Camden continued their charge up the ladder following a well constructed 32-12 win over Thirlmere on Sunday afternoon, reports MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio:
The Rams sit in fifth spot after the completion of round 11 and are well placed for a tilt at silverware in the pointy end of the season.
The match at Thirlmere Sportsground was an arm wrestle for much of the 80 minutes and the final score did not reflect how tight it was.
Scoring opened after eight minutes courtesy of Camden winger Josh Goulton, but just minutes later Thirlmere winger Allan Shipley returned serve to have the home side leading 6-4 after 12 minutes.
Both sides settled into a nice rhythm which resulted in some high quality football being played before a vocal crowd.
But it was also a very physical game, punctuated by some big hits in defence.
Camden’s veteran front rower Dean Rysko was the next to score when he crashed over beside the left upright on 25 minutes.
Camden’s lead didn’t last very long, though, as the Roosters struck back again, courtesy of a solo try by their versatile five-eighth Dayne Craig to lead 12-10 on the half hour mark.
Steele Brown, the young and exciting Camden fullback, scored a nice try five minutes before halftime, giving the visitors a 14-12 lead going into the break.
Scoring in the second half proved a little harder, with neither team able to crack their opponent’s line in the first 20 minutes.
After Rysko crossed for his second try of the afternoon and with Camden leading 22-12, the game appeared wide open for the first time.
The Roosters tried hard and had several opportunities to score points in the last 18 minutes of play but were denied by the Camden defensive line, which kept a clean sheet in the second half.
Two tries to Steele Brown in the space of three minutes helped Camden win the match 32-12, but the scoreline did not reflect the closeness of the contest.
Camden’s best included returning halfback Chris Browne, who steered the young side around the park well, assisted by young five eighth Luke Peoples, who is growing into the top grade nicely.
Dean Rysko and Ben Weir laid a solid platform in the front row, while the back row of Powers, Daly and Pollard all provided a high work rate in punching holes on the edges for the Rams.
Thirlmere’s better players included the two sets of brothers on the field, in Raui and Raka Poaru, and Bailey and Riley Nairn, along with Jack Ledbrook and Blake Ritchie-Manns in what was a team effort.
RESULTS – FIRST GRADE
Moss Vale Dragons 12 The Oaks Tigers 22;
Campbelltown City 34 Narellan Jets 22;
Mittagong Lions 24 Picton Magpies 34;
Thirlmere Roosters 12 Camden Rams 32.
Ladder – Picton 18; The Oaks, Thirlmere 16; Camden 15; Mittagong 14; Campbelltown City, Narellan 10; Moss Vale 7.
RESERVE GRADE
Appin 14 The Oaks 12;
Campbelltown City 14 Narellan 10;
Mittagong 18 Picton 18;
Thirlmere 18 Camden 30;
Oakdale 0 Oran Park 52.
UNDER 18
Campbelltown City 26 Narellan 24;
Mittagong 10 Picton 60;
Thirlmere 24 Camden 22;
Mt Annan Oakdale 54 Warragamba 18
LEAGUE TAG
City Blue 0 Narellan 24;
Thirlmere 6 Camden 0;
Mittagong 12 Picton 24;
Oakdale 16 City Gold 26;
Moss Vale 10 The Oaks 12.
SECOND DIVISION
Bundanoon Highlanders 8 Warragamba Wombats 24;
Bowral Blues 22 Picton Magpies 26;
Campbelltown City 18 Narellan 22;
Thirlmere Roosters 32 Oran Park Chargers 24.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 12 – FIRST GRADE
Campbelltown City v Thirlmere
Camden v Mittagong
Picton v Moss Vale
(All Sunday 2.30pm).
