Tie Produces Feast of Attacking Rugby

Rugby result : Chiswick 22 UCS Old Boys 22

With the weather relenting, Chiswick and UCS provided a feast of attacking rugby, with only the laws preventing a really cracking match.

UCS took off at pace, and within three minutes were a try to the good, after seizing upon a slight error as Ben Cheston made a great break out of defence and moving the ball at pace along the line.

A couple of minutes later, Tom Duffy, being tried at full back, opened the home account with a good penalty kick. Both wings, Marcus Rowley and Adie Lewis then had good surges, as Chiswick piled on the pressure. Duffy produced a great charge down as UCS tried to escape from the corner, and Jan Joubert, Al Pickering and Cheston worked the ball to Rowley, who scored near the posts. Duffy converted. Still only seven minutes into the game! Four more minutes, and a disputed high tackle decision allowed Duffy to add three more points.

UCS now showed their teeth, after Chiswick had fluffed the kick-off. Masters of the maul, they put huge pressure on the home team, but eventually had to settle for three points as the defence held. From the home kick-off, the UCS No.6 showed his paces, and a clean(ish) pair of heels to most of the Chiswick team. Duffy held firm however, and put in a great tackle. After Stuart Parmeter had stretched his legs down the left wing the pack showed that even in retreat they could win a ball against the head. UCS came back towards the end of the half, and aided by another disputed decision, this time for a deliberate knock forward, they set up a long mauling session, ending with a try near the posts, duly converted.

UCS kept up the pressure at the beginning of the second half, and their No.6 scored under the posts, with the home defence looking anything but tidy as they tried to deal with yet another maul. Things soon changed, a great penalty kick by Duffy demonstrating that holding on to the ball does not always pay. Dave Thornton produced a masterly defensive kick, over the opposition and bouncing into touch, as the new scum half settled down. The play was all attack and counter-attack, and after Duffy had slotted another penalty from just inside the UCS ten metre line, the match was heading for a grandstand finish. Duffy had another chance from almost the same spot, and pulled it just left as the Chiswick supporters groaned. Surely time was up. No, said the referee, and then, deep into extra time, UCS gave away another, right in front of the posts. A cool looking Duffy made no mistake, and the final whistle blew.

Chiswick team :- Warrington ( Donaldson S), Joubert, Parmeter, Hood, Pickering M, McDonald ( Fletcher ), Robbings, Pickering A, Thornton, Luckman, Lewis, Gibson, Cheston ( Hammond ), Rowley, Duffy

November 30, 2009