Abingdon 19 - Chesham 28
Jan
Chesham rugby club got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon after putting down a second half fight-back from a strong Abingdon side. After a long journey the Stags were determined to get their season back on track and obtain their first win of 2012. Despite some soggy conditions, Chesham were able to play their brand of running rugby and scored four tries to clinch a much needed bonus point in a 28-19 victory.
The Stags began the game well with the forwards setting a strong platform allowing the rapid backline to use the ball. Chesham were attacking well but Abingdon were getting to the breakdown first, resulting in a loss of possession for the visitors. The home side were putting boot to ball and looking to use their quick wingers to put pressure on the Stags, but the back three of Chris Cheeld, Alex Jaycocks and Matt Reynolds were up to the task of securing the loose ball and counter-attacking themselves. The first score did not come for a considerable time but eventually Chesham found themselves with a defensive scrum in their own 22. The Stags secured the ball and looked to run out of danger, but the Abingdon centre sniffed an intercept and raced through to score the opening converted try.
Despite dominating the game Chesham were now behind, however, they stuck at their game plan to continue putting pressure on the home side. A back's move resulted in good ground being made, before lock James Leek cut a fantastic angle through the defence. He made valuable yards before offloading to supporting scrum-half James Hook who drove over the line with a defender on his back. Fly-half Tom Hirst added the conversion to level the scores. Soon after, Chesham added their second try. Good hands through the backline saw Cheeld released into space, the winger showing a fantastic turn of pace to spring clear of the defence and score a fine 50 metre try. With two penalties added from the boot of Hirst, Chesham went into half-time ahead and with a man advantage after Abingdon had a man sin-binned for an off-the-ball incident.
The Stags were unable to make use of the extra man at the start of the half and did not add to their tally. Abingdon had dug in and were beginning to feel aggrieved at a number of decisions going against them, this resulted in them turning physical and attempting to bully Chesham out of the game. The Stags did not rise to this and continued looking to play with the ball. They were rewarded when inside centre Zain Sibilant put a grubber kick through the defence. Cheeld found himself first to the ball and showed his footballing skills to kick ahead twice before diving on the ball for his second try of the afternoon.
Finding themselves 23-7 ahead, a combination of complacency and the introduction of some strong Abingdon substitutions seemed to conspire against the visitors. Abingdon scored two quick tries as they cut through Chesham's defence with strong support. They should also have finished a couple more opportunities but the final passes were not put to hand or were knocked-on due to strong pressure from the Chesham defense.
The Stags now found themselves with a narrow four point lead and knew that if they lost, they would have thrown the game away. Some strong words from captain Nick Deans and a good defensive line kept Abingdon from any further scores, before the Stags were able to hit back. A number of strong runs took Chesham into Abingdon territory, before centre Phil Cornhill showed that he could match Cheeld's footballing skills. Cornhill chipped the defense and caught the ball from a good bounce to slide over in the corner with the last act of the match. The try was unconverted but gave Chesham the much needed league bonus point to keep them in fifth place.
This was a hard fought game in which Chesham's forwards set a solid foundation for the backline to play some attractive running rugby. However, the Stags will look to shore up their defense during the week before a tough home fixture against fourth placed Aldermarston on Saturday afternoon.
