A great start to the season and the first time that the team has won an opening fixture since being promoted to this league. The performance is all the more surprising as injuries to regular second-rows Club Captain Tom Grammenos and Ollie Cato, plus the unavailability of two other second row replacements meant that the key positions in the “boiler room” had to be taken by last season’s No 8 Adam Henderson and second team prop, Dan (Lurch) Pettinger, Both, however, excelled themselves and helped to ensure a steady supply of quality ball to the electric back line, that gorged itself scoring five tries in total.

Pressure from the start gave the home side a penalty after only five minutes, converted by Ross Bugden, for a 3-0 lead. Play then switched back and forwards for some time, with mistakes and turnovers on both sides until after 28 minutes a scrum on the visitor’s 22 was won by Chiltern. Quick ball to fly-half, man-of-the-match Ross Bugden, saw him ghost through nearly to the line before a short pass to centre David Skelton, in support led to a try, converted by Bugden and taking the score to 10-0. With half-time approaching, Chiltern were again awarded a scrum on the visitor’s 22 on the left hand side of the pitch and, in a repeat performance, Bugden once again ghosted his way through the defence, this time scoring himself under the posts and converting his own try for a half-time score of an impressive 17-0.

Five minutes into the second half a great turnover by Chiltern in the centre was followed by a long raking kick into the visitors half by Bugden. The speed of the Chiltern backs then forced a hurried kick from the visitors which was superbly charged down by Dave Skelton, who then hacked on, finally releasing full-back Chris Jack for the try. Converted by Bugden from out wide, the score moved on to 24-0. With 12 minutes to go it was other centre Matt Gilbert’s turn, breaking through the centre superbly for the bonus point try, converted again by Bugden and taking the score to 31-0.

With four minutes to go, the visitors won a lineout on half way, but a great interception by Skelton in the centre proved him to be unstoppable, scoring his second try under the posts, converted by Bugden and the score line moved to an unassailable 38-0. Finally, with a minute to go, Worcester were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude with a consolation try in the left hand corner, though the conversion attempt failed, leaving the final score as a resounding win for the home side, 38-5.

Finally, we must congratulate four players making impressive league debuts for Amersham & Chiltern 1XV - Ben Allman, Ryan Cole, Garret Doman-Cann and Gareth Wehrle.

Amersham & Chiltern 1XV: Allen, Cole, Doman-Cann, Pettinger, Henderson, Samuels, Allman, Jack P (pack); Keith, Bugden, Lloyd, Skelton, Gillbert, Carty, Jack C (Captain) (backs); Day, Underwood, Wehrle (subs)

Match Report by Andy Gillanders