Newton Abbot 1st XV 36 - 13 Amersham & Chiltern 1st XV

AMERSHAM & CHILTERN GO DOWN FIGHTING AT NEWTON ABBOT

 AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 13 – NEWTON ABBOT 36

Amersham & Chiltern had a 4 ½ hour coach journey on the record-breaking hottest October day last Saturday, to play top Devon side Newton Abbot. Not the greatest preparation for what they knew was going to be a very hard game. Losing regular 1st team centre, Craig Webb, to injury late on Thursday was also a serious problem, as finding substitutes that were available to travel so far at short notice also proved tricky. In the event, Chiltern battled hard, tackled everything in sight and reached half time only 10 – 6 down , only conceding a solitary breakaway try. The heat and tiring journey began to tell in the second half, however and a flat 20 minutes by the visitors allowed the home side to run in a number of tries to seal the match. Chiltern did not lie down, however, regrouping towards the end and it was greatly encouraging to see last season’s regular fly half, Ross Bugden coming on for his season’s debut after a long lay-off through injury and making a telling contribution. Chiltern even scored a great try through man-of-the-match flanker, Wayne Wilson, converted by Dan Kinsey.

Chiltern have now played several of the top teams in the league, so with some coming home games against perceived weaker opposition and the return of some key players, spirits are still high in the side.