
Lots of positives on the road for Bath Men
SEMLA D2
Camden 2’s v Bath
5th October 2024
Final Score Camden 14:4 Bath
Bath travelled to Mile End for the SEMLA D2 opening fixture with a small squad of 12 players, due to preseason injury and unavailability only two long poles were available which caused some organisational head scratching for new Captain Mike Carey in the run up to face off.
Sam Kettle started the game with a long pole joining Sam White and Luke Wilmot (usually attack) with Mike Carey taking on the task of face off.
Camden, started the game at pace, scoring 3 quick goals, which settled local nerves and put Bath on an immediate back foot, one Bath defender commented, “this could be a long day at the office”
Although Camden dominated the face for most of the game, rectified a little with Kettle moving back to face off and Joel Matthews taking on the defence duties, Baths defence managed to stop the flow and gain some all-important possession through good knock downs by the poles and good saves from Will Tilson. Two nicely placed shots from Lloyd Butler kept Bath in the game going into the first break 4:2 down. It could have been closer but for a couple of good saves from the home keeper.
The second quarter followed the same pattern, Camden edging further ahead only to be pegged back, this time by a brace from Simon Griffiths, one a particularly difficult high catch from a Mike Carey feed.
Bath started to feel the strain of a small squad as legs started to tire, although Alex George yet again showed fantastic stamina at midfield, supported by Tyrone Berkeley and sixteen-year-old debutant Jon – Luca Piva who earned the MVP vote from the players at the end of the game.
Despite some good possession, Bath could not find the back of the net in the second half, Roberts dropped a couple on the crease and the Camden keeper remained solid between the pipes. This was due to some strategic formation alterations putting Matthews into short stick defence allowing Kettle to face, Camden were held to just three goals in each quarter, respectable by anyone’s standards.
Bath suffered from lack of legs at Midfield, meaning the transition was always going to struggle as the game wore on, a regular feature in recent years for the club. The attack settled well and retained possession, important in the circumstances.
All in all, given the distance and squad size, Bath should not be negative, there were a lot of positives to take forward from this game.
Quarter Scores
1st quarter Camden 4:2 Bath
Butler, Butler
2nd quarter Camden 4:2 Bath
Griffiths, Griffiths
3rd quarter Camden 3:0 Bath
4th quarter Camden 3:0 Bath
Final score Camden 14:4 Bath
Scorers: Goals (Assists)
Lloyd Butler 2
Simon Griffiths 2 (1)
Mike Carey (2)