Sudbury RFC RFC 1XV: 43
Amersham and Chiltern RFC: 17

Half-time: 24 -12

Following a smooth but quite lengthy coach trip we arrived at Sudbury RFC.

With the sun out and sky blue the scene was set with a quite a long-haired pitch rich in wilding with mushrooms (didn’t look magic and some fantastic wildflowers to boot). I recalled David Bellamy one of my ‘botanist’ childhood heroes who would have feasted on the varieties, although not the mushrooms.

As well as a welcome return to level 5 rugby we were welcomed with open arms.

Sudbury are a fine side with a fine pedigree and still on a mighty fine winning streak of 17 games. Last time we ventured to the land of Gainsborough we were ‘nilled’ whilst 38pts were scored for quite a sobering day out in the countryside.

We travelled with a refreshed squad, full of expectation and hope and with probably one of the heftiest squads in Amersham and Chiltern history. Undoubtedly roles reversed as Sudbury looked smaller and distinctly mobile.

From kick off it was A&C who started at pace. With solid set plays and some superb linking of forwards and backs it was Captain Dan Kingsley running in a well-earned opening try. With silence from the home support and some solid clapping from the few Chiltern groupies I just had a sense of foreboding that we may have just ‘poked the bear’ and made them angry.

And then there was the first sign of some fighting spirit with a terrific play, against the run of play, with Sudbury responding with a high tempo try, involving some great breaks and solid support play.

At 5-5 and a try a piece with 2 missed conversions all very much to play for.

Tom Fawssett our hefty winger then took the opportunity to rampage a little and loosen his considerable hips and thighs with a galloping surge down the wing. Some say he seemed unstoppable. Not strictly correct although the referee deemed there had been some Sudbury naughtiness at the breakdown and without hesitation awarded another well-deserved try in fact a penalty try. With the score at 5-12 and Sudbury quite grumpy.

All credit though to the home side who with a decent home support ensured a strong finish to the 1st half. Three unanswered tries all following sustained Chiltern pressure and in Sala style Sudbury hit us on the break well executing some superb running and passing tries.

24-12 at half time and Chiltern really needed the first score of the new half.

Again, a decent start from the plucky level 5 newcomers with Sudbury slow to respond.

Again, sustained pressure though ended with another spell of 3 unanswered tries. Heads dipping and a renewed enthusiasm showed why Sudbury had had such a decent winning run.

All credit though to Amersham who did score the final try of the game to make it 43-17. Well done Kaz.

No half century and plenty of positives to take into next week’s Southend home game. Sudbury undoubtedly will be up there at the end and as expected probably one of the best opening fixtures to have for beginning our adventure within Regional 1 South East.

Team:

1. Razvan Dranca
2. Chris Joyce.
3. Doug McGregor-Smith
4. Harry Bradshaw
5. Jacques O’Driscoll
6. Mike Phillips
7. Jordan Scott
8. Kazeem Olayinka
9. Ben Harris
10. Callum Hutchinson
11. Tim Hayes
12. Dan Kingsley
13. Kasper Strugar
14. Tom Fawssett
15. Ben Pothecary
16. Joe Batt
17. Mike Everett
18. Aaron Lewis