Rice scores a hat-trick in friendly drama

Chiltern turned up to play OMTs on Saturday to the back drop of the most impressive facilities seen in many a season that would rival a Premiership club.

Through various injuries and unavailability in the week Chiltern turned up with 14 men but being a friendly game time was the priority so the match went ahead with 15 vs 14.

OMTs had their 1xv playing on the next pitch with no bench and it was expected that their players would get called up if there was an injury and by half time they were down to 12 players.

The first half was well controlled by Chiltern and they added 3 well worked team tries scored by Phil John, Jack Freeman and Johnny Rice. No tries were converted

HT 15-0

At half time the home team were down to 12 men so it was agreed that Chiltern's captain Dave Robertson would step up and play for the opposition to equal the numbers. They didn't realise at the time the effect it would have

Apart from an early Johnny Rice try to make the score 20-0 the next 30 minutes it was all OMT's who scored 4 tries, three of them coming from their impressive centre. They converted their last try which was scored under the posts giving them a lead of 22-20 with 10 minutes left.
At this point having thrown away a 4 try lead it was time for Chiltern to get their captain back so Dave Robertson swapped shirts and returned to his team.

Chiltern had a scrum 5 metres out from their own line with the last play of the game they kept their composure when Gus Pollard made a break out of his 22 and passed off down the line to Johnny Rice who received the ball on half way and raced away to score under the posts. He converted his own try to make the final score 27-22 to the away team.

A dramatic end to a match which could have gone either way. Credit to both sides for an exciting match and to all Chiltern players who showed great team spirit throughout

FT 27-22

Next week Chiltern return to league action against High Wycombe away.

Line up:
1 Lewis Godfrey 2 Adam Cook 4 Dave Robertson (c) 5 Chris Coldwell 6 Mike Shaw 7 George Wallington-Smith 8 Jack Freeman 9 Paul Sitzberger 10 Gus Pollard 11 Andy Milner 12 Phil John 13 Liam Gilhooly (vc) 14 Johnny Rice 15 Sam Litchfield

Tries:
Johnny Rice x3
Phil John
Jack Freeman

Conversion:
Johnny Rice

Man of the Match:
Johnny Rice