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Sat 15 Jan 2011 · London 1 South
1st XVHove
19
13
Chichester 19 Hove 13
Kenny Knox16 Jan 2011 - 13:10
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Chichester deserved to win this local derby and achieve their second double of the season. But they were made to work very hard by gritty opponents with determined defence and occasional counter attacks.
Each side scored a converted try, Chi kicked 4 penalties and Hove 2 dropped goals. The exchanges were tough and there was too much needle at times, but the Blues were better in the loose play and the linking between forwards and backs gave them the majority of possession and territory which won the day.
The pitch was in reasonable condition despite all the recent rain.Both teams were missing a couple of regulars and Will Mitchell came in at full back with Toby Golds moving to the wing.Seventeen years old Jack Walker made his home debut at scrum half.Hove had the better of the first ten minutes but Chi stopped thrusts by Rankin and Allan.A penalty was missed by the visitors and Golds identified and arrested a very short-haired Eubank with a firm tackle. Chi started to roll and Richard Adams bombarded with some high kicks, one of which pinned full back Coulson to the right corner where he had to hoof the ball to touch.Lineout and drive gave quick ball to Adams and on to Jack Smallman to make the half break and offload. Mitchell was in support and crossed for the opening try. Adams added the extras with a good kick.7-0. Chi continued to attack with Moses Kasujja,Josh Pszczonka and Andy Gray prominent.At the other end Hove playmaker Phillips at outside centre kicked to useful position but the ever-reliable Phil Veltom stole the ball and danger ceased.The Hove backs moved the ball across but Smallman and Golds were ready for them.Scott Barlow charged out of the 22 and swift transfer from Nick Blount to Gray and then to Chris Johnson was nearly rewarded but the final pass was marginally forward. Blount was injured and Jon Lindsay came off the bench. With Chi seeming to be on top, they were shocked by a breakaway and slick passing by the Hove backs to give their young winger Marsh a chance.He took it brilliantly with great speed, cutting inside and going over behind the posts. Golding converted, 7-7. Blues pressed hard in the last part of he half and fully tested the Hove defence,twice being held up over the try line following a dramatic break and run by Walker through the middle. Another attempt and the ball was killed on the ground,with Hale given a yellow card. No penalty try awarded.just a penalty for Adams to put over.Finally, Chi thought they had cracked it but Kasujja lost hold of the ball as he plunged over. Half time 10-7,with competitive play in the tight and Chi having been denied from short range.
Chi were penalised for holding on and the 45 metre penalty was just too much for Coulson.Golds gathered the ball and his kick spelt danger for Hove but it went too long. Although Hove appeared to knock on a clearance by Chi, the ball was shipped to Phillips who promptly dropped a huge goal from 40 metres.Tom Jackson and Adams combined to win corner position.Once again Chi. pushed hard at the door but entrance was refused by well organised and tenacious defenders.Barlow broke through and might have succeeded himself but his unselfish instinct made him pass and the chance went begging He also received a kick in the face and went off for treatment. Adams kicked a penalty and Chi were ahead again. It was shortlived as Phillips cooly dropped his second goal from 30 metres. Tit -for-tat, Adams confidently slotted two more penalties as Hove became stretched and were forced into infringements.Two powerful drives led by Veltom gave ball out from Walker to the centres but replacement Tom Polhill was well tackled. It was 19-13 and still a danger for Blues if Hove scored against the run of play.Kasujja thundered down the touchline but his offload failed and the ball was run out. Golds followed up a short kick over the try line and touched down but the try was mysteriously disallowed. Mischief by Hove gave Chi another penalty which went wide. Barlow and Adams sped over the 22 but a last pass was spilt.Hove had been unable to threaten but they never gave an inch and they made a last attempt but Eubank was shackled. The referee had a difficult time with warring factions and the game finished with him lecturing the captains. The outstanding players had been Golds for Chi and the talented and very talkative Phillips for Hove. Full time, 19-13.
Paul Colley said 'it was a typical derby game and Hove made it very difficult for us. We did well in the first half against the wind but were disrupted by injuries in the second. Some decisions were highly debatable and prevented us adding to the points tally. Our eldest player today was 27 and youngest 17 and the squad has lots of potential.'
Chi squad Decoteau Pszczonka Veltom Blount Barlow Gray Johnson Kasujja[capt.] Walker Adams Golds Smallman Renwick Jackson Mitchell Lawrence Lindsay T.Polhill. Next week Chi travel to Tunbridge Wells hoping for another away victory.
Roger Gould
The pitch was in reasonable condition despite all the recent rain.Both teams were missing a couple of regulars and Will Mitchell came in at full back with Toby Golds moving to the wing.Seventeen years old Jack Walker made his home debut at scrum half.Hove had the better of the first ten minutes but Chi stopped thrusts by Rankin and Allan.A penalty was missed by the visitors and Golds identified and arrested a very short-haired Eubank with a firm tackle. Chi started to roll and Richard Adams bombarded with some high kicks, one of which pinned full back Coulson to the right corner where he had to hoof the ball to touch.Lineout and drive gave quick ball to Adams and on to Jack Smallman to make the half break and offload. Mitchell was in support and crossed for the opening try. Adams added the extras with a good kick.7-0. Chi continued to attack with Moses Kasujja,Josh Pszczonka and Andy Gray prominent.At the other end Hove playmaker Phillips at outside centre kicked to useful position but the ever-reliable Phil Veltom stole the ball and danger ceased.The Hove backs moved the ball across but Smallman and Golds were ready for them.Scott Barlow charged out of the 22 and swift transfer from Nick Blount to Gray and then to Chris Johnson was nearly rewarded but the final pass was marginally forward. Blount was injured and Jon Lindsay came off the bench. With Chi seeming to be on top, they were shocked by a breakaway and slick passing by the Hove backs to give their young winger Marsh a chance.He took it brilliantly with great speed, cutting inside and going over behind the posts. Golding converted, 7-7. Blues pressed hard in the last part of he half and fully tested the Hove defence,twice being held up over the try line following a dramatic break and run by Walker through the middle. Another attempt and the ball was killed on the ground,with Hale given a yellow card. No penalty try awarded.just a penalty for Adams to put over.Finally, Chi thought they had cracked it but Kasujja lost hold of the ball as he plunged over. Half time 10-7,with competitive play in the tight and Chi having been denied from short range.
Chi were penalised for holding on and the 45 metre penalty was just too much for Coulson.Golds gathered the ball and his kick spelt danger for Hove but it went too long. Although Hove appeared to knock on a clearance by Chi, the ball was shipped to Phillips who promptly dropped a huge goal from 40 metres.Tom Jackson and Adams combined to win corner position.Once again Chi. pushed hard at the door but entrance was refused by well organised and tenacious defenders.Barlow broke through and might have succeeded himself but his unselfish instinct made him pass and the chance went begging He also received a kick in the face and went off for treatment. Adams kicked a penalty and Chi were ahead again. It was shortlived as Phillips cooly dropped his second goal from 30 metres. Tit -for-tat, Adams confidently slotted two more penalties as Hove became stretched and were forced into infringements.Two powerful drives led by Veltom gave ball out from Walker to the centres but replacement Tom Polhill was well tackled. It was 19-13 and still a danger for Blues if Hove scored against the run of play.Kasujja thundered down the touchline but his offload failed and the ball was run out. Golds followed up a short kick over the try line and touched down but the try was mysteriously disallowed. Mischief by Hove gave Chi another penalty which went wide. Barlow and Adams sped over the 22 but a last pass was spilt.Hove had been unable to threaten but they never gave an inch and they made a last attempt but Eubank was shackled. The referee had a difficult time with warring factions and the game finished with him lecturing the captains. The outstanding players had been Golds for Chi and the talented and very talkative Phillips for Hove. Full time, 19-13.
Paul Colley said 'it was a typical derby game and Hove made it very difficult for us. We did well in the first half against the wind but were disrupted by injuries in the second. Some decisions were highly debatable and prevented us adding to the points tally. Our eldest player today was 27 and youngest 17 and the squad has lots of potential.'
Chi squad Decoteau Pszczonka Veltom Blount Barlow Gray Johnson Kasujja[capt.] Walker Adams Golds Smallman Renwick Jackson Mitchell Lawrence Lindsay T.Polhill. Next week Chi travel to Tunbridge Wells hoping for another away victory.
Roger Gould
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