2nd XV win against Old Cats

Chipstead 2nd v Old Cats 2nd
Heavy rain had made the pitch at the Meads very boggy. Chipstead faced Old Cats who were top of the table; they have had some impressive results. Chipstead with a depleted squad for the right reason for supporting the 1st team had only one replacement. Some of the team were carry significant injuries particularly captain Matt with a dodgy shoulder and Skip with a sore rib cage.
The game started with several good phases from both teams but Chipstead had the early dominance in the scrum with Mattie Barretta coming out on top on several occasions. Chipstead should have scored from the scrum when camped on the 5m line but Old Cats stayed strong and somehow scrambled the ball away. It was the boot of a very impressive maturing Chris at 10 from a penalty 24m out 3-0 Chipstead. Chipstead piled the pressure on down the hill and the second score came from a nice move ending with James T going over in the corner, 8-0 Chipstead. Old Cats changed the formation in their scum which made it a more even contest.
In the first half Chipstead had the rub of the green with the referee and some verbal indiscipline from Old Cats saw the referee march them back 10m on several occasions. It was a good contest with Old Cats always looking dangerous on the breakaway and it took a committed scrambled defence to keep them at bay. The forwards from 1-8 were very impressive keeping the game at a high tempo allowing Chris at 10 the platform to release the impressive centres of Richard Bridges and Olly Day who worked extremely hard getting over the gain line and competing fiercely at the break down. The line out worked well with a semi fit Skip in control.
A scrum just in Chips own half saw them drive Old Cats back but the ball popped on Cats side, the ball picked up and a 40m dash saw Old Cats score in the corner up the hill, 8-5 Chipstead. Half time came with an upbeat team talk to maintain the intensity up the hill, not an easy task with a very heavy pitch.
The second half started with Old Cats upping their intensity and Chipstead going off the boil. That was all Old Cats needed to pile the pressure on. Their second score came from good pressure and a try to put them up 10-8. Old Cats looked as though they could score again at will but solid committed defence from Chipstead kept Old Cats at bay. Ollie day had to be replaced with our only sub Alex Elbrow who immediately started rampaging through the centre. With 15 minutes left captain Matt’s shoulder finally gave in, fortunately granddad Boroughs had parked his train up and popped up to see how things were going. ‘’Get your kit on your playing’’. James T went in at 9 and granddad Burroughs put out on the wing. Immediately Ian was put under pressure with a long pass from Chris which did not go to hand but Ian cleverly cleared up the mess and he shored up the wing.
With 10 minutes to go Chipstead got some belief back and started to string some phases together nearly scoring up the hill in the corner. It was the final execution of the pass that let us down but to be fair the conditions had a lot to play in this.
Old Cats should have sealed the game when their impressive 8 picked the ball up and kicked through when we had no full back. But from nowhere Duncan came flying across the pitch and in a last gasp Tom Daley/Gordon Banks style dived and flicked the ball off the 8’s boot with his hand just in time to save a certain try. The next score was going to win the game. Chipstead doggedly zig zagged up the pitch into the Old Cats 22 and were awarded a penalty 20m out with 5 minutes to go. Chris stood tall under a lot of pressure to slot the ball between the posts for 3 points 11-10 Chipstead with 2 minutes to go. Chipstead collected the ball from the restart and marched back up the hill, a few nervous phases later saw the ref blow the whistle for the end of the game. A really terrific win over an impressive Old Cats. Thanks to Mr Jelly and Mrs Day for your support being water boy and running the line. Thanks to those who turned up to watch and helped clear the pitch at the end.
Man of the match in the forwards was a difficult decision but Boris came out on top but any of the 1-8 could have got the shout. The backs again had a good game but Chris got the nudge with his mature game management, with an impressive kicking game out of hand and off the tee.
Well done to Barney, what a coach!

Pete Nics 100 %!