1st XV
Matches
Sat 29 Jan 2011  ·  London 1 South
Chichester Rugby Football Club
1st XV
33
14
London Irish Amateur
Chichester  33   London Irish Amateur  14.

Chichester 33 London Irish Amateur 14.

Kenny Knox30 Jan 2011 - 12:32
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This was a truly brilliant performance by Chichester, the best I have seen against quality opponents in many years of supporting them from the touchline.

The whole squad and their coaches are congratulated on preparing so well for this huge game and producing the goods on the pitch.For an hour LIA were completely outplayed due to the commitment,speed and clinical finishing of the home lads who were pumped up and determined to win. They scored 26 points in the first 25 minutes and LIA never recovered from the size of the shock. They did ,however, do better in the last quarter and grabbed two consolation tries from mauls. This very important win put Chi into second place in the league on the same points as LIA but with a better differential. It will be a close race to the finish and Chi may have to win all their remaining 9 games. A tall order, but on this form they could do it.
Within 3 minutes Richard Adams had driven the boys in Green into the corner with consecutive penalties. The lineout catch and drive was executed skilfully for hooker Lawrence to touch down and Adams converted with a fine kick from wide out. Attacks continued and right winger Ross Fairbairn made good ground. A confident scrum and quick ball went out to left winger Eddie Armah who seared towards the try line before switching the ball inside to Adams to dive over for the second try.Conversion just wide, it was 12-0 with 6 minutes gone. Moses Kasujja broke from the scrum and offloaded to Fairbairn who was forced out. The Blues had hit LIA with hurricane force and looked as sharp as a razor. But the visitors reached the middle of the pitch before they were met by a solid wall and a crunching Kasujja tackle.Another excellent penalty to the corner by Adams,with his best kicking boots on, brought the expected drive by the forwards but this time it was held. No respite for desperate defenders as Billy Toone,Ben Polhill and Chris Johnson linked away from the back of the scrum and although the move was checked, the ever-present Phil Veltom scooped the ball up and ran powerfully to score near the left corner. Adams stepped up in his Johnny Wilkinson fashion to add the extras and make it 19-0 after 18 minutes. LIA advanced and gained a penalty from 45 metres but it drifted wide.Their captain Reilly tried to break away but was isolated and Chi pressed once more. A penalty to touch and more quick transfer from Toone to Lawrence who put Kasujja on his way to the line for the 4th try. Adams obliged with the conversion. Flanker McAllister won lineout ball to set up a thrust and touchline penalty for LIA but Chi turned them over and Adams cleared. Just one more attempt was easily stopped as LIA made mistakes trying to rise from the ashes. Veltom was in the right place again to seize the ball from a tackle and demonstrate his bullocking run. Captain Kasujja was leading from the front and he broke a tackle to sprint 40 metres. He decided to take on the full back but was tackled well. An offload to a Blue up in support would have resulted in a certain try but one wrong option in 40 minutes was the measure of Chi's superb first half. Half time 26-0. Chi were in total command . The scrum was solid, their own lineout ball won,the backs handling competently and the whole team combining to dominate in open play.
Jack Smallman introduced himself to dangerous LIA no.8 Mckinney with a shuddering tackle and marked him closely throughout.Chi clicked quickly again and won the ball on the opposition 22. Toone shipped the ball right and then recycled left for Chris Johnson to juggle a final pass and crash over.' Mr.Reliable' Adams launched his 4th successful conversion through the uprights.This sealed the game and LIA faced their biggest defeat for a long time.[and had only lost twice this season and very narrowly to the league leaders] Credit to them that they were able to pick themselves up and start to show their skill, moving into Chi territory. Chi brought on replacements Josh Pszczonka,Jack Walker and Liam Ferguson.Chi defended an attack and a forward pass by LIA was a another example of their unease.Chi backs ran strongly and Veltom was even seen assisting his centres.Armah and Fairbairn demonstrated textbook tackles before Kasujja and Walker probed across field. Chi missed a 45 metre penalty by not much and now LIA at last got going.Adams and Smallman stopped counter attacks. LIA were now pressing and Chi conceded penalties . Fom 2 of these, LIA kicked to the corner and despite a big Walker clearance, a second rolling maul put prop Connor over. LIA came again with their backs handling securely for the first time and showing their speed.Johnson tackled firmly to break them up but the rolling maul was set up and Connor repeated the dose in the corner. Two very good conversions by full back Prescott. Chi had tired after their great exertion but still determined above to defend resolutely at the last with Toby Golds putting in one more tackle .Referee Becky Smith had controlled the match well and blew the final whistle to signal a famous 33-14 triumph for the Blues.
Paul Colley was a happy man after the game and said 'The first half hour was all about our high intensity and speed, he best we have ever played against strong opponents who were at full strength and wanted to win this game as much as we did. The execution of our tries was first class.LIA came back hard in the last quarter to show their capabilities.' Richard Isaac commented on the backs 'They played really well and Richard Adams had an outstanding day with his kicking.' Next week Chi travel to Wimbledon ,kick off 2.30p.m.
Chi squad Shopland Lawrence Veltom Lindsay Barlow Johnson B.Polhill Kasujja[capt]. Toone Adams Armah T.Polhill Smallman Fairbairn Golds Pszconka Ferguson Walker
Roger Gould.

Match details

Match date

Sat 29 Jan 2011

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

London 1 South
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Further reading

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