1st XV
Matches
Sat 21 Mar 2015  ·  National League 3 London & SE
Chichester Rugby Football Club
1st XV
22
25
Amersham & Chiltern
Chichester 22 v 25 Amersham & Chiltern

Chichester 22 v 25 Amersham & Chiltern

Simon Tanner22 Mar 2015 - 23:00
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The fear of relegation is well known to be a very strong motivator. Chiltern proved this with a heroic performance in a pulsating and exciting game with their winning try scored in the last play before the final whistle.

The fear of relegation is well known to be a very strong motivator. Chiltern proved this with a heroic performance in a pulsating and exciting game with their winning try scored in the last play before the final whistle. They played extremely well and came back from 22-18 down to snatch the victory from the Blues. They had thrown the kitchen sink at the Chi defence for 15 minutes and their determination was amazing. Chi helped them technically by their decision not to kick an easy penalty, their lost possession from misfiring lineouts, and losing a man to the sin bin crucially 5 minutes before the end. But overall Chiltern deserved it for their commitment and organisation, playing much better than in the corresponding fixture on their turf which Chi won by 2 points. Perhaps it was significant that only 4 Chiltern men appeared in both games. They prevailed in this contest by a margin of just one penalty but it was enough.

Chi welcomed back Danny Gray at fly half and Richard Adams on the bench. Alex Marsh moved to outside centre and Andy Gray was at no.8. It was dry, bright and chilly as the visitors were quick out of the blocks, running well before a Danny Gray tackle stopped their progress down the left wing. Chi opened up with the backs handling and Tom Polhill set up good rucking position, forcing a penalty. Marsh was on target. 3-0. Chiltern replied quickly with a maul towards the line, a neat inside pass and flanker Bartlett touching down. Conversion missed. Chi got into their stride with lovely long passes by Gray, and Leon Driscoll, Toby Golds and Marsh made good ground. A penalty was sent to the right corner, lineout catch by Phil Dickin followed by two drives and a try for hooker Joe Shopland. Conversion missed. 8-5. Chi had to defend again with a solid tackle by Marsh. The Chi scrum was feeling some pressure and the lineout disrupted. Tom Jackson displayed a traditional killer tackle below the knees before Ed Durkin tapped a penalty to launch an attack but the last pass went into touch. Chiltern missed a penalty after a half break in the centre. They pressed again and although the ball was cleared it was regained and impressive Bartlett went past invisible tackles and danced under the posts. Converted by scrum half Thompson. He added a penalty soon after. 8-15. Chi were stung and went back with confident handling but Jackson's kick forward went dead. Golds tried to penetrate from full back, and Shopland burst 25 metres but too fast for support. After half time Chi would have to do more with their possession and the lineout was a concern.

They restarted badly, a penalty against them for crossing 35 metres out from their line, Thompson adding the points. 8-18. Hard working Andy Gray broke 2 tackles and the move was carried on by Tom Belcher. Awarded penalties, they went to the right corner but the drive was stopped and a Chiltern man sin-binned. An excellent steal by Ken Dowding in mid-field led to Chi hammering the Chiltern defence at Vultures corner. The defence held stoutly against Chris Johnson, Phil Veltom and Shopland but the drive finally put Belcher over with a very good conversion by Marsh. 15-18. Chi were at last on top and the visiting defence continued to be tested. However when Chi were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts they went for the try instead and the move by the backs with crosskick by Gray failed due to the defensive cover. Belcher, Veltom and the two Grays linked and from a penalty and lineout Belcher gave the pass to lock Peter Meachin to dive over for his first try for the 1st XV. 22-18. It was vital for Chi to keep this momentum but determination was etched on the faces of the Chiltern players and they surged onto the attack. They began a battering in the Chi 22. They camped 15 metres out, starting multi phases and recycling against the Chi defence manning the barricades. Then it was 5 metre scrums and their backs being knocked back just in time. Bodies flew all over the place and twice Chi managed to clear to touch on the 22 but then gave the ball back at the lineouts. Then calamity when Tom Polhill received a yellow card for what seemed to be a reasonable chest tackle but the referee decided it had been too high. Chi held on bravely with 14 men as the attacking waves continued. But Chiltern would not be denied and their full back Chris Jack joined the line to take advantage of the extra space and broke through to crash across and win the game. Conversion succeeded and the whistle blew. Jubilation for Chiltern and great disappointment for Blues and their supporters.

Next week Chi travel 150 miles to Bury St. Edmunds to play the league leaders who they beat at Oaklands Park 23-20. All support welcome with room on the coach.

Chi squad Dowding, Shopland, Veltom, Dickin, Lindsay, Johnson, B.Polhill [capt.], A.Gray, Durkin, D.Gray, Jackson, T.Polhill, Marsh, Driscoll, Golds, Belcher, Meachin, Adams.

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Mar 2015

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

National League 3 London & SE
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Asahi
Club Sponsor - George Ide
Club Sponsor - Cathedral Wealth Management
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Club Sponsor - Seaward
Media Sponsor - Veo
Club Sponsor - Raymond James
Club Sponsor - O’Neills
Club Sponsor - Covers
Club Sponsor - Acacia Groundcare
Club Sponsor - Henry Adams
Club Sponsor - Salmon Event Evolution
Club Sponsor - Fullers Brewery
Club Sponsor - Knight Fencing
Club Sponsor - Beaver Tool Hire