So close yet so far!!

Chipping Norton 7 - 5 Chiltern 3XV
29th 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)