Chew Valley 39 Old Richians 31
An entertaining match played at high tempo in near perfect conditions saw Chew Valley put last weeks dissapointment behind them with a bonus point win aganst Old Richans. Charles Shallcross at inside centre scored close to the posts after 3 minutes with scrum half Alex Cameron converted. Flanker Ross Elliott set up a score for fullback Tom Bryan on 20 mnutes with a strong carry and although Richians had plenty of ball their backs could not cross the gain line until a Chew Valley fumble in midfield runnng out of defence gifted winger Semeti Maruataki a try n the corner.. Further strong carries close to the breakdown from home skipper Alex Cox at No 8 forced a penalty and from the maul of the five metre lineout flamker Luke Sparkes Brown scored withnthe last play of the half.
Immediately from the restart centre Ben Worle scored his first try for two years collectimg a pass from Shallcross who had made a break from the visitors 10 metre line. Cameron converted. A grubber kick from outside half Will Mathew gave Maruataki the chance to show his pace and win the race to the touchdown .
A Cameron penalty stretched the home lead on 55 minutes but Richians clawed their way back nto the game with the driving maul their most effective weapon producing a try for hooker Darren Nellith on the hour. converted by Mathew and another frm the same ploy with 10 minutes to go converted by Mathew made it a three point game.
Cameron sniping from a scrum 5 calmed the home supporters nerves with a try and when Sparkes Brown forced a turnover on his own 22, a Shallcross break and the ball to Bryan on the half way line he had the gas to finish extravagantly under the posts and seal the points with 4 minutes to go. Manuataki collected his third out wide withnthe last play as a consolation and Mathew converted to conclude an absorbng game.