Cruel Cup defeat for Chiswick

Rugby Result :- Trojans 15 Chiswick 7

In the end the one-dimensional game plan of the home team gave them victory over the best efforts of an enterprising Chiswick team who did not deserve to lose. In all fairness, the Trojans tackled splendidly throughout an encounter where Chiswick did 90% of the attacking, but made a few crucial mistakes when openings were there.

Early on lock Mike Sampson ruled the line outs, and Chiswick had good possession in this arena, although the heavier home forwards were more solid in the scrums. The new formation of Chiswick threes, with Mark Jones on the wing, and Sam Brown as a second play maker, began to settle down and provide some good passing, with fly half Keith Luckman, centre Brown and full back Lewis Hammond all showing excellent handling in picking up less than perfect passes.

The enthusiastic Chiswick No.8 Alistair Pickering was involved in everything and despite taking a bad knock refused to leave the pitch. Graham Robbings was terrier-like all over the pitch, and Chiswick were looking good. A great run down the left wing by Rory Vere ended with an inside pass to the supporting and clear Ian Walker, but unfortunately he just overran the pass. Another good Chiswick attack was pulled up from behind for a marginal forward pass. The referee was being strict, and eventually Trojans went ahead with a simple kick from the Chiswick 22.

With the sun behind them, Chiswick started the second half with some scintillating play, culminating in a simple try. Sampson took the lineout ball; Marko Chraplewczyk tidied up, Luckman to Brown, Brown to Vere, Vere to Jones, and Jones over the line five metres in from touch. Luckman kicked a great conversion, and things were looking rosy. Trojans had other ideas, however. Still sticking to their game plan of their fly half kicking for position, with an occasional short outside pass as an alternative, and solid tackling, they managed to hang on, and after Gavin Nichols had replaced the injured Chiswick hooker, Elliott Pickering, Chiswick missed a crucial scoring chance when with a good overlap the pass out was far too long for all of the supporting players.

A heel against the head, and Luckman had a chance of a dropped goal, but scuffs his kick. Suddenly, a blind-side break by the Trojans fly half leads to a football scenario as the ball is kicked past Hammond. A neat back-heel sets up the home centre, who plunged over the line in the corner. Chiswick tried to rally after this outrageous score, only to lose Alistair Pickering to a leg injury. Undeterred they maintained the pressure and got a five metre penalty. Luckman’s kick came back off the post into a pair of solid Trojan hands. The final minute saw the ultimate irony, when a bandaged Chiswick hand fumbled the umpteenth pass, for the home team to run through and score another try. A huge effort, rewarded only by two injuries, was applauded by the handful of Chiswick supporters who had made the long trip to Southampton.

Chiswick team - Donaldson, Pickering E ( Nichols ), Campbell, Sampson, Chraplewczyk, Maguire, Robbings, Pickering A ( Nicolle ), Walker, Luckman, Vere, Brown, Gibson, Jones, Hammond

November 22, 2006