Chiswick Control Local Rivals

Rugby Result: Chiswick 24 Hammersmith & Fulham 5

Needing five points to stay in the promotion race, Chiswick did just enough against a hard-working Hammersmith team, with neither team making many breaks, but each defending solidly. Hammersmith made the first break, down their left flank, testing the home backs, who linked up well to resist this thrust. Territorially Chiswick relied quite a lot on Oliver Snook’s long kicks to gain ground, and soon had a chance with right wing Max Burrows heading for the left corner. Something went wrong, however, for the first of several instances where good handling moves suffered, perhaps from the stiff cross-pitch breeze ( generous?). Certainly legal and accurate lineout throws were a bit thin on the ground, although in the scrums the home team did well. Chiswick new boy Guy Backhouse had to come on early for a hamstrung and disappointed Gabs Lowe, and oozed confidence. His first run included two sidesteps, a feature of later runs also. Chiswick, with the wind from their right, kept attacking down the left and soon got within a couple of metres of the Hammersmith goal-line, but were well held. Hammersmith in turn were kicking well out of defence.

There was no score after 30 minutes, but then a home try looked
certain as Snook put his foot down, accelerating outside and then inside defenders, but again the move fizzled out. Chiswick soon got over the line, however, with the forwards mauling well, but the ball was held up. The ensuing five metres scrum demonstrated the home power, as the pack rocketed over the line, with Harry Cox getting the touchdown. Snook’s kick drifted left of the posts. Alex Randall was making a good fist of things at No.7, with solid bursts, good tackles and even a lineout take; not to say that anyone was slacking or shirking tackles. Hammersmith missed an optimistic kick at goal from about thirty five metres just before half-time.

With Chiswick now attacking the right corner, Hammersmith had to resist heavy early pressure. When opening out, their main tactic seemed to be the fly-half looping around the inside centre, but Chiswick coped well with this. When the next score came, after eight minutes, it was a simple switch move after a good lineout in the Hammersmith 22. The first attack moved towards the posts, but then Cox switched back to the narrow side, with Snook finding the flying Burrows outside him for a touchdown in the right corner. The excellent kick ballooned up against the wind, but then plopped down just over the bar.

Chiswick now lost a player to a yellow card, but Hammersmith soon gave away a penalty and then a try, as Chiswick mauled from the ensuing lineout to the line, captain Sam Leslie-Miller getting the final touch. A patchy period of play, with lots of mistakes, followed, as Chiswick sought the all-important fourth try. Several players got very close to the line, as Chiswick camped in the Hammersmith 22, including sub Rich Bryan, but again, when one got over, the ball was adjudged held up. Eventually it was down the captain again, and with two players on his back he staggered over the line to huge cheers from the club supporters. The final period had Chiswick defending, and an obdurate Hammersmith applying pressure in the home 22. They deserved their reward, with a try in the dying seconds of the match after several minutes within touching distance of the home line.

Chiswick team:- Barkham, Dibble, Parmeter, Copperwheat, Allen-Clarke, Gadsby, Randall, Leslie-Miller, Cox, Snook, Burrows, Harper, Bunbury, Steer, Lowe; Cooper, Bryan, Backhouse

March 6, 2019