenly , but a penalty for a high tackle reduced Crewe's lead to 19 -15.
The home side soon restored their 7 point lead, Creighton kicking a penalty for a ruck infringement 22-15.
Camp Hill drew level soon after with a try in the corner from their left wing which was well converted 22-22.
Being a man down for most of the game was taking its toll on Crewe and sustained pressure in the 22 eventually created an overlap for the right winger to go over in the corner kick missed 22-27.

Good pressure from the kick off saw Crewe earn a penalty that Creighton converted well 25-27.
Crewe kept pressing and eventually earned another penalty to win the game, however Creighton's difficult kick from out wide just shaved the posts final score 25 -27

Photos Credit: James Brewerton