Tough conditions, tough win

After one of wettest weeks on record, the investment Chiltern have made in their pitches especially improved drainage meant the 3rd team home game against 4th place Chipping Norton, was never in doubt, despite containing heavy downpour all afternoon.

Chiltern made a slow start, and paid the price in ten minutes, when Chipping Norton took a quick penalty in their own 22, and the right wing ran 50 yards to score, unconverted, taking a 5 - 0 lead.
Having suffered a wake up call, Fly Half Pete Johnston burst through the Chipping Norton line, and great linking play by Fullback Tom Fletcher and Neil Foster put winger Johnny Rice in for Chiltern's first score.

Two further tries before half time rewarded Chiltern for their dominance, firstly another quick penalty by Scrum Half Oscar Fearns, from his own 22, gave try scorer Rice the opportunity to break away down the wing, and a great inside offload gave centre Neil Foster a 25 yard run under the posts.
The next try came from the restart, when Pete Johnston returned the kick off deep into Chipping's half and winger Rice was on hand to finish in the corner. Both tries were converted by Fearns, to make the halftime score 19 - 5.

HT 19-5

Unfortunately neither team managed another score in the second half as the dreadful weather clearly took its toll on the match. Chiltern continued to dominate the possession, and double try scorer Rice came the closet, being tackled just short of the line after a 30 yard run.

Final score 19 - 5, keeps Chiltern in second place, hot on the tail of of league leaders Drifters. The 3xv have a one week break and then face Gosford All Blacks away and High Wycombe at home to end the year.

Best of luck to Tim Bond who unfortunatelty turned his ankle in the second half and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Line up:
1 Rory McFadyen 2 Adam Cook 3 Nik Collison 4 Dave Robertson (pl) 5 Charlie Bond 6 Tim Bond 7 Jonny Keen 8 Luke Donnebaum (c) 9 Oscar Fearns 10 Pete Johnston 11 Blayne Underwood 12 Lewis Culverhouse 13 Neil Foster 14 Johnny Rice 15 Tom Fletcher (vc) 16 Tom Collins 17 Sam Litchfield

Tries:
Johnny Rice x2, Neil Foster

Penalty:
Oscar Fearns x2

Man of the Match:
Johnny Rice