Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV 39 - 13 Bletchley 1st XV

AMERSHAM & CHILTERN THROUGH TO THE BUCKS CUP FINAL

 

Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV are through to the Bucks Cup Final after a 39 – 13 semi-final win over Bletchley last Saturday. The other finalist will be Buckingham, who beat Marlow in the other semi. The final will be played on the 11th February.

On a dry afternoon, but with a strong, blustery wind blowing from the pavilion end, the home side, being in the League above their opponents and coming fresh from their outstanding victory last week in Somerset, were always confident that they could win this encounter. The visitors, however, with their massive forwards considerably outweighing the home side’s, were out to prove otherwise and after 7 minutes forced a penalty to notch a 3 – 0 lead. From the restart, however, Chiltern forced their way up field down the left hand touchline and good recycling and a short pass to second-row, Cameron Gentles, saw him in for a try. This was unconverted, so Chiltern took the lead at 5 – 3. The home side then began to put huge pressure on their opponents with driving runs and quick recycling and the next score came ten minutes later when the ball was swiftly moved left from a ruck in the visitor’s half for winger, Brad Reeve to score in the corner. Again the conversion was missed, so the score stayed on 10 – 3. After 27 minutes, a Chiltern lineout on the visitor’s 5 metre line was well won by skipper, Charlie Bond and the ensuing drive gave a try to prop, Matt Allen, this time well converted by Ross Bugden (off the post), to increase the lead to 17 – 3. A driving run of 20 metres or so by No.8, James Hogan led to a penalty being conceded for 3 more points and then, in injury time, a loose ball at around the half-way line was carried swiftly on by Chiltern, recycled quickly and moved right for winger, Jerry Rice to score in the corner, wonderfully converted by Bugden for a half time score of 27 – 3.

 

Chiltern then found it not so easy playing into the strong wind and a penalty conceded just inside their own half was converted superbly from distance to bring the score back to 27 – 6. Then the visitors won a lineout around half way and moved the ball to their strong-running centre, Jeremy Guscott look-alike, George Harman, who scored a good try, converted, to bring the score back to 27 – 13. Chiltern then brought on all their subs, with a debut for local boy, 18 year old second row, Ollie Cato and fresh legs led to two more tries, one by centre Craig Webb, converted by Jack Kenyon and then Matt Allen again, a copy of his first. This was unconverted, but made the final score a convincing 39 – 13 win.

 

Next week Amersham & Chiltern have a hard game against Oxford Harlequins, one below them in the table, but with some impressive recent results. K.O 2.00