Chiltern back on track with 8-try demolition of Weston

Amersham & Chiltern hosted Somerset side Weston-super-Mare, placed ninth in the League. On a dry flat pitch with little wind, the home side’s speedy backs ran riot, particularly in the second half, when many of the visitor’s huge forwards tired visibly, allowing the home side plenty of quality possession.

The quality of the game itself was a little marred by some zealous refereeing of which the home side, in particular, fell foul and which resulted in a total of five players being sin-binned and even the home linesman having to be replaced late on, the referee taking exception to an audible comment by him.

The home side commenced by immediately taking the game to the visitors. A string of penalties, however, allowed the visitors to make inroads into their territory and after eight minutes the visitors converted one in front of the posts for a 0-3 lead. Two minutes later, however, pressure by the home side and a clean lineout catch on the right saw the ball moved at pace out to the backs. A missed pass in the centre found Tom Shiel in space and he sprinted in for a try almost from the half way line. Jack Kenyon produced a superb conversion from wide out, to give the home side the lead at 7-3.

Minutes later, however, with second-row Tony Machado in the sin-bin, the visitors won a clean heel in a scrum on the half way line and a long kick resulted in a lineout ten metres out from the home side’s try line. The catch and drive, with the man advantage, took them over the line and, though the conversion was missed, the visitors retook the lead at 7-8. That was as good as it got for them, however, as the home side came right back from the restart. A great break by centre, David Skelton, followed by several phases of play led to a try for flanker George Bartlett, again brilliantly converted by Kenyon, so the home side went in for the half time break leading 14-8.

With the slight wind behind them in the second half, the home side concentrated on keeping play in the visitors’ half and after only two minutes, they forced a lineout on the visitors’ 22. A fast low throw to prop Garret Doman-Cann at the front gave him the space to make good ground up the touch line and he found hooker Ben Allman on his shoulder and in for a well-taken try. Once again Kenyon excelled himself with the conversion, increasing the lead to 21-8.

The home side now had their tails up and from the kick-off, Kenyon made space for winger Sam Portland for one of his trademark tries in the corner. This time Kenyon hit the post with the conversion, so the score remained at 26-8. The visitors were by now struggling to contain a rampant Chiltern side.

Superb sleight of hand from fly-half Ross Bugden made space for first David Skelton and then Daniel Wood to score tries, both converted. Then, with minutes to go, a drive by the seemingly unstoppable No.8 Tom Blackburn led to a try for full-back Chris Jack, also converted. On the stroke of full time, Blackburn gained possession, once more drove up field supported by prop Stuart Day and winger Tim Lloyd, who spotted a gap which he rapidly went through to score. The outstanding Jack Kenyon kicked his seventh conversion of the afternoon and the whistle went with the home side worthy winners at 54-8. The win and bonus point takes Amersham & Chiltern up to fifth in the table, with only two games remaining.

Finally, to add to an already splendid Saturday, Amersham & Chiltern’s Second XV and Third XV were both confirmed as League Champions of their respective Leagues - BB&O 1 and BB&O 2. It has been a truly exceptional year for the club.

Match report by Andy Gillanders