After 2 rest weekends, Chichester welcomed Medway to Oaklands Park, on an autumnal Saturday afternoon, for a 2nd v 3rd in the league clash. Despite recent rainfall the pitch was firm and the ranks of the Chichester faithful were swelled by a large contingent of travelling supporters from Kent. Blues made 4 changes to the team that beat KCS Old Boys, in monsoon conditions, at the beginning of October. Alex Margarson and Tim Cook came into the backs with Josh Cameron and Freddy Slater, making his 1st XV debut, on the bench.

Rhys Thompson’s long kick-off up the slope was fumbled by the receiver, providing Chichester with the put in at the scrum on the 10 metre line. The forwards advanced the ball towards the try line with a series of pick and goes and it was an unstoppable Joe Woods who crashed over the line for a try. With Tom Blewitt unavailable it was Ciaran Johnston who slotted the conversion. 7 - 0 and 75 seconds on the clock! Shortly after the restart Blues infringed at the breakdown giving Medway the opportunity to get their first points on the scoreboard. 7 - 3. What followed was 25 minutes of unremarkable rugby. Although played almost exclusively in the Chichester half, Medway were limited to moving the ball sideways by a great Blues’ defensive effort and only made forward progress from infringements, but were unable to capitalise. On 30 minutes the opposition moved the ball across the pitch in their own half to their speedy winger, who dodged 4 tackles in a 30 metre run, and offloaded for a try under the posts. Converted. 7 - 10. With the clock running down a rare foray by Blues inside the opposition 22 metre line resulted in an infringement and 30 seconds later they were defending a lineout on their own 5 metre line. Rather than their pack driving the ball across the line Medway hoisted a cross field kick which was juggled and touched down by their speedy winger. Converted.

7 - 17 at half time and concern amongst the Chichester faithful that with poor handling and a misfiring lineout the match could become a rout!

The first action of the second half involved the referee who tweaked a calf muscle. Unable to continue, Simon Bradford, Blue’s Under 8 coach, volunteered to come on as replacement. It was a different Chichester who started the second half and, with their lineout now functioning, it was Medway who spent the next 20 minutes defending. On 63 minutes Medway were awarded a penalty 5 metres out but elected to kick. 7 - 20. This seemed to reinvigorate the opposition who hammered away at the Blues’ defence for over 10 minutes before another cross field move outflanked them for a try under the posts. Converted 7 - 27. With less than 10 minutes left it was Chichester who upped the tempo winning a lineout 12 metres from the Medway try line. The ball was won by a soaring Charlie Wallace who brought it down for a driving maul. The forwards were joined by Ben Robson and Eddie Jenkinson as the maul headed for the line and it was Jenkinson who dotted down. Conversion missed. 12 - 27. With 3 minutes left Blues were awarded a penalty on their own 22 metre line. Woods received the short throw and the ball was worked across the field before a long pass from Johnston missed out 2 players, to create the overlap, and put Ross Miller in at the corner. An excellent conversion from the touchline. 19 - 27. As the clock ticked down, Blues were unable to secure a losing bonus point. At the final whistle the Medway supporters initiated “3 cheers” for the stand-in referee.

Full time and 19 - 27. Medway were clearly the better team in the first half, especially with their speed and efficiency at the breakdowns. However, Chichester tackled well across the pitch and did well to limit the deficit to 10 points at the break. Blues had a significantly better second half but fell just short of a losing bonus point.

Man of the match was Ciaran Johnston.

The Chichester squad: Deavall, Ives, Woods, Grinsted, Conley, Wheeler, Makasi, Wallace (capt.), Johnston, Thompson, Robson, Jenkinson, Miller, Margarson, Cook, Cameron, Drayson and Slater.

Chichester 1st XV’s next match is on Saturday, 30th of October when they travel up to London to play Hammersmith and Fulham. Kick off is at 15:00.