The pendulum swings back

Chiltern travelled to Orpington, Kent, with high expectations. But, they missed a big opportunity to build on last week’s result with a poor display lacking accuracy and discipline; just the qualities of which we now know we are capable of producing.

Westcombe Park were depleted and on a poor run of form, yet started the game with commitment and order to their play, working the fringes on a dank and breezy day. A pushover try came after 15 minutes and another two minutes later when appalling Chiltern defence allowed WP’s winger to run through several missed tackles from 30 metres out with seemingly little on, other than setting up another recycle. 12-0 down half way through the first half.

Richie Williams replaced Matt Gilbert, who had been injured in the pre-match warm up, and Matt Allen came on for Ziana Alexis. Chiltern forced into the WP half for the first time with a strong break up to their 22 and Joe Winpenny picked up and sprinted in for a try from broken field.

Straight from the restart, Chiltern failed to catch the ball and had to defend deep in their own 22. From a lineout, Westcombe caught and drove, controlling the maul to rumble over for another score, 17-5.

Back Chiltern came and, with only their second foray into the host’s half, George Bartlett touched down after decent recycled ball and could have done so again, finishing the half 17-10 down.

In the circumstances, with the conditions favouring Chiltern in the second half, there was a decent platform for a recovery, having enjoyed very little possession and hardly any time in attack in the first half.

Right from the restart, Chiltern were camped in the host’s 22. Fine interplay between Zane Turner and Jonny Hughes set up a score for Andy Zair, converted by Joe Butler who has making his A&C debut. Things looked good. The score at 17-17 with the conditions, momentum and game plan with us - and half an hour to go.

However, Chiltern self destructed from that moment onwards. Four consecutive penalties allowed WP to make 70 metres up the pitch into the wind from a scrum on their own line and they scored a fine try through our midfield after patient and aggressive work in their pack.

Chiltern then conceded eight successive penalties and were lucky to keep all 15 on the pitch. Combined with countless self enforced handling errors and more penalties conceded we never managed to gain any momentum.

Other than a final try for WP in the corner, after a big crossing/obstruction which the referee amazingly missed or misinterpreted, the last 20 minutes saw several opportunities wasted to snatch a fourth try bonus point and at least a losing bonus point. But Chiltern left Orpington empty handed when they could easily have won the game. The story of our season. And it could cost us our status at this level.

It’s frustrating to know that Chiltern can win games like this, because they have done so. And yet they lose them in the same manner each time. Looking after the ball, patience and accuracy are the winning difference.

Match report by Spike Stevens