Chobham 55 – 5 Kingston
This weekend Chobham hosted eigth placed Kingston, a team who’d had a good win the week before against Old Cranleighans in the only game in Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. The last time the two teams met the visitors were totally dominated by the Scarlet & Golds, with a 74-5 win for the Chobham. This week saw only two changes to the Chobham 18, with Matt Bosworth returning to the second row after some fantastic performances recently for The Cannons and Magnus Barber returns to the squad on the bench. It was abig day for Sean Bellion who made his half century of appearances for the 1st XV, having started his career as a Chobham Mini and Junior, with his first appearance at Chichester for a 39-22 win on 09/03/19.
Kingstons first touch of the ball, apart from knocking on the first downfield kick, was to pick the pill up from Chobhams first minute try for Sam Goddard that had gone through eight sets of hands. Everyone at Fowlers Wells expected a routing at this point, but Chobham were not able to build on the early start. From giving the visitors a penalty, Kingston had a great move at the 5m linout with centre Dalton standing in at scrumhalf and being thrown the ball and crossing unopposed to bring them level. The game fizzled out for 10 minutes until Josh Sheppard was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Dalton.
The visitors were not able to take advantage of the extra man for 10 minutes, but saw Chobham score a try through the returning Matt Bosworth in another well worked try with a forwards and backs runniing together. Three minutes later and still a man down captain Guy Mawhood carried out one of his sniping moves evading 3 tackles to score a converted try. The first half saw a great defence by the visitors and Chobhams discipline let themselves down again to make their day hard. The Scarlet & Golds went in at halftime 17-5 up and knew they had to go through the gears for the second half.
2 minutes into the second half and from a Chobham scrum on Kingstons 22 a move through the backs saw Sheppard come off his wing and slice through the defence to score a converted try. A couple of minutes later Sheppard broke the gain line, from the ruck some great hands from the forwards saw Pete McCain pass to Oli Guy for another converted try.
Another great penetrating line break, this time by fullback Tommy Reed set up a ruck where the backs were able to get it to hooker Bellion on the wing and half centurion had the pleasure of scoring on this momentus day. 10 minutes later from a 5m lineout the ever dominant Chobham pack drove over for prop Angus Hargan to score. With a few minutes to go the final nails in Kingstons coffin were hammered in, the first came from a very tired looking defence unable to stop Sam Davies scoring a try under the posts and and converting his 5th on the day – the final try of the day again came as a reult of a tired Kingston unable to keep Sheppard out for his second of the day. The Scarlett & Golds celebrated a decisive 55-5 win.
Head Coach Billy Davison said “we were pleased to get out and win a game after our enforced break due to the weather, Magnus Barber and Matt Bosworths return showed th egreat strength we have in depth as it only strengthened us. It took us 40 minutes to sort our discipline out, but a good 5 point win against a team who never gave up.”
Assistant Coach Robbie Kennard said “a pleasing result and a good overall performance. Our discipline cost us a bit in the first half, once we had that under control we played some good rugby in the right areas. A special mention to Kingston, who were a good set of lads that never gave up, they kept going right till the end.”
Kingston Head Caoch Nick Deere said “thanks Chobham for a great game, they look like a top 2 side to me.”
Director of Rugby Harry Norman-Walker said “I’m really pleased with the result today, we really did show how to kill a game off in the second half with great performances from the half backs and backs rows – having a front row who plays like a back row aslo really made a difference. The boys showed how important an 18 man team who can integrate are, I really believe we are showing our supporters what a great team we have.
It was great to see Sean Bellion make his 50th appearance for his boyhood club.”
Starters: Angus Hargan; Sean Bellion; Pete McCain; Dan Benton; Matt Bosworth; Dan Warren; Max Sambrook; Sam Goddard; Guy Mawhood; Adam Peever; Josh Sheppard; Oli Guy; Sam Davies; John Rumsey; Tommy Reed.
Game Changers: Leon Nell; Magnus Barber; Ollie Blackmur.
