Parklife!

Match Report by Andy Grant
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Ironically Saturday was all a bit of a ‘Blur’. That said somehow the haze only descended for the 2nd half when A&C were rudely awakened by an energised and ever confident Belsize Park side, encouraged by some A&C injuries to key personnel.
After an eagerly contested 1st half there was a mere 1 point difference. Three (3) first half penalties were confidently slotted by a calm and measured Ollie Choules. This followed an early 7 min penalty from Belsize Park. Then on 31 mins Belsize delivered an impressive converted try after some strong forward play with great link up with their speedy backs. Half-time 10-9 with all to play for and in line with the A&C match plan from our coaches Rich Hoskins and Mike Smith, ‘we are told they will tire after 60 mins’ .
Put simply they didn’t! In fact after some knocks, particularly to strong running Jordan Scott, his welcome back to A&C ended soon into the second half (tummy trouble probably due to Mike Smith’s energy juices) and Billy Hughes ( breaking his nose alongside a shoulder injury) with Belsize seeming to smell blood. 4 mins in and a converted try followed 4 mins later with another. Our young bucks for the first time this season were grumbling and emotional behind the posts with Captain and father figure, Josh Finch making a sterling effort to rally the troops. His words had some positive effects although with the increased pressure and resulting pressure from Belsize, A&C, although much improved line-out, began to cough up ball to Belsize. Equally and strangely though the A&C scrummaging burst into life with a a raft of A&C penalties being awarded although these opportunities were never maximised. It goes without saying of course A&Cs requirement to tackle also increased with inevitable slippage resulting.
31mins into the 2nd half and the final nails were hammered into our coffin (Kenyon’s of course) with then 3 further converted Belsize Park tries (incl a penalty try) to ensure the match was well and truly won.
This was all played out on the Crown Estate, Regents Park in full view of The Telecom Tower, changing rooms that look like the Telly Tubby’s house and a City scene with Hong Kong ex-pat feel.
A frustrating fixture which required a coach (and all the post –match entertainment that entails – although definitely more sombre than usual). With an early kick off, disrupted warm-ups, lack of parking and coordinated changing rooms entry and exit, there has been some consolation taken in that we are blessed with private facilities which include our own changing rooms, bar, food and pitches. With that in mind we will undoubtedly welcome the Parklife players of Belsize back to the fields of 'Sham ensure a levelling of matches won between us.
Highlights
• Loyal A&C supporter Richard Bobbitt and Johnnie Royals unofficially awarding more penalties to A&C than they ever have when refereeing us.
• Our recovering Vice Captain Lloyd Anderson, resplendent in white shirt and A&C bow tie dirtying his shoes on the Queens soil.
• Taking beverages with trolley service no less, on our coach whilst stuck on the A40 in Acton (thank you Jack Kenyon and Ollie Choules)
And finally
• Welcoming the wonderful Jordan Scott back to our wonderful club and looking forward to him being reunited with Dave Francis in the back row.

Amersham and Chiltern RFC (1XV)
1. Doug MacGregor-Smith
2. Joe Batt
3. Charlie Doyle
4. Will Drewett
5. Jacques O’Driscoll
6. Billy Hughes
7. Josh Finch (C)
8. Jordan Scott
9. Conor Segre
10. Ollie Choules
11. Peter Hughes
12. Noah Jarvis
13. Rob Hughes
14. Andrew McFarlane
15. Jack Kenyon (VC)
16. Callum Newton
17. Charlie Bourne
18. Max Dugdale