Amesbury RFC v Chippenham RFC 3rds

Mini fun bus tour - including rugby!!

Chippenham 3rds had only one fixture in Feb and were approached earlier in the season by newly formed Amesbury RFC needing to play a minimum of 7 friendlies to be able to join a DW league next season. So the intrepid men of the 3rds duly appliaged no Six nations, fun bus ordered but with only eleven men due to late cry offs and unavailabilities! So after a liquid interesting journey taking in woodhenge and the rolling hills of Wiltshire. Chippenham found their opponents warming up an hour before the scheduled kick off keen or what!! Wheeler approached the Amesbury coach and were given two players Rocco and Elia two Fijians from the local barracks bargain, they would have to keep up with Jimmer though? So with Deano running the line and the designated driver Mark Parry as the water boy the game got under way at 1415. Amesbury with a mixture of locals and Army were organised, swiftly into the game scoring first through their whippet of a scrum half. So with Elia directing proceedings at scrum half Chippenham wanted to be competitive and they were especially at set piece dominating the scrum. Amesbury scored again through a Fijian back breaking through first up tackles missed. Chippenham were on the front foot Roly Hartwell was finding Rocco on the wing well and try came from a great move and Matt Spurway little grubber in the end zone and bounced on the ball nothing more than Chippenham deserved for their endevours. Darren Mcbibble was running the ball back well from fullback. To Chippenham credit Amesbury did't realize that they were playing against thirteen to their fourteen. The TIngey lads Joe and Sam were playing well in front of their watching Dad. Adams stole a line out but the slap back putting Elia under pressure resulting in another Amesbury try unlucky mark. The front row of Goodall, Nickson and Harding [local solicitors!!??] were in dominant form making Amesbury work for possession. Combative Wheeler suffered a bloody nose old war wound opening up but soldiered on. Amesbury finished the half with a brace of tries.
So half time Chippenham regrouped and the call from Wheeler was slow ball so the second half started with Chippenham carrying, Hubbard in his familiar position back row carrying well. So for over 10 minutes that was what Chippenham did but it was Amesbury who scored first. Chippenham heads didn't drop and Jimmer had a little trundle up field keep up Rocco!! The next incident that happened and went un punished was Mr Goodall kicking that's not what props do but good clearance. Amesbury had a line out 5 metres out and tried a long throw to the tail but all Zak could find was Wheeler leaping taking a clean catch two hands twisting and seeing the line flopped over assisted by Hubbard apparently but not converted!! Amesbury scored further tries with Chippenham feeling the pressure after over traing against this well drilled side. Chippenham wanted to score another try but Elia got pushed out with metres to spare but with the bar calling came up short on a few occasions.
So thanks to all players, Elia, Rocco , Dean, Mark and an understanding referee. Rugby was the winner - beer time!!
Final Score Amesbury 59 - 10 Chippenham 3rds
Man of the match: Roly Hartwell
No game next week tho Six Nations and Cider / Salami festival U 16 tour fundraising @ club 24 th Feb.
Next game: 3 March away to Swindon 3rds meet 1245