An ugly win on the road; but a win is a win

I am sure the players will admit it wasn't their best day. But, as they won a match which last season they would have probably lost, it is yet another sign of the progress the team has made. The main difference is that they have taken most of the kicking opportunities in last two weeks, which has put the opposition under pressure.

A good kicking performance by Jack Kenyon, securing all three first half penalties, negated the opposition’s try. It was scored from a kick over the top of our defence and a favourable bounce, putting Westcliff’s left winger under the posts for a converted try, but a 7-9 half time lead to Chiltern. A half which despite securing plenty of set piece ball, Chiltern never really got going and allowed Westcliff plenty of possession.

The second half started with Westcliff securing another period of intensive possession, and after a number of phases in Chiltern’s 22, Westcliff created an overlap for their right wing to score, unconverted, saw them take a 12-9 lead.

Chiltern woke up and started to play a smarter game. Chiltern’s first try came from a classic line-out catch and drive, resulting in No 8 Tom ‘Truffles' Blackburn scoring out wide, conversion missed. Chiltern back in the lead at 12-14.

Then, in the final few minutes as Westcliff came back searching for the winning score, they suffered a yellow card so played the final 10 minutes with only 14 players. Chiltern took the advantage of an extra forward, picking and driving from the base of the ruck for a series of phases, resulting in a try for flanker Andy Zair, converted from Jack Kenyon, for a final score of 12-21.

Man of the match was Matt Allen, who worked hard today to secure a good set piece for Chiltern and contributed a number of great defensive tackles.

Westcliff have not yet won a match in this league, but they are a good rugby club who play a positive game, kick well from defence, creating plenty of possession in the opposition half, so that win will come soon. We thank them for their hospitality and wish them well for the season.

Overall an ugly win on the road, but a win is a win; and Chiltern stays in the top four on same points as next week’s opposition London Irish Wild Geese - so already looking forward to the match.

Match report by Richard Bobbett