Match Report – by Andrew Grant

I knew Scotland would lose on Saturday. Without me positioned in front of the tele surely it would be the case that Scotland would lose a lot of their attacking zest. Rugby can be so cruel as of course this London North Division 1 league match clashed with events at the Principality Stadium , Cardiff. I had to be multi-tasked in receiving score updates and analysis whilst running the line. It wasn’t easy and of course Scotland lost. Enough said!!
To make amends though this was a day that was dry, sunny and breezy. ‘Some guys have all the luck’ and initially it was Chingford, winning the toss and ensuring A&C faced quite a gale alongside a potent and quite blinding sun. As it transpired we played to the conditions better and with shrewd but fast-paced approach ensured that our tempo was challenging and our tackling sound.
With a small home crowd eventually venturing into the gale and away from the 6 Nations A&C kicked off securely. From the outset A&C passed and ran well meaning that on 7 mins Robert Hughes with his trademark ‘roadrunner hoot!’ scampering through an already hardworking Chingford defence for a well worked try. Converted neatly by Alex ‘practice pays off’ Bower. (0 -7). On 15 mins Chingford could feel both the wind and the sun on their backs and after some penetrating wing play and some side-stepping drew things level with a converted try. (7 -7).
A&C continued to control both territory and possession. On 23 mins it was the mighty Jacques O’Driscoll who softened the Chingford defence with a number of line breaks and hand offs. Once soft Jacques stormed through the defence for am unconverted try (7 – 12). Josh Finch (Captain Birds Eye) then used his smaller frame to tip toe with a dancing style and score near to the posts for another converted try by Alex Bower (7 – 19) Half-time.
Chiltern were looking forward to having the wind on their backs in the second half. Matters were also drawn in Cardiff with Sharky relaying scores in a Scottish accent (please no more Sharky). Only 2 mins after kick-off it was Robert Hill yaking on the defence line single handed to score a once again converted try (7 – 26). As Ching continued to try and gain some respectability it was sneaky little Dan Kingsley who popped up where they didn’t expect it to pluck the ball from mid-air before sprinting the length of the park with his trademark ‘beep beep’ noises. A fine take and run that would have not been out of place in the 6 nations. (7 – 33)
2 mins from the whistle it was wee Jason Kilbey who ensured he got on the score sheet with a well worked move down the wing with a hard-working well deserved try to really finish the match in style. (7 – 38)

Highlights
- Hardworking Will Sterling’s first team debut on the wing. Confident and hard-running and tackling. All with a big smile too. Thank goodness no bus home today!!
- Stuart Rogers line out deliveries – rifled accuracy a pleasure to stand behind
- Kieran Booth, who’s thighs get bigger each week with increased marauding and gains.
- Dan Kingsley’s interception try. You just knew he would score!!!!

Next Week
We welcome 3rd place Eton Manor to Weedon Lane. They were in a bit of a mess for most of their home game managing to claw themselves back to achieve a bit of a flattering 38-29 win. With 2 sending offs previously we all hope for a good tempered match up on the green green grass of home. We will though be underdogs and as Scotsman it’s a position I’m very used to. Of course also there are no 6 Nations games.

See you there!!

Amersham and Chiltern RFC (1XV)
1. Louis Bailey
2. Stuart Rogers
3. Doug MacGregor-Smith
4. Kieran Booth
5. Jacques O’Driscoll
6. Jason Kilbey
7. Josh Finch
8. Aidan Caldwell
9. Conor Segre
10. Alex Bower
11. Will Swerling
12. Harry West
13. Robert Hughes
14. Robert Hill
15. Dan Kingsley
16. Charlie Doyle
17. Andrew Toole
18. Ben Pothercary