2XV win against league leaders
League Match 13 - Milton Keynes 2XV (Home)26-January-2008
Won 10-5
Match Report:
Amersham 2XV hosted Milton Keynes who sat top of the BB Oxon 1 North table with a 6 point gap between the teams, which proved to be the hardest game of the season so far.
With both teams clearly up for the game and an 17 match unbeaten run at stake for Milton Keynes, the match started with Amersham taking early possession but could not use it effectively.
Milton Keynes then settled into the match with good phase play, managed to spread the ball wide and score in the corner to make the score 5-0 to Milton Keynes. The conversion was missed.
Being so early in the game there was still enough time for Chiltern to reply, and as the first half continued, they began to settle into the match and start playing the rugby that has seen them win their last five matches. Some very good breaks from Tristan Harper, Ryan Lee and Chris Morris, as well as a good defensive display to hold Milton Keynes to only 1 try. With forwards and backs combining, the ball was moving well but simple errors stopped Amersham from converting possession count into points.
Just before half time with both teams showing great fire for the game, two incidents resulted in yellow cards for both teams, with 10 minutes off for each player.
Half time finished at 5-0, with Amersham feeling frustrated having not converted any of their chances.
The second half was an improvement with 2 substitutions, Ross Bugden and Brian Richardson bringing some experience into the backline. The defence was superb with some great tackling from Tristan Harper, Ryan Lee and Lewis Culverhouse, not allowing Milton Keynes to add to their lead.
With Milton Keynes down to 14 men with a man still in the bin, Chiltern made the extra man count with some great interplay from the forwards with pick and drives, allowing Ryan Lee to go over in the corner for his 7th try of the season. The conversion was missed making the score 5-5.
With both teams back to 15 men each, and half an hour left the match was going to be close, but with Amersham having the momentum of just scoring this resulted in them being camped in Milton Keynes’ 22 for the majority of the second half, just being unable to finish off their breaks.
Credit has to go to Milton Keynes for some good tackling and holding Chiltern out for so long, but pressure paid off with Amersam spreading the ball wide, some great hands from Russell Bolton in the centre and a try in the corner for Ross Bugden. The conversion was missed making the score 10-5 to Amersham.
There was still 5 minutes left on the clock allowing one more attack from Milton Keynes and they had a chance to win, with a scrum deep into Amersham’s 22 but could not finish, with some great defence shown by Chiltern.
Amersham held out till the final whistle ending what was a great match from two good teams, and won 10-5 cutting the gap to 4 points in the league.
Its is hard to single out one player when the whole team played so well but Man of the Match has to be given to Ryan Lee for some great defence and running, with a try as well.
Amersham have a friendly next week against Oxford Harlequins and then return to league action the following week with a tough match away to High Wycombe.
Line Up:
1)Lloyd Powell
2)Chris Morris
3)Felix Stankard
4)Chris Sitzy
5)Matt Wall
6)Ryan Lee
7)Dan Kelleher
8)Tristan Harper (pl)
9)Paul Sitzy (vc)
10)Dave Neale (c)
11)Tom Manton
12)Lewis Culverhouse
13)Russell Bolton
14)Michael Buckler
15)Jack Portland
16)Dave Wickens
17)Ross Bugden
18)Brian Richardson
Tries:
Ryan Lee
Ross Bugden
Ryan Lee