Staines U16 v Chipstead U16

Chips U16 v Staines U16

There was no Valentines massacre on this awayday to Staines as Chips got back to playing the way they did before Christmas, the score belying the great effort put in, with Staines only pulling away late in the second half when they brought on a fresh back line against the tired and injury denuded Chipstead.

Chips started fantastically with superb rucking and fast ball. Very quickly this led to Chips first try with the WHOLE pack clearing out a ruck and all of them going beyond the ball for Bushy to put a long pass out to Glass Jaw Jelley who, stretching for the ball, took it at full pace and easily broke through the defence to touch down under the posts. Hicksy scored the easy conversion.

Staines then woke up and played some good rugby, ably assisted by some interesting decisions at the scrum by the ref when Chips took the ball against the head, and they too scored out wide.

A very balanced first half.

The second half continued in the same vein with Chips winning much ball, being particularly successful in the lineout. This led to a try out very wide on the right for Jonesy. Hicksy stepped up to have a strike from as far out wide as was possible, from which he hit the conversion that the bookies would have given heavy odds against being converted. He won`t hit a better kick for a long time. Superb.

After this Dupey came off and uncontested scrums ensued. This seemed to unsettle Chips and they lost their go forward resulting in Staines scoring another good try out wide which was not converted. Despite still being in front Chips lost their focus a bit and despite some great tackles, particularly one by Hegarty junior which saved a definite try, Chips leaked a couple more before the end, not helped by a couple of wrong decisions.

All in all a great performance that was thoroughly enjoyed by both sets of supporters. Our thanks go to Staines for their hospitality.