S.R.U.F.C

Solihull 0 V Camphill 17

After playing the top two in the league in successive weeks, Solihull entertained local rivals Camp Hill on Saturday that offered the chance of an improved performance against more evenly matched opposition. As a contrast from recent outing, Solihull had the upper hand in the scrum in the early stages and increased return from an improving line out, with hooker George Grimes combining well with jumpers Dave Hawkins and Anthony Thomson. But playing into driving rain and a strong wind Solihull were pinned back for much of the first half, and kicking from hand was a last resort. Forced to run from deep, fly half Barry John Cole repeatedly launched powerful centre Charlie Maunder into the opposition back line and with it taking 3 players to stop him each time, Solihull were able to relieve the pressure on their line. Despite all the field position, Camp Hill could find no way through the Solihull defence, and were restricted to 4 penalties in the first period to go into the break 0-12 up. As soon as the second half kicked off the wind and rain eased, allowing Camp Hill to kick out of defence and clear their lines, a luxury that Solihull had not enjoyed in the first period. Despite great breaks from Tom Kirtland, returning veteran Simon Petitt and winger James Hughes, Solihull could not find the vital scoring move. Frustration started to creep in, and ill disciple at one stage had the home marched back 30 metres by the official for a stream of dissent and in the end the referee lost his patience and centre Maunder was given 10 minutes in the bin. This allowed Camp Hill into the game and it was only trademark stout defence that denied the vistors, with the tackle of the afternoon coming from flanker Will Yearsley. Pushing for that elusive try in the last 5 minutes of the game, fly half Cole’s wayward chip landed in the hands of the Camp Hill winger who ran 60 meters to give the visitors an unassailable 0-17 lead and leave Solihull still searching for their first win of the season.