Redingensians 3rd XV 17 - 35 Amersham & Chiltern 2nd XV

With no less than 13 players unavailable through injury or being girls (I can think of no other reason to miss a match) there was a danger that, with a challenging trip to Redingensians facing us, the momentum from last week would be lost, as it was the team came together nicely with a few people back from injuries and sunning themselves (again why you would do this during the season is unknown to me!) the side was as follows:
1 Lurch 2 Paddy 3 Rhys 4 Mikey G 5 Luke D 6 Darren 7 N Fischer 8 Yogi (c)
9James 10 Brad 11 Jack 12 Chris Jackson 13 Dan Crehan 14 Johnny Rice 15 Chris Jack
16 Simmo 17 Colm 18 Liam
Having been handed my arse on a platter here in previous years it was imperative that we start the game well especially in the 1:1 tackles, we did tackle well but not necessarily hard enough allowing them to offload out of the tackles and make ground up the pitch. Their attack was halted as they held onto the ball in the tackle and conceded a penalty (I think this was Luke but not 100%) Brad got us deep into Redingensian territory with a great kick and from the resulting line out James Atkins sniped around the maul and managed to beat 2 players before gliding in under the posts. Redingensians came back strongly and from a nice chip through Dan Crehan was (harshly) adjudged to have illegally held onto the ball and as it was in the Red Zone was (again a little harsh for my liking)sent to have a rest for 10mins. During this period we held on until about 1min before Dan’s return as Redingensians finally made the extra man in midfield tell and went around the out side for a well worked score.
Restored to our full compliment we went on the attack again Redingensians and another attacking line out saw James make another great run this time being held up only feet short of the line luckly help was on hand and Yogi (i know its odd to talk about yourself in the 3rd person but when luke posts these on the website there is no mention of who writes them!) managed to barge through a number of defenders to score under the posts.
From the kick off Redingensians infringed and Darren Smith reacted quickest to tap and go and charge up the field (he ran well all game) a few of loads latter saw Brad dive in for the score on his return from Amsterdam (boy does he have some stories to tell!) The next score came after some good backs play with Jack and Jackson choosing some good lines and we earned a scrum 10 meters out, the wheel went on beautifully and all that was left was for Yogi to barge over a couple of players for his second score of the day.
After this unfortunately James had to go off with a Hammy injury bringing Liam into the game and switching Jack to scrum half for the second week running.
The second have started quite evenly the only change on the Chiltern side was Colm coming on for Darren, the balance was changed when as a Redingensian player again took an age to role away Rhys decided to give him a bit of encouragement (in my eyes perfectly legal backward not stamping motion) unfortunately the ref took umbrage to this and sent him for a 10min rest. This forced Simmo into the game and the unfortunate Colm had to come off to make way. Whilst down to 14 we conceded a couple of trys (and Simmo conceeded a penalty for holding on!) before Chris Jack responded for Chiltern with a brilliant individual effort bouncing through the tackles and throwing no less the 6 dummies on the way to the line (Johnny was a little aggrieved he didn’t pass!). Although this wasn’t Chis’s best moment of the game that came as he tried to run out of defence only to be faced with a mountain of bodies, this would cause mortal men problems but not Chris as he somersaulted the mass and got us out of trouble. For a great Chiltern debut Chris received the man of the match nomination, not only effective in attack but he made a number of excellent last ditch tackles (I think we all know who on!) Redingensians weren’t beaten yet and managed another score before the end but this was to be Chilterns day. Well done team everyone played their part today and whilst there were some standout performances this was a real team effort. I must mention Jack as well who landed 5 form 5 of the conversions one from way out on the right.
Man of the Match- Chris Jack
Mentioned in Dispatches – Brad
Next week we take on Stains at fortress Weedon lane, we are undefeated at home this season and I want it to stay that way, also chaps we are building quite a kitty from the fines I am happy to take your money and it will all be reinvested into the team at the end of season dinner so keep waring what you want and I will keep fining you (please note for repeat offenders fines will be increased, any arguments complain to Gibbo)