Amersham & Chiltern hosted Essex side Westcliff for the first time ever at Weedon Lane. Both teams are at the wrong end of the league so both were keen on gaining league points.

Chiltern started confidently and had several opportunities to score in the first ten minutes, but only succeeded with a penalty converted by Dan Wood for a 3-0 lead. After 20 minutes, Chiltern’s No.8 Andy Zair picked up the ball near the half-way line and went on a rampaging run beating four or five players only to be brought down inches from the try line. Second row Dean MacLennan had followed him in close support, so took command of the breakdown, seizing the ball and dived over for a try - a reward for putting the effort in. Dan Wood converted for a 10-0 lead.

Unfortunately, with half-time fast approaching, Chiltern failed to close down the game and keep the ball, allowing Westcliff to score a converted try for the scoreboard to show 10-7 at the break.

In the second half, the hosts were immediately penalised and Westcliff’s forwards combined together for a number of phases leading to a try out wide, magnificently converted, giving the visitors the lead for the first time at 10-14.

Soon after, Chiltern’s scrum half Morgan Thompson made a thrilling solo break from the base of the scrum on half-way, sprinting down the touchline to draw the defenders before giving a well timed inside pass to George Bartlett, who was backing up as you’d expect from a good back rower, to touch down unopposed. Dan Wood converted well into a stiff and freezing wind, giving the lead back to Chiltern 17-14.

Immediate further pressure in Westcliff’s 22 was rewarded unexpectedly. One of their defenders either panicked in possession, had a junior moment or just didn’t see Tom Shiel closing him down fast. The simplest and most sympathetic pass straight into his midriff allowed Shiel to sprint the few metres for a try in the corner.

Ten minutes later, Chiltern Head Coach Richie Williams came on as sub due to our ‘challenging’ injury list. He showed all his silky skills in collecting the ball on Westcliff’s 10-metre line, beating a couple of players to score under the posts to shouts of great joy from team mates and supporters as the four-try bonus point was achieved. After the simple conversion, Chiltern were a convincing 29-14 ahead.

With 15 minutes to go and three scores ahead, the home side’s supporters would have been forgiven for believing that this game was as good as won with five priceless league points and denying their relegation rivals any league points at all.

But suddenly, Chiltern’s discipline and game management disappeared, with not one but two yellow cards. Westcliff had nothing to lose so attacked flat out. They scored two converted tries in quick succession to narrow the lead to only one point at 29-28 - and, of course, their four-try bonus point.

With seconds to go, the home supporters were hardly daring to watch. Then, Chiltern gave away a silly and needless penalty at a scrum - but at least in was 35 metres out wide with a difficult wind. Westcliff’s kicker took his time, presuming it was the last and deciding kick of the match. Almost in slow motion, and inevitably, the ball flew high and straight.

In the final seconds of injury time, Westcliff again attacked and were rewarded with a speculative and spectacular drop-goal for the winning margin of 29-34.