Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV 8 - 13 Old Redcliffians

AMERSHAM & CHILTERN LOSE, BUT TAKE HEART AND A BONUS POINT

Amersham & Chiltern took on Bristol side, Old Redcliffians, last Saturday at Weedon Lane, in their first game of the new season and lost a hard fought game by 13 points to 8.
Fielding only five players from the team that gained them promotion to National League three (SW last season) mainly due to injuries and current unavailability, it was always going to be a test for all the new faces, to see if they could all gel as a team. Although starting shakily and allowing Old Redcliffians to score two unconverted tries in a short space of time just before half time, Amersham & Chiltern can take heart from this display, particularly in the second half, when they denied the visitors any further score and scored a try themselves.
The first half started with the home side camped in Old Redcliffians half for a long period, but unable to cross the line due to some stout defence. After 25 minutes, however, it was the visitors who broke out and swept the length of the field forcing a penalty within kicking distance, which was converted, to give them the lead, 3 – 0. Although there was reasonable parity in the scrums and lineouts, Old Redcliffians seemed a little sharper to the breakdowns, denying Amersham quick ball and forcing turnovers. It was from one such turnover that, with the home side down to 14 men due to a man being sin-binned, Old Redcliffians effected a sweeping move almost the full length of the pitch and scored a try far out on the left, but which was unconverted. 8 – 0.
Chiltern did manage to be awarded a penalty soon after, converted by Dan Kinsey who came on for the injured fly-half, Rob Smalley, but just before half time the visitors staged another sweeping move and a missed tackle led to a try for the left wing, again unconverted, but meaning that the half time score was 13 – 3 to the visitors.
The second half commenced with a confident Old Redcliffians bringing the play right up to the Chiltern line following a superb break by their classy No.10. Awarded a penalty, they chose a lineout, but it was won by a Chiltern player and following some good defence and another won lineout, Chiltern cleared their line. This gave the home side more confidence and a good break by outside centre, Jason Ah Tong, soon after took the play into the Redcliffians’ half and the attack was only thwarted of a try by a knock-on only a yard short of the visitor’s line. Chiltern’s forwards were now playing with great confidence and only some sterling defence from the visitors prevented a score. On 56 minutes, huge pressure from a rolling maul forced Redcliffians to give away a penalty and also have a prop forward sin-binned. The unrelenting pressure then told, as good handling and quick releases finally culminated in a well-taken try for returning ex-colt, left wing, Sam Portland, no doubt cementing his place in the team for the foreseeable future. Kinsey couldn’t manage the conversion and with Chiltern having another player sin-binned, no further score from either side was possible, so the final score remained at 13 – 8. This was, however, not a bad performance by the home side, with many of the new signings showing great promise. With several key players also likely to return from injury and travels over the next few weeks, it would seem that an exciting season is in prospect.