Bath Saracens v Chippenham 3rds

Scored the first try, the last two tries just the bit in between!!!

Chippenham gathered in Bath, with lovely sunny conditions for this bottom of the table tussle in a confident mood boosted by a couple of University players and Andy McCabe stepping down to play along side his father Rick McCabe in the back row. Chippenham had a great warm up with Auckland grid getting the heart pumping. This was taken into the game and Chippenham were on the front foot, first scrum won against the head. From a kick off captain Wheeler collected a difficult ball to burst forward, the resulting field position the lively Pat Grieshaber at scrum half found Matt Spurway at fly half to ghost through and score converted by Kilby. However Bath Saracens soon replied with a well taken try game on then!! Yet again the spine of the team had different combinations, but at set piece we yet again had the ascendancy with Tom Griffiths rising high at line out time great effort Dave Nickson and lifters. Bath Saracens did score a couple of tries out wide we were in for fight. Bath Saracens were v lucky not to see yellow with a high tackle on Pat. All players were fronting up which was good to see, Joe Toye at no 8 was working well with Pat. Also the new back line were playing with confidence with Matt Spurway marshaling Ollie Rogers-Jones and Bobby Clifford in the centre positions. In addition Darren Hubbard was playing with more confidence collecting the ball well. However the half ended with Saracens collecting another try this time too soft by Tom Griffiths at line out time unlucky.
Chippenham used the bench with debutante James Williams coming on for Leigh Lawrence and Peter Johnstone for Darren Hubbard.
Wheeler told the players to play slow ball for the first 10 minutes which we did orchestrated well by Pat Grieshaber. Injuries were starting to take tier toil, Joe Toye with cramp, Mark Kilby leg coming back back on. Bath Saracens scored two well creative tries with their powerful centre powering through for a couple of tries. The scrum was our weapon of choice and from a great position Pat Grieshaber took off to score great effort. Next Mark Kilby made a great break but was unlucky not to score. The determination was their in spades with great tackling from Clifford, McCacbes. Chippenham had the last say with yet again Pat Grieshaber scoring a well taken solo try converted by Kilby loosing bonus point? However from the tab penalty last play, Bath Saracens returned with ball only for Captain courageous Wheeler to get his tackle wrong resulting in claret from the nose but the try scoring centre had a lump ouch. Referee blew up, yet again determination spirit was great. Thanks to all players, especially James Harding for cutting his Bath watching early - water boy Noah and glad the McCabes had game time together.
Final Score Bath Saracens 54 - 19 Chippenham RFC 3rds.
Man of the match: Matt Spurway.
Next game: 8th April 17 - home to Calne RFC meet 1345.