Chinnor 1st XV 39 - 16 Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV

AMERSHAM & CHILTERN LOSE THE GAME BUT ARE CERTAINLY NOT BOWED

Amersham & Chiltern 16 – 39 Chinnor

Amersham & Chiltern staged a greatly encouraging, courageous performance away at second place in the League, Chinnor and actually led the unbeaten hosts up until past the hour mark, before three tries in the last quarter gave the home side victory. The game was greatly influenced by a strong wind blowing from end to end of the pitch and it took a sublime display of tactical kicking by the Chinnor No. 10, James Cathcart, who used the wind in the second half to great effect by keeping the visitors pinned back in their own 22, that finally ensured victory.

The hosts were rocked from the kick-off by a hugely fired up Chiltern, who re-gathered the ball immediately, drove the ball on, put 2nd row, Cam Gentles, through a gap, recycled quickly and then put winger, Brad Reeve in for a try under the posts following an overhead pass in the centre. Converted by Ross Bugden, Chiltern were 7 – 0 up after barely two minutes played. Chiltern maintained the pressure and after 14 minutes forced a penalty within kicking distance, converted by Bugden and who then did the same twice more up to the 30 minute mark to give the visitors an unexpected 16 – 0 lead. Chinnor then recovered their composure a little and, from the restart, a fumble gave them good position near the Chiltern 22. A kick to the right hand corner, line-out win and forward drive then gave them a try, well converted from wide out, to bring the score back to 16 – 7, which remained the score at half time.

From the restart, Chinnor used the strong wind to pin Chiltern back in their own half. With winger, Reeve, sin-binned, the heavier Chinnor forwards began to exert themselves and a rolling maul led to a try for the hosts, unconverted, but bringing the score up to 16 – 12. After a quarter of an hour of the second half, a penalty to Chinnor was converted from the half way line to make it 16 – 15. Chiltern, however, excelled themselves in defence and kept the hosts out for long periods, even making several incursions into the hosts 22 before sadly losing possession, but after 65 minutes of the game, Chinnor made a significant score. Their centre pounced on a loose pass and raced through a gap to score under the posts, converted to give the hosts the lead at 22 – 6. Then, from the restart, a long raking kick from the host’s No. 10 found touch on the Chiltern 5 metre line. Although Chiltern won the ball, they unfortunately gave away a penalty, converted, to give Chinnor daylight at 25 – 16. Next, with ten minutes to go, Chinnor won a scrum on the half way line. With the Chiltern players standing deep anticipating the long touch kick to the corner, the Chinnor No. 10 put in a deft, cross chip that was taken a full pace by their winger and, with support found inside, the try was scored and converted, increasing the lead to 32 – 16. Finally, just before full time, a tiring Chiltern side failed to cancel out a good move by the Chinnor backs and some deft passing saw them in for the last score of the game, converted, making it 39 – 16 at the whistle.

Chiltern can, however, take heart from this game, as the final score flattered the hosts somewhat and who readily agreed after the game that they had been given a real scare. It would have been interesting to see what the score line would have been if Chiltern had not lost the toss and so played with the wind in the second half.

Chiltern’s next game is a home fixture against Gloucestershire side, Old Patesians on the 12th November.