Great bonus point win for Chiltern at Weston-Super-Mare

On a wet and breezy day, Chiltern shook off the effects of the long coach ride early and forced a penalty after 7 minutes, converted by Matt Gilbert for a 0-3 lead. The visitors continued to pressure and forced another penalty minutes later, only for the ball to sail wide. From the restart, however, flanker, Danny Samuels secured the ball in the home side’s half and great mauling led to a scrum 5 metres from their line. Good mauling again resulted in man-of-the-match, Samuels, once more picking up and scoring his first try for the team. The conversion was missed by Gilbert, so the score remained at 0 – 8 to the visitors. Chiltern continued to dominate for the rest of the half and missed a further penalty kick. A rare attack by Weston in injury time which could have resulted in a try was well stopped by full back, Chris Jack and the half time whistle blew with Chiltern still in command at 0 – 8.

The second half started in much the same vein, but an injury to centre, Tom Shiel, briefly interrupted the visitor’s flow and a fine run by the home side’s centre, Sam Smee, led to a try for them, unconverted, but narrowing the gap in the score line to 5 – 8. The response, however, was immediate. Chiltern’s forwards charged down field, full- back, Jack, joined in and went over the line for another, unconverted, try, increasing the lead to 5 – 13. Weston made something of a comeback and pressed for around ten minutes, but some heroic defending, even when down to 14 men with No.8, Adam Henderson in the sin-bin, kept the home side at bay and a penalty to Chiltern cleared the danger. After 28 minutes gone, a good kick from hand by Gilbert caused a knock-on by the defending side. Great scrummaging and quick ball found winger, Sam Portland, coming at speed and a trademark try under the posts, converted by Gilbert and a 5 – 20 lead. With five minutes left, quick handling again found Portland once more and in for the bonus point try, again unconverted, but the final whistle was blown with Chiltern worthy winners at 5 – 25.

Next week Amersham & Chiltern are away to Avonmouth Old Boys.