Blues Stay Top

The Blues stay top of London 1

Chichester took the short trip to Southampton to play Trojans for the first time for many years. As it was a short journey Shoplands Mini bus departed with a strong looking side with only Kasujja rested from the regular first team players – Walker playing for Sussex u18 was not considered for this game.
The squad took the field with the threat of more rain abated with an excellent surface under foot although a very heavy wind was going to make the first half difficult as the blues played into the elements.
The strength of the wind became immediately apparent as the first foray into the home half had Trojans on the back foot but 10 Boyd pumped the ball long and deep into the blues 22.
Chi defended well spoiling the Ts lineout and a series of excellent tackles shut out the home team threat and the blues worked the ball back up field. The blues expected Trojans to throw everything at them and indeed they did but even against the elements it was becoming apparent that the blues pack strengthened by the return of Veltom and Lawrence in the front row had the upper hand in the tight with a rock solid lineout and the Polhill and Goldie winning the battle for the loose ball Chichester blues were able to squeeze the home side deep in their own half.
O`Callaghan caught well from a loose kick and broke several tackles creating excellent front foot ball with Knowles searing through a gap to leave Trojans scrambling near their line , deliberate off side and penalty to Chi. The blues turned down the easy three and went for the scrummage another offside and another scrum.
At the third time of asking big skipper Scott Barlow powered over from the solid scrummage platform. Knowles converted 7-0
From the next kick off the home side well in front of the kicker as they were to be all day pressured the blues and forced a penalty – punting to the corner. They managed to win their own ball and move it to the powerful fly half who swerved through some very indifferent tackling to score under the posts.
7-7
This seemed to galvanise the away side with the forwards tearing into the red and blacks and applying even more pressure at the contact area; the blues back three of Adams, Pearham and Golds on for the early injured Tom Polhill were now sitting deeper to field the inevitable long kicks and were starting to return the ball with interest. Adams fielded one kick to go on a mesmeric run ghosting past two defenders and then inside another his perfectly weighted kick was well followed up by Stu Pearham who beat the cover defence to score the blues second try.
Knowles added the extras.14-7
The blues had additional pressure on the home team line but the half closed out 14-7 to Chi.
Chichester knew that although they had faced a strong wind they had not played to the standards they had set this season and knew they had to ramp up the tempo to make the elements count.
Knowles controlled the play at 10 with a range of positional kicks pinning Ts deep in their own half. The forwards changed the point of attack and again the home side conceded the penalties. Following a couple of really dominant scrums the blues lineout swung into action with blue power starting to tell Lawrence guided the drive over for the blues third try.
19-7
The inter changing of quick ball between backs and forwards marshalled by the ever threatening Billy Toone had Trojans scrambling as both Robson at 12 and Deed at 13 went on penetrative runs. However as the gaps opened up several passes floated forwards with the strong wind to stop several promising breaks out wide.
The forwards kept pounding away with excellent offloads and the outstanding Polhill on hand to power forwards and breach the home defence. Another dominant scrum gave Taggart a chance to smash down the blind side and stretch his big frame over in the corner. Knowles drilled the wide kick to pull out to 26-7 lead and the bonus point try.
The blues seemed to now switch off with the bonus score and the home side rallied strongly with some decent ball the home backs who had been pretty quiet sparked into life with some good interpassing the strong breaking Boyd was away and through to give Trojans another score. 26-14.
Barlow pulled his team round and in no uncertain terms read the riot act to his charges.
This had the desired effect as the blues totally controlled the last fifteen minutes with quick ball to work with Deed hit a fantastic wide line to show his class and scorch over wide right 31-14.
The pack turned the final screw with another dominant scrum Dickin touched down of the back of the scrum.
Final score 38-14
MOM Richard Deed
Richard Isaac – Head Coach
There were some good elements today but we have to learn that we must play for the full 80
Paul Colley DoR
These kind of games can be tricky and in seasons past we may well have slipped up – but the guys showed their focus to come through without really playing at our top level. Trojans are a feisty team with the home 6 and 10 really standing out, but overall we will take the five points and build to our huge home game v Elthamians in two weeks.

Shopland Lawrence Veltom Barlow –Capt O`Callaghan Goldie Polhill B Taggart Toone Knowles Adams Polhill T Deed Robson Pearham – Gingell Dickin & Golds