Chiltern start the season with a bonus point BANG!

Having never been in London 1 North before, it was difficult to forecast the likely standard to be expected. Barking were big, physical and abrasive but after overcoming a dreadful start which comprised two penalties, a knock-on and a yellow card within three minutes, Chiltern settled down and ran out very comfortable winners 37-16.

Playing against the wind on a cold blustery day, Chiltern made several early mistakes and their new wing George Wood found himself in the bin for an early offence! A second penalty saw Barking take a quick tap and gave their 10 time to steady himself and drop a neat drop goal 0-3.

However, Chiltern quickly settled and good support play and some incisive running soon had them attacking the Barking line. The scrum and lineout worked really well throughout the game and it was no surprise when quick recycled ball gave ace finisher Sam Portland the space he needed to score the first try out on the left. Andy Fluker, scrum half making his Chiltern debut, kicked a beautiful conversion, the first of 7 out of 7 successful kicks at goal! 7-3.

Andy Fluker increased the lead a few minutes later with a penalty before Barking struck back with a penalty of their own when Chiltern were penalised for being offside at a ruck, 10-6. Chiltern came straight back and started to dominate the game and two more penalties extended their lead to 16-6 before several more penalties against Barking saw their prop sent to the bin and an excellent controlled scrum saw another debutant Jordan Scott touch down for a pushover try wide out on the left, again well converted by Andy Fluker. Barking managed another penalty of their own but Chiltern went into half time 23-9 to the good.

Chiltern’s superior fitness was stretching Barking all over the field but over eagerness and some white line fever saw Chiltern butcher at least two tries from great field positions. Yet another ambitious miss move led to an easy interception for the Barking full back, on his 22 metre line, who ran the length of the field to score under the posts for a converted try 23-16!

This settled Chiltern down and following drive after drive another debutant, flanker Dave Francis, powered over for a try converted by Andy Fluker 30-16. The Chiltern general play was by now hugely encouraging although they were hampered by Barking having to go to uncontested scrums as a result of several injuries to their front row. Nevertheless Chiltern continued to attack and a dropped ball by the Barking centre was quickly picked up and recycled to Aaron Doyle, yet another impressive debutant, who scorched over from the 22 to score near the posts for the fourth and bonus point try.

Whilst more white line fever and some understandable unfamiliarity with new team mates kept Chiltern from adding further to the points tally, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and impressive start to the season. The new players made excellent starts in Chiltern colours, not least George Wood on the right wing who despite his very early yellow card was voted man of the match by the Chiltern coaches. The final debutant Gus Halfyard took a heavy bang on his shoulder late in the game but after a trip to hospital the prognosis is pretty reasonable with only a few weeks out.

Chiltern travel to play another new team next week, Chingford, who will again be an unknown quantity.