The week that was!

Broadstreet were playing in National 2 North last season before being relegated and were a strong and settled side. Chiltern were still short of some first choice players and weren’t helped when new hooker Ed Church, formerly of Henley, tweaked a groin muscle shortly before kick off. Without another hooker on the bench the front row options were limited but stand in hooker Jack Elborn and reluctant prop Giles Westgarth did a magnificent job with Lewis Edwards and played the whole 80 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, it took us a while to settle and the boys conceded a couple of tries within the first 15 minutes before coming to grips with such a well organised side. The fitness and imagination of Chiltern became apparent and Chiltern scored two tries of their own to make the score 12-14 to Broadstreet after about 30 minutes. Regrettably, a missed touch saw Broadstreet secure their third and last try which left the score 12-21 at half time.

Most unusually there was no score at all in the second half despite Chiltern making a raft of changes. The attitude and ability of the boys was exemplary and but for a dropped pass in front of the Broadstreet posts the score would have even closer.

We saw many excellent performances not least from debutant Cam McDonald, the younger brother of scrum half Mike. Cam is just 17 and was playing his first game of senior rugby! Watch this lad he is looks something special.

Overall it was another excellent work out although as we were still short of several players and combinations it was decided to accept an offer from Henley to play a 60 minute game under their lights last night.

We were able to field close to our probable starting lineup for the first 30 minutes and were facing a side who were playing National 1 last year before being relegated to Nat 2. Henley have a big squad with some recent championship recruits bolstering their side! 15 minutes gone and Chiltern are leading 12-5, pressurising Henley into making mistakes whilst scoring 2 cracking tries! The score remained the same until the end of the first half and we joked that we should then have gone home!

In the second half Chiltern brought on all their replacements including our most recent signing, prop Ian Stock. Ian has joined us from Chinnor, as he has so many good things about our club and wanted a new challenge. He and the returning Joe Winpenny gave us some much needed stability up front as did Charlie Perkins ex-Chiltern junior who been on Saracens books and is now at Nottingham Trent Uni. Charlie is another prop and gave a great account of himself against a very good team.

Not surprisingly, Henley finally manged to move through the gears better and scored a further three tries without reply. However, we were delighted with the fantastic performance by the whole squad who were warmly congratulated by a very impressed Henley side.

Next week the league season starts when we entertain the other newly promoted side, Sutton & Epsom, who won London 1 South. They will be looking a quick start just like us so we are expecting a cracker of a game.

Please come and support the boys. Kick off is 3pm and we want to get off to a flying start and re-cement fortress Weedon Lane.