Chiltern 2XV 12-11 Buckingham 2XV

League Match 19 - Buckingham 3XV (Home)
29-March-2008
Won 12-11

Match Report:
Two weeks off and the penultimate league match of the season to play, Amersham were ready for the challenge of Buckingham who despite being low in the league proved to be possibly the hardest win of the season.
Kick off was moved back fifteen minutes which didn’t help preparation, the match went ahead and with the conditions turning from bad to worse; the rain falling heavily and a strong wind, Amersham took in the first half but to be fair did not use the advantage well and struggled to get any continuity going.
Amersham put pressure on themselves by getting stuck in their own half for long periods and Buckingham played smart rugby and defended well frustrating the home team.

It was difficult to get many phases going due to the weather but slowly Amersham eased into the game and gaps started to appear with some good breaks from Matt Wall and Luke Donnebaum but still unable to make possession count into points
Amersham were in the habit of giving away penalites for the same offences such as diving over and in at the side which allowed Buckingham a penalty under the posts making it 3-0 to them.
As the first half went on Amersham began to play better and with a mistake from one of  the Buckingham players, allowed Dave Neale to chip through, pick up and score in the corner, making it 5-3, the conversion was missed.

Half time score 5-3 to Amersham.

The second half started with Amersham just ahead but knowing Buckingham had the conditions in their favour with a strong wind, allowing them to kick to the corners and put Amersham under heavy pressure.
The pressure eventually paid off for Buckingham with good phase play and spreading the ball out to the blind side to score in the corner, making it 8-5 to Buckingham, the conversion was missed.
With the conditions against them and chasing a lead Amersham had to dig deep, and with the ball now coming out and moving to the backs, it was Lewis Culverhouse who took the ball on the halfway line and broke through to score for Amersham, beating off a number of players, making the score 10-8 to Amersham, and the conversion was successful by Paul Sitzy; making the score 12-8 to Amersham.

There was still fifteen minutes left on the clock and enough time for Buckingham to use the advantage of the conditions. Amersham did not help themselves by continually conceding penalties against them, and allowed Buckingham to convert another penalty making the score 12-11 to Amersham.
Another penalty a few minutes later for Buckingham, which would have won the game, hit the post and Amersham still had a point gap, making for a tense finish.

Chiltern had to defend out of their 22 for the last ten minutes and like so many times this season held out for the win with some great defence.
The final whistle went keeping Amersham second place in the table and was a very hard fought match, pushing Chiltern right to the end, full credit to Buckingham.
Man of the match goes to a very good performance in attack and defence, and for a great try, Lewis Culverhouse, but it has to be said well done to the whole team for a good performance under very tough conditions.
Amersham have another two weeks off before the last game of the season at home to Gosford All Blacks.

Line Up:
1)Matt Wall
2)Cathal McHugh
3)Felix Stankard
4)Chris Sitzy
5)Alex Shaw
6)Dan Kelleher
7)Tristan Harper
8)Luke Donnebuam (pl)
9)Paul Sitzy (vc)
10)Dave Neale (c)
11)Fraser Clark
12)Lewis Culverhouse
13)Ant Page
14)Michael Buckler
15)Richard Tulloch

16)Pete Johnston

Tries:
Dave Neale
Lewis Culverhouse

Conversions:
Paul Sitzy x1

Man Of The Match:
Lewis Culverhouse