Chips take the gift of points off Whitgift

With focus one game at a time on CHIPSTEAD minds as they try and fight out of a relegation battle that they should of never of been in . I don't know the history books but for a team to lose 10 in a row against every team in the league and fight back is probably unheard of. bouncebackability is a local saying. It shows the pride and commitment of all the boys to put body on the line to respect the badge that we all play for every week.

So to the game and playing against an old whitgiftians side currently 3 rd that couldn't get in to top two or moving any lower but the Croydon Postcode Derby bragging rights was at stake for them. With an unheard of 36 players at training on a Thursday the promise of lovely food cooked by Debbie and Frank must be working and it is showing in the results. Long may that continue.
All playing arriving and it was there for the taking as the OW's had a big lunch on to celebrate their last home game all ex players were invited including our very own Tommy Nicholls he kindly refused, John Holah & Simon Martin invites must of got lost in the post. The ref called over the front row and told us from the start he would be very quick around the breakdown area which suited to our new breakdown plays that we had been working on with Coach Wrighty. kickoff came and Mitch was down after the first phase with a tbc broken thumb and with physio Nicki still feeling poorly Coach Wrighty came on with the magic tape. you wouldn't of known that as continually the chips pack lead by Captain of the Day Forrest they pushing whitgiftians where ever they wanted them and up their slope. Whitgift had 2 kick able penalties just outside the 22 and the kicker was just having one of those day with neither going through the uprights. After a good penalty kick to touch from Tommy and 2 or three scrum penalties later and NWT playing at scrumhalf to cover the injured Alex Jelly who came and watched . NWT crashed over after 2 phases. Tommy was running things with ball in hand but with the open blustery conditions his kick went wide. They got a penalty that wind died down for and the game was now 5-3 to chips. And that's how it stayed until half time it was a heroic effort from all 15 playing up hill and against the wind.
things we said in the huddle and we now had the environment to put the game to bed. just before half time Wrighty asked whether we should make any changes and I was itching to get on but those boys had deserved the right to give all they had got to give everything before they came off.
no changes and kickoff came for the second half.
chips had a line out on half way and they mauled it to within 5 metres. It was impressive carrying from James Mann who was giving everything like they had all been told. after a couple of phases in the far left corner and the ref had awarded a try and Kieran Dupe had emerged with the ball. Kieran has come into some criticism from certain members of the club as have the other Dupe clan about the amount of yellow cards that had been received but Kieran responded brilliantly and was hands down the best player on the park (which isn't really easy to write about your little brother) he was everywhere, tackled everything and won key turnovers. it was a brilliant decision by Wrighty to go with two 7's as Darren was equally impressive in defence and his trademark 'snake hips' runs up field.
Tommy missed the conversion and it was now 10-3 to the royal blue&golds.
the scrum had started to creak a bit but the line outs were rarely won by OWs as Henry dominated their jumpers on nearly every occasion. A mix of poor and tired defending and they got a score just to the left of the posts which was duly converted. 30 mins to go and I came on for Mann who was impressive. A break by the back 3 of the goat, angry man and Calum nearly got a try for Mr angry but a brilliant cover tackle just prevented a score in the bottom corner. Then a brillant smash through the centre from Loz who without doubt has been on par with food after training in the upturn of fortunes around #fortressmeads made a break offloaded to the ever present Kieran who was brought down a good clear out by Tom Helliwell quietly going about his business as he always does and NWT heard my call of a rewind and I duly ran in from the half way line I went as close as I could to the posts. but maybe the whitgiftiness got the better of Tommy and he missed the conversion to make it 15-10 to chips. We really needed to take it to beyond a converted try. Tom Colyer making a burst and burning past ex-CHIPSTEAD player Nathan Yarde who is no slouch himself but no support and opportunity was lost. They brought back on topknot a very rangy winger with a impressive hairpiece our resident Beckham Si Martin was impressived even with his latest creation. Holah made was for the newly tanned Boz who started to steady up the scrum and we got back on top.
A penalty on whitgiftians 10 and Tommy duly stepped up to put he game beyond doubt. A cameo and fleeting appearance by Si Martin at the end to see out the game shows that competition for places.

in 2 weeks time in our final game of the season v Kingston at home #fortressmeads 3 ko followed by a bbq and games please come along and support the boys.
So not 100% but after 2 promotions in to new leagues for the seniors and both avoiding relegation with lately a young side shows the talent we have gracing the meads on Sunday morinings credit to all of them and their coaches. 13 of the match day were 24 and under and of those 13, eleven had come through the CHIPSTEAD ranks .
So onwards and upwards for the little village club #chipsfam