Chippenham 3rds v Bradford on Avon 2nds

Gentlemen 3rds christened the new floodlights but were unable to hold onto the first half lead!!

Friday floodlights rugby with a fish/chip supper.... why not. Both sides embraced this unusual opportunity with at least fifty watching!!! As per with most weeks Prudhoe had family commitments so Tom Beard stepped up to scrum half. So 1930 ko no team run through as the referee gave a war & peace speech!!! However that did not deter Chippenham who were soon into their stride showing great commitment and go forward in all aspects. Chippenham from a great scrum position after a sustained period of pressure scored through Beard who backed himself to score con missed by Fielder. BOA responded with a bigger pack were putting pressure on the gentlemen. New combinations were working well in the back line with Case, Regan, Hanlon linking well. Great covering tackles from new recruit Paul Pug Young at full back. The back row of Spurway, Aikman and Fielder it was Fielder who scored after earlier being denied [ref un sighted ...umm] scored great determination from close range. So with a bench the front row was rotated with Bell replacing Preston at loose head. Chippenham first yellow card happened with Aikman seeing yellow for what we can only think was a tackle above the horizontal a confused Aikman left. Next curve ball Beard sustained a leg injury replaced by the returning Leigh Lawrence.... so with him being too good for scrum half it meant a reshuffle Lawrence to the row, Hubbard to blind and the versatile Fielder to scrum half. Chippenham were competitive in all they did and young Wallace was showing great pace going forward ducking under tackles. Scrums were not going as planned with Chippenham loosing the ball on a few occasions!! Captain Wheeler was heard to do a throw back call "on me" with the forwards showing great momentum at maul time. Half time Chippenham 3rds 10 - 0 BOA 2nds.
Bradford on Avon got into their stride early in the second scoring a brace of tires, from broken field positions. To add to Chippenham woes Preston was shown a yellow for a silly push on the chest....really!! With the numerical advantage and poor alignment BOA scored a few more tries. Next yellow was BOA blind for a high shot in going forward.Next injury Regan replaced by Johnstone which meant Hartwell moved to centre hopefully seeing more ball!! Harding and Bell were making in roads trundling the ball up. Chippenham did score through the tireless Spurway however unconverted. Chippenham tried to get that loosing try point but it was BOA who finished the game stronger with a bigger squad where able to exploit weakness in the tiring home side and score a brace again.
Final Score: Chippenham 3rds 15 - 48 Bradford on Avon 2nds.
Man of the Match: Jordan Wallce
So thanks to all players, Noah water boy crew, the crowd and Chip Staff.
No game next week... tho Autumn Int @ club.
Next game away to Warminster 2nds sat 17 th Nov meet 1245 sharp.