So close yet so far!!
Chipping Norton 7 - 5 Chiltern 3XV29th March 2008
Chiltern 5
Tries: Kent
Chipping Norton 7
Tries: 1
Cons: 1
Chiltern 3s made the long journey to Chipping Norton today, on a wet and windy saturday afternoon, and narrowly lost in tight game 7 - 5. The best way of summing up today's performance is a missed opportunity, despite Chipping fielding a strong squad of 24 players, many of their university players back at home, Chiltern played bravely throughout, dominating significant periods of the game, but not converting that pressure into points.
Today's side, had a strong pack, with Bobbett, Long and Rennie in front row, Griffiths and Schrauwers in second row, with a back row of Darren Smith making his debut (brother John is a member of our U17s squad) with Lawson and Kent. The backs were Winson at 9, Nicholls at 10, Perera and Richardson (Brian) in Centre, Wings were Allen and Sanford, and Jarrold (Scott) at fullback.
The game was played in awful conditions, driving rain and howling gale persisted for much of afternoon, Chipping started brightly pushing Chiltern into 22 for first 5 minutes, but the Chiltern side defended well, and started to push Chipping back up the game against the prevailing wind, spending much of the remainder of the half in the Chipping 22. Eventually the pressure brought a result with a clinical lineout catch and drive resulting in Yogi going over the line, only to discover the referee was unsighted and brought play back for a five yard scrum. Despite more pressure, snatched passes, dropped balls, and some decision making by Chiltern kept the score 0 - 0 at half time.
The second half saw Silver Fox join the back row as a substitute, and Chiltern started well, with the wind taking game straight back at Chipping, a couple of surging runs, by Griffiths, Kent and Hughes, and some great penetrating moves by Brian Richardson put the pressure on, this eventually led to the opening try, when Chiltern drove a maul into the opposition 22, for Charlie Kent to
drive over the line, 0 - 5 to Chiltern, unfortunately the conversion was missed. Chipping seemed to wake up and started to put pressure on Chiltern who defended bravely in their own 22 for 15 minutes, eventually one driving run too many, meant Chiltern had run out of defenders, and Chipping drove over close to the pots to take the lead 7 - 5.
The for much of the remainder of the game Chiltern put pressure on Chipping, but failed again to convert this pressure into points, one scrum five yards out should have resulted in a push over try, however the ball was spun out to the backs only for them to knock-on. A day of missed opportunities and the final result of hard fought game in poor conditions was 7 - 5 to Chipping.
Chiltern 3s loose their unbeaten run, but the final two games are big ones, home to league leaders Bicester on saturday 12th April and the final game away at Aylesbury on 19th.
Today's man of the match, was Darren Smith making his debut for Chiltern at 7, putting in a huge number of tackles, and winning turnover ball regularly, a great performance, and a player I look forward to seeing in Chiltern side for many years to come.
Well done to all 16 players on a wet and miserable afternoon, making that long journey out to Chipping Norton, to play a strong side, and come so close.
Richard Bobbett 29th March
Team
1, Bobbett 2, Long 3, Rennie 4, Griffiths 5, Schrauwers 6, Lawson 7, Smith 8, Kent 9, Winson 10, Nicholls 11, Sanford 12, Perera 13, Richardson B 14, Allen 15, Jarrold Scott 16, Hughes (sub'd Bobbett)