Chips send them Wombling home....

After the disappointment of last week the boys really wanted to bounce back to winning ways and wanting to remain unbeaten to keep the #FORTRESSMEADS tagline.

Unfortunately the fact Mitchell Lock, Kyle Smith, Michael Mason and Conor Bracken were injured and Henry and Tom Colyer away the squad depth was going to being tested. So in stepped Alessio Turkay, George Bingham, John Holah and Thomas Helliwell to make their first 1st XV starts of the season.
OW's were sitting pretty at the top of Surrey One and looking to create daylight between them and the chasing pack. But from the first to the last minute the tight eight in royal blue and gold were utterly dominant and destroyed the of the opposite scrum.
Captain Ed Bush lost the toss and OW's elected to defend the hill and although Chipstead had chances to score they lacked the decisive finish.
HT Chipstead 0 - OW's 3
Half time team talk and we knew it was time to 'play the hill'. After a number of scrum resets the ref finally had enough of the OW's loose-head who had had a torrid time, no mater which side of the scrum he tried, and he was given 10 minutes to cool off. Without a travelling front replacement the OW's had to go to uncontested scrums which was obviously a disappointment to the many fans who had turned out in force after they had circumnavigated the training area repairs and their VP Lunch.
The hobbit from the Shire Alex Jelley stole the limelight from the dominant pack and scored a typical scrum-half poachers try and Tommy added the extras.

The uncontested scrums took some of the excitement out of the game but after a brilliant well rehearsed move number 8 Max Goater galloped down the hill to score in the bottom corner and fortuitously right in front of our Paparazzi Mrs Nicholls. Her son little Tommy remained ice cool and slotted the extra 2. I'm sure she got some good pictures of it, so he can put it on his wall.

Special mention to: Thomas Helliwell for putting in an excellent 80 minutes he loves it really. Alessio Turkay good impact off the bench. John Holah with crucial lineout steals. Max Goater who has 2 tries in as many games as he grows into the senior team putting in a big shift from 8 with many crucial turnovers. George Bingham brillant surging runs.
It will be pleasing (and difficult) as our club and the 'squad game' we are building when people come back from injury ! Coaches Andy, Tommy and Brian will be spoilt for choice for the 1st XV squad which will help in turn the 2nd XV grow in strength too.

The boys celebrated in the club while letting everybody know if you come to #FortressMeads expect to be 'Fed to the lions' and 'Your Defence will be Terrified'.

Next week sees the 1s at home in the first round of the RFU Junior Vase against Askeans of Kent 2.