Bancroft took to the field knowing that they faced possibly the strongest team in the league, a tough task for a season opener, writes Russell Thame.
The visitors started brightly and with only two minutes on the clock they missed a penalty attempt. Campion found it easy to keep up the pressured as the B's kept giving away the ball and territory. Campion converted their second penalty attempt in the thirteenth minute to take the lead. Four minutes later the visitors extended their lead with a driven lineout that led to a good try (unconverted).
The home team were on the rack as they dominated the first phase but looked nervous as play was extended. The B's kept on giving away penalties and Campion were slick enough to convert the territory into points as their centre crossed for a try on the half hour mark (converted).
Bancroft managed to get an important score just before the half time whistle. A scrum close to Campion line favoured the B's with their first phase advantage and as the pack drove over the line Matt Henry lingered around to apply the finishing touch for the try (converted) HALF TIME: Bancroft 7 Campion 15 The second half saw Bancroft look alot brighter and make less mistakes, this meant alot more time in the Campion half. Cruddace missed a snatched drop goal attempt but the continued pressure encouraged the home crowd. With fifty three minutes on the clock a Campion attack broke down and Hodgson counter kicked. Pete Robinson showed lightning pace to recover the ball and sprint over for the try (converted).
Campion improved and the game ebbed and flowed as two good teams started battling it out for opening day honours. With fifteen minutes to play another superb Bancroft scrum was only stopped by a Campion infringement and a penalty try was awarded (converted) to give the B's the lead for the first time.
The B's showed and old and bad habit by conceding just after scoring as Campion scored a converted try within two minutes of the restart.
With ten minutes to play Campion held a one point lead. Bancroft tried to get near the Campion line but a few mistakes meant they could not keep up the pressure. With the B's hunting for the win Campion wrapped up the win with two minutes to play with an unconverted try.
The B's knew that Campion were there to be beaten but the team that made less mistakes had walked away with the points.
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