Gosford All Blacks 6 Chesham 24 - 22nd November 2009
This was league match number 2, away at Gosford All Blacks. Chesham needed to register a win having narrowly lost their opening league game, and though they had to work hard for it, a win was what they got.
Good discipline and effective application of practiced moves portrayed a well-drilled Chesham outfit. By closing down just that bit quicker, and regularly getting support to the ball carrier instead of leaving him isolated, Chesham’s win was well-earned.
Gosford decided to get their noses in front by kicking their first penalty, and a very good kick it was to put Chesham 0-3 down after about 5 minutes. So Chesham had to respond fast. After a good scrum on the half-way line Imanol Walsh screamed for the ball, but it was a decoy. Joe Cross racing in from his deep full-back position was the real target and it all went like clockwork. Before the Gosford ranks had realised what was happening Joe’s strength, speed and direct line took him through to score and provide Alex Hanney with a kick to put Chesham on top at 7-3. Not long afterwards another neat and tidy scrum by the Chesham pack formed a perfect base inside their 22. Instead of kicking against the wind to gain territory Arthur Edwards released the backs. Down the line the ball went through Tom Cullen, Alex Hanney, Imanol Walsh, Joe Cross and out to Dom Walshaw but there was still a long way to go. Each making ground and off-loading with timely passes to commit the defenders, they all followed up with support at speed. It was Dom Walshaw who took the final pass back inside and with the last All Black snapping at his heels he made for the line and made it 12-3. The wind was doing some strange things and the conversion was missed as Alex tried to work it out.
Gosford now needed to work out how to get back into the game and they forced Chesham right back towards their line. With 10 metres to go Chesham conceded a penalty and it seemed certain that Gosford would take a quick tap and drive to try for a try. Instead they kicked to reduce it to 12-6. But Chesham continued to defend well. Jules Wallis, Joe Cross and others made some important tackles to prevent Gosford from making ground. As half-time beckoned Chesham regrouped and treated the supporting parents to some total rugby. Again and again the pack drove forward with the brawn of captain Ollie Cato and Jonny Reynolds picking and moving it on, drawing-in the Gosford forwards. Front rowers Peter Duvall, Ben Brown and Cameron Watts drove it forward and across the pitch with tight control and solid rucking. Alex Partington, Richard Deane and Jack Davies too were piling in to build another safe base for the now hungry backs, eagerly awaiting another chance to run it. With both packs committed to the rucks, Arthur at scrum-half decided there was just enough established advantage and this time moved it quickly out to Tom at fly-half. From there Alex fed Imanol who looked for Joe outside him. With Dom perfectly placed in support as his wing man, Joe saw the gap and ran it in, having the presence of mind to come across and score between the posts to give Alex another 2 points and make a winning position more safe. 19-6 at half-time was a fair reflection.
After 20 minutes of the second-half, which saw the introduction of Nick Jones in the forwards and Joss Wright in the backs, no further score was made. Joss Wright was unlucky to have one pass to him adjudged forward otherwise he would have scored. Nick Jones settled-in well with the pack and fresh legs helped to maintain momentum. The Chesham forwards all looked in control lifting safely and accurately in the line-outs, making sure the ball was retained, moved forward or stolen when necessary. The Gosford scrums were hard and strong but Chesham kept matching them, competing with strength. Then an unfortunate heavy fall after a Chesham tackle left one of the Gosford players needing attention and a lengthy stoppage followed. After the restart only the quick-thinking of Alex Hanney’s quick tap penalty and a trademark side-winding run gave any further score and he made the line for a final score of 24-6.
This win lifts Chesham up the league and the ascent has begun. The Gosford captain named Joe Cross as their pick of the Chesham team, and Ollie singled-out the Gosford number 10 for his play-making. Plaudits all-round for a great afternoon of rugby. The afternoon kick-off certainly suited the Stags.
Chesham Under 17s: Ben Brown, Ollie Cato (Captain), Joe Cross, Tom Cullen, Jack Davies, Richard Deane, Peter Duvall, Arthur Edwards, Alex Hanney, Nick Jones, Alex Partington, Jonny Reynolds, Jules Wallis, Imanol Walsh, Dominic Walshaw, Cameron Watts, Joss Wright.
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