Harpenden 22 - Amersham & Chiltern 30

All in all this was not one of the boys finest hours. The squad was decimated through county calls and non-availability and we ended up travelling with 13. A&C were kind enough to lend us two players who did their best.

After the previous week’s exertions the boys were not up for this game it showed through the sluggish start which manifested itself in poor defence and dreadful handling.

After 17 minutes and with no Harpenden play of any merit in mentioning, Harps had conceded two tries and a penalty to be 15-0 down. Then after 20 minutes someone flicked the “on-switch”, Zac Kent won a lineout at the front of the line and released early ball to the backs. Dougie Norris made a good break at inside centre and only a desperate tackle by the full back kept him out. But Andrew Brown was in close support to recycle the ball to Toby Turk who went over for a try converted by Adam Hills.

Then someone pulled the plug again and Harps went back into their shell to concede two more tries for a deserved half-time lead of 25-7 to A&C.

Harps started the second half in a better mood, at least in defence where they had started to make their tackles. However, in attack they were still guilty of creating chances only to stuff it up through silly handling mistakes. Eventually the Harps pressure paid off when Zac Kent stole an A&C line out deep in the A&C half. The pack put in a big drive to take the maul right up to the A&C line. Toby Turk was held up over the line but the ball was recycled to Sean Longden who burrowed over to score an unconverted try to make it 25-12 after 47 minutes.

Harps took clean ball at the restart and the pack slowly took the ball into the opposition half. Both pack and backs battered away but could not broach the A&C defence. With 7 minutes left A& C cleared to touch at their 10m line. Ali Mills provided quick ball which the backs ran. Adam Hills was tackled 1m short of the A&C line but the ball came back quickly and Courtney Dodds was able to weave his way over for another unconverted try and a scoreline of 25-17.

Unfortunately, a dropped ball at the restart meant that A&C were able to hack the ball to within 5m of our line and a knock on gave us a scrum. However, the ball spat out of the back of the scrum and A&C were first to the ball and despite what looked like a clear knock-on the try was given to make it 30-17.

In fairness the boys came straight back to reclaim the kick-off and A&C were penalised for offside. John Collins put the ball to within 5m of the A&C line. Toby Turk drove on to the A&C line before smuggling the ball to Sean Longden who scored his second try of the game.

There was barely time for the restart before the referee blew for time and a 30-22 win for A&C.

One to forget.

Team

Sean Longden, Toby Turk, Joe Beale, Zac Kent, Andrew Brown, Tom Baker, Ali Mills, John Collins (capt), Courtney Dodds, Dougie Norris, Tris Francis, Luke Johnson and Adam Hills.

Coaches:

Robin Longden

T: 01438 832217

M: 07785 555653

Mike Baker

T: 01582 760531

Mike Norris

T: 01525 373319