Chiswick Fail To Sparkle In 'Easy Victory'

Rugby result : Old Millhillians 12 Chiswick 45

Although this was eventually an easy victory, Chiswick only sparkled intermittently, due in part to a spirited Millhillians team who took the game to the visitors throughout.

Early Chiswick pressure led to a successful penalty kick by Keith Luckman, and although surging runs by Marc Jones and Simon Slattery were pulled up just short, a second three points were soon on the board.

The home cover tackling was good, as it had to be with Chiswick often breaking the defensive line. Good work by Ben Cheston, catching an intended kick through at point blank range, led to the first try.

Alistair Pickering, and Luckman were involved before John Gibson, rocketing up the middle of the park found Brynley Price in support. The latter sidestepped the last defender neatly and swerved inside him before touching down to give Luckman another easy kick. Another penalty, and Luckman added another three to the total.

Gibson did well to survive a near-hospital pass moments later, and indeed managed to make good ground against three opponents. Millhillians then had a spell of pressure as Chiswick kept getting offside, and it needed good tackling by Adi Milak at full back, by the ubiquitous and much-bandaged Graham Robbings and by Al Pickering ( to select just a few ) to keep the home team at bay. Not for long – with their prop soaking up mid-field tackles their No.6 found his way to the line for a good try, duly converted. Robbings picked up another injury, and was replaced by Chris Jones, returning from injury. Cheston tried a chip kick, and although the defender was first to the ball, Cheston somehow got the ball and found the sprinting Gibson with a flattish pass. No one else was near, and that was another seven points. Luckman then produced his best kick of the half to slot a longish penalty attempt just before half time.

It took fifteen minutes for Chiswick to add to their total. Pressure was sustained through several phases of play before Gibson, who was having a blinder, spotted a half-gap through which he forced his way to go under the posts. Luckman stroked another one over. Millhillians winger had a run, but chose Sam Hood and Marc Jones to try to chip over – not a realistic option. Trying to run the ball from deep, usually a Chiswick speciality, can be dangerous, and when the ball flew through Milak’s hands and behind Jones the home team had a glimpse of hope. Their first attack was just kept out, but the ball was spun along the line from the ensuing scrum, and their full back scored in the corner.

A good maul by the home pack took Millhillians to within five metres of the line, but when they opened out, Cheston destroyed the move. Fryer did a great job of nicking a ball behind the home ruck, but his kick was well marked by the home backs. The Chiswick forwards were still having to put in a lot of tackles, and Aran Delaney and Chris Jones stood out with their high work rates. Slattery had a run down the middle, and found Hood in support. The ball was worked to Jones, but he was pulled up just short. Millhillians tired a little towards the end and Chiswick scored a couple of late tries.

The first was initiated by Chris Jones, who got his fingers in front of the Millhillians’ jumper at a lineout. The ball eventually reached Marc Jones. The winger followed up his own kick, somehow retrieved it, and scored in the corner. The last was a forwards’ special, with sub Graham Johnson snatching the ball from an unfortunate Millhillian and feeding Delaney, who cruised down the left touchline, before signalling a right turn and strolling along towards the posts.

Chiswick team :- Donaldson, Pickering E ( Nichols ), Campbell, Hood, Delaney, Price, Robbings (Jones), Pickering A ( Johnson ), Fryer, Luckman, Slattery, Gibson, Cheston, Jones, Milak

January 28, 2008