Exiles win U13 Surrey Bowl Final.

People sometimes ask why the Exiles match reports do not identify individual players. Well it is games such as today’s Surrey Bowl Final against win Reeds & Weybridge RFC that exemplifies why. This was a whole squad performance as every Chipstead player left a bit of themselves up at the Meads today.

In the League match earlier in the season, a depleted Chipstead squad lost to Reeds 22-7. The question was how would today’s Bowl Final resolve itself? The Reeds team that took to the field was exactly as expected. Physicality upfront provided penetration but the triptych that characterises Reeds are speed to the breakdown, speed to close down the opposition, and various options in support to keep the ball in play and the game fluid. In short Reeds are a well drilled squad. This was not going to be an easy contest.

The game started with Chipstead being assailed from the off as Reeds probed and tested our defences. From 1 to 15 the Exiles held the line and after this initial period of pressure a degree of equilibrium and parity was established. Partisan Reed's support continually sought to advise the referee on various nuanced and not so nuanced aspects of the Laws of the game, but on the pitch the players set about the more pertinent process of challenge and riposte. First advantage went to Reeds who went over for a try which, on balance, reflected the flow of play. However, the try was unconverted and so at the restart the gap was only 0-5. Chipstead began to exert more pressure with a series of territorial plays resulting, ultimately, in a penalty inside the visitor’s 22. For the first time this season we elected to kick for goal rather than tap and run and, with the penalty dissecting the uprights, both teams went into the interval with points on the score card (3-5).

If spectators had thought the first half had been a bruising encounter, that was nothing to what the second period of play delivered. By my watch the first six minutes of play actually lasted about 12 minutes due to stoppages for injury. Some of the impacts on the hard ground even made seasoned spectators wince and there was a risk of physicality boiling over at times; but the referee controlled the combatants well and allowed the game to flow.

This was not however just a game of attritional Rugby. Neither team had reached this final by being one-dimensional and for Chipstead mention must be given to the catch and drive from the line-outs which continually brought a smile from the coaches; and the support at the breakdown allied to the identification of opportunities to run the ball also provided evidence of the continuing maturity of the Exiles squad. Both sides had opportunities in the half but finally it was a passage of Chipstead pressure within 5 metres of the Reeds' line that saw the Exiles drive over the try line for the five points and a narrow lead.

The try was unconverted and Reeds, with the clock ticking down piled on the pressure. The penalty count started to mount for Chipstead with offsides or hands in the ruck and Reeds gradually began to encroach up the field in 10 metre increments. However the visitors could not break through the Exiles’ line and despite having the momentum for the final period of play Chipstead held back the tide. Finally, with the ball going into touch, the final whistle sounded and the Exiles had secured another trophy with a narrow 8-5 win.

Congratulations to the whole Chipstead U13s squad. This was a consummate team performance and provides a great end to a season that started slowly and gradually built momentum. Well done to Reeds for providing by far the sternest test the Exiles have faced yet, this really was a game that could have gone either way and we look forward to meeting up again next season in the League.

A few final thoughts and observations. We’d like to thank Mr Bush for officiating and keeping the players focused on the game. Mention also needs to be made to the Exiles’ players not selected who came up to support. This win was a win for the whole squad and exemplified what being an Exiles is all about. Congratulations and thank-you.