Amersham & Chiltern RFC U14s v Buckingham U14s

Today saw another significant squad performance from Amersham & Chiltern U14s, with 24 players covering two matches and winning them both, against strong opposition who controlled parts of each game with good contact skills and strong running forwards and backs.

Amersham & Chiltern Saxons 34 v 12 Buckingham RFC 2nd Team

The Amersham & Chiltern Saxons, started well with good intensity in the rucks creating early opportunities for aggressive running from Jacob Avis and Edward Batchelor, well worked moves from Matthew Warren, also set Cameron Cork and Tommy Richardson on strong ball carries, which kept the Saxons on the front foot throughout the first half. Wide defence from Charlie Cronly, Nathan Iles and James Thomas / Joshua Fisher shut Buckingham out in the first half and limited a resurgent Buckingham in the second half from taking the game away from the Saxon's. The front 5 of Xavier Currill, Tom Wingrove, Jacob Avis, Harry Lane and Luke Gibson dominated the scrum and created the platform for possession in the rucks. Jack Hodgson and Alex Evans were immense working together at the breakdown helping to build the Saxon's count of successful phases.

Top try scorer was Edward Batchelor with 3 tries, supported by Jacob Avis with 2 tries and James Thomas also on the score sheet. Josh Fisher scored 2 conversions.

Amersham & Chiltern RFC 1st Team 28 v 10 Buckingham 1st Team

The 1st Team were able to field a complete set of backs although all but 1 of the forwards had played at least a half for the Saxons earlier in the morning. Despite potential fatigue the Amersham & Chiltern forwards responded fastest to a well worked move which saw Saajan Jassy break the line before being tackled by the full back just meters from the try line, A&C recycled well before Jack Hodgson stormed over for the opening try. From the restart a partially charged down kick from Raphael Weatherall was collected by Sammy Sinclair who burst through to score the second try. Buckingham then took charge of possession to mount pressure of their own, first collecting their own high kick to break free to score and then following a line break which took them within a meter of the A&C line (great tackle from Sammy Sinclair), A&C were unable to clear their line and eventually succumbed to a second try. This set up the final half as the decider, the A&C defence improved its line speed to place pressure of Buckingham which finally paid off with a try from Saajan Jassy to put A&C more comfortably in front before another strong run from George Birch eventually lead to Sammy Sinclair breaking free to score his second to put the game beyond reach. Raphael Weatherall kicking 4 conversions out of 4.

A big thank you too Xavier Currill and Tom Wingrove for playing ¾ of the matches in the front row, spearheading a pack that was able to control many phases of the game, thereby creating space for strong carries from Henry Keith and Serge Fox as well as linking play, through Raphy Weatherall along the backs to Piers Lane, Joshua Fisher and Saajan Jassy. Thanks to Henry Keith and Edward Batchelor for also spending time in the front row.

Special mention to Jacob Avis who played both games in the front row but also made himself available for 2 tries for the Saxons and countless carries and wide tackles for the 1st team and Alex Evans who played both games at back row, both of whom were able to keep their intensity to see A&C win the final half.