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Sat 18 Oct 2014 · National League 3 London & SE
First XVGuernsey
15
17
Chiltern loses again in last minute of injury time
Tony Coyle20 Oct 2014 - 11:35
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And the injury jinx that has plagued all season struck again!
The home side welcomed back prop Stuart Day and centre Ross Bugden, but then lost their key back Rhys Keith to a hand injury sustained at work during the week and then powerhouse second-row Dean Maclennan succumbed a neck problem just before kick-off.
Added to that, Chiltern’s inspirational and best forward by far this season, No.8 “Truffles” (aka Tom Blackburn), was sadly taken to hospital with a very serious-looking shoulder injury in the 30th minute of the game.
The extent of the club’s problems can be seen by a recent count that has detailed over 60 players normally available for selection that are either injured, or currently unable to play for one reason or another!
In the event, despite being heavily outweighed in the pack, the home side produced some spirited defence, scored two excellent tries themselves and were only denied the win in the last minute of injury time.
It was the visitors that started best, denying the home side any possession for a long period and finally creating an overlap for a try wide out on the left, unconverted, but giving them the lead at 0-5. The home side responded minutes later with a period of good pressure and a lovely break through the centre by Ross Bugden rewarding him with a try near the posts, converted by Jack Kenyon and giving the home side the lead at 7-5.
The injury to Tom Blackburn soon after this unsettled the side, but they still managed to convert a penalty, a massive 40 metre kick by Jack Kenyon just clearing the crossbar and increasing the lead to 10-5.
Just before half time, however, pressure at a scrum on the home side’s 10 metre line gave the visitors good quick possession and a swift move along the line gave them another try on the left, again unconverted, but levelling the scores at 10-10.
The second half started positively for the hosts and a superb break by Jack Kenyon through the centre led to a try for full-back Chris Jack, this time unconverted, but giving the hosts the lead again at 15-10. The rest of the half then really belonged to the visitors. With their big forwards gradually wearing the home side’s pack down and winning scrum ball with ease, they mounted attack after attack and only some heroic tackling prevented further score.
Twice the home side worked turn-over ball on their own line and cleared, only for a penalty or missed tackle soon after to find them back defending desperately again.
Finally, deep into injury time, after a series of line-outs and scrums won by the visitors and ensuing forward drives, they managed to squeeze over the line far out on the left. A magnificent conversion under immense pressure by their kicker, gave them the win at 15-17.
Match report by Andy Gillanders
Added to that, Chiltern’s inspirational and best forward by far this season, No.8 “Truffles” (aka Tom Blackburn), was sadly taken to hospital with a very serious-looking shoulder injury in the 30th minute of the game.
The extent of the club’s problems can be seen by a recent count that has detailed over 60 players normally available for selection that are either injured, or currently unable to play for one reason or another!
In the event, despite being heavily outweighed in the pack, the home side produced some spirited defence, scored two excellent tries themselves and were only denied the win in the last minute of injury time.
It was the visitors that started best, denying the home side any possession for a long period and finally creating an overlap for a try wide out on the left, unconverted, but giving them the lead at 0-5. The home side responded minutes later with a period of good pressure and a lovely break through the centre by Ross Bugden rewarding him with a try near the posts, converted by Jack Kenyon and giving the home side the lead at 7-5.
The injury to Tom Blackburn soon after this unsettled the side, but they still managed to convert a penalty, a massive 40 metre kick by Jack Kenyon just clearing the crossbar and increasing the lead to 10-5.
Just before half time, however, pressure at a scrum on the home side’s 10 metre line gave the visitors good quick possession and a swift move along the line gave them another try on the left, again unconverted, but levelling the scores at 10-10.
The second half started positively for the hosts and a superb break by Jack Kenyon through the centre led to a try for full-back Chris Jack, this time unconverted, but giving the hosts the lead again at 15-10. The rest of the half then really belonged to the visitors. With their big forwards gradually wearing the home side’s pack down and winning scrum ball with ease, they mounted attack after attack and only some heroic tackling prevented further score.
Twice the home side worked turn-over ball on their own line and cleared, only for a penalty or missed tackle soon after to find them back defending desperately again.
Finally, deep into injury time, after a series of line-outs and scrums won by the visitors and ensuing forward drives, they managed to squeeze over the line far out on the left. A magnificent conversion under immense pressure by their kicker, gave them the win at 15-17.
Match report by Andy Gillanders
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