Match Report
By Andy Grant

Saturday 11th October 2025 - 3pm
Weedon Lane - Amersham

Amersham and Chiltern 1 XV - 20
V
Letchworth Garden City - 29
(HT 15-8)

‘Crying Song’ - Pink Floyd - 1969

‘We smile and smile, we smile and smile
Laughter echoes in your eyes
We climb and climb, we climb and climb
Footfalls softly in the pines
We cry and cry, we cry and cry
Sadness passes in a while
We roll and roll, we roll and roll
Help me roll away the stone’

Another home again, and another one that got away from us. This season, it is already more appar-ent than last that there will be no easy games alongside constant pressure to produce our best week in, week out. With the benefit of some consistent selection and levels of vocal home support, there was every reason to be confident of victory, despite another consistent and impressive start to the season from a confident Letchworth 1XV.

On a day when the Finch family joined Joshua to celebrate his 100 cap for the Chilts, there was good reason to ‘cap’ the day off with the wee fella, our Captain Josh sipping from the celebratory urn. It was not to be, although we did manage to win the first half.

And so, to the action - and yes, you guessed it. Another strong start with A&C taking the game to the visitors with poise and purpose. Some slick handling and some pacey breaks, A&C were clearly in the mood to take Letchworth on head-on. With the opportunity of an early penalty (4th min), it was taken with a smile by young centre and rising star Harry Stevens. (3-0). Only 8 mins later and after Letchworth had time to consider a suitable response, they wasted no time in turning the screw with their opening try, after some disappointing tackling, allowing a well supported run in. Missed conver-sion (3-5). With matters levelling out, it was tough to see why this was a 10th v 3rd match, even ap-preciating it was still relatively early in the season. In 25 mins, Chiltern’s forwards made some key gains before the Back row, and another 1200 capper, Jordan Scott, wasted no time in galloping through for our opening try. Easily converted by Harry (10-5). With momentum back with us, it was then wonder winger Josh Fisher, with his head down and rapid feet floating in the corner, to ensure a winning first half (15-8).

Now was the time to push on. Disappointingly, though, we lost intensity for another 15-20 minutes. Letchworth were never going to roll over and therefore with no surprises, momentum changed. With a well-worked converted try right at the start of the 2nd half and then another only 5 mins later (15-22), the damage was done. Even with the troops appearing to rally to the captain’s charge through Sammy Sinclair’s slick wing running (20-22). A&C were unable to secure the 4th try or even a losing bonus (within 7 pts) when Letchworth cruelly secured their 4th try and bonus point win. Really could have been so different.

The following week was always going to be another tough one on the road. This time to deepest Suffolk and the land of Gainsborough, down Sudbury way. Again, well placed towards the top of the league and probably still smarting from our convincing home win against them at the end of last season, Sudbury secured a convincing home win 66-17. I wasn’t there, so I will save you the pain of reading about it. Sudbury watch out! We look forward to welcoming you back to Ash Grove xx.

A&C 1XV v Letchworth Garden City 1XV - 1. Doug McGregor-Smith 2. Joe Batt (VC) 3. Max Mor-phey. 4. Will Drewett. 5. Harry Bradshaw. 6. Kazeem Olayinka. 7. Josh Finch (C). 8. Jordan Scott 9. Ben Harris. 10. Dan Kingsley 11. Sammy Sinclair. 12. Noah Jarvis. 13. Harry Stevens. 14. Josh Fisher. 15. Reiss Walker - Subs 16. Charlie Swerling. 17. Charlie Bourne 18. MacKenzie South.

A&C 1XV v Sudbury 1XV (Away) - 1. Doug McGregor-Smith 2. Joe Batt. 3. Charlie Swerling. 4. Kieran Booth. 5. Charlie Bourne. 6. Andrew Toole. 7. Jordan Scott. 8. Kazeem Olayinka. 9. Ben Harris. 10. Harry Stevens. 11. Josh Fisher. 12. Noah Jarvis. 13. Sammy Sinclair. 14. MacKenzie South. 15 Reiss Walker. Subs 16. Liam Bruno. 17. Michael Eve