Chiltern triumphs in 11 try thriller

In a pulsating game of attacking rugby, both Amersham & Chiltern and Old Patesians served up a treat to reward those that ignored England v Australia at Twickenham and on the TV.

As a strong and established Gloucestershire side, Old Patesians came to Amersham with high hopes of a win. Although just one place higher in the league, Old Pats have managed to amass eight bonus points during the season by only narrowly losing to the top sides, whilst Chiltern had suffered heavier defeats. But, they hadn't recognised Chiltern's growing sense of confidence and adventure through the season.

Old Pats showed their attacking intention from the kick-off. After only three minutes, Chiltern's centre and winger both tackled the Old Pats centre leaving their right winger a clear overlap and plenty of space to charge 40 metres and score a try under the posts, converted for a 0–7 lead. Minutes later more pressure gave Old Pats a penalty awarded in easy kicking range, converted to increase the lead to 0-10.

Chiltern didn't panic and came back strongly with good work by the forwards and quick hands led to a try on the right by winger Tim Lloyd. Thirty minutes gone and Chiltern found themselves with a lineout five metres from the visitor’s line. A good catch and drive ended with a try for hooker Tom Blackburn, levelling the score 10–10.

Then, from the restart, hard and straight running from Chiltern's pack led to a try for flanker Nic Fischer after a series of impressive close passes, converted by David Hughes. Old Pats, however, converted a penalty from near halfway to bring the half-time score to 17-13 to Chiltern.

The second half started disastrously for Amersham & Chiltern, with the kick-off not going the required 10 metres. Old Pats won the resulting scrum and quick hands found their speedy winger in for his second try. Then another Old Pats try just six minutes later and they were dominating the game. A try-saving tackle by David Hughes was judged to be a tad too high, so for ten minutes Chiltern were down to 14 men. During this time Chiltern's scrummaging was under intensive pressure with a number of scrums collapsing near their try line, leading to the visitors being awarded a penalty try.

Chiltern were down 17-30 and being severely tested. Well they say, when the going gets tough… Leading from the front, Chiltern's young second row duo of Tom "Turkish" Grammenos and Ollie Cato were putting in heroic efforts in the loose, inspiring their colleagues to greater glory.

Chiltern regrouped and soon after skipper Craig Webb intercepted a pass on the halfway line. Good pace and support led to a try for centre Dave Skelton, converted, to bring the score back to 24–30. With 10 minutes to go, the Chiltern forwards regained the ascendancy and quick ball from a scrum inside the visitor’s half and a super break by David Hughes gave him a try under the posts, which he converted to regain the lead at last at 31–30.

With only minutes to go, Old Pats were trying anything and everything to win. Chiltern, rather than trying to defend a narrow one point advantage, attacked and a superb break by Dave Skelton and inside pass gave David Hughes another try. Difficult to know if the players or supporters were more nervous and exhausted as the referee found seven minutes of extra-time from somewhere. Finally, in the darkening gloom, a stolen lineout and good drive from Chiltern's forwards allowed flanker Perez Jack to dive over to win the victory 41-30.

This fantastic and exciting match was a wonderful advertisement for Level 5 rugby. Chiltern won a valuable victory, and both sides earned a bonus point for scoring at least four tries. Really, why bother with Twickenham, when you can watch such exciting rugby in Weedon Lane.

Amersham & Chiltern RFC: Day, Blackburn, Naude*, Cato, Grammenos, Jack*, Samuels, Henderson, Dye, Hughes, Toms, Skelton, Webb, LLoyd, Smalley R: subs, Douglas*, Fischer, Keith*

*First XV season debut - (46 different players have featured for A&C this season in eleven matches)