BackSat 03 Sep 2011 · Premier
Chester 2
2nd XV
28
28
Tries: M LANGTREE, A WILSON, C NEVETT, J LONGMOREConversions: J LONGMOREPenalties: J LONGMORE (2)
Chester 2s 28 v Beagles 28
Roger Hooley4 Sep 2011 - 21:06
Honours even - but that doesn`t tell half the story!
Over recent seasons our meetings with Chester have been very keenly contested and usually tinged with controversy. Our opening fixture of 2011/12 was no exception.
With a heavier and more experienced pack (we will gloss over the combined age of our 2nd row!) our plan was to keep it tight and for Bebbs to release the ball to the backs when we could see that the gaps were there for them to exploit. All pretty straightforward you might say, but what we didn`t bank on was some very tenacious defence from Chester which caused us to fail to ground the ball over the line on 3 occasions in the first half, and more critically to allow them to capitalize on turnover ball to run in 3 tries from their own half.
Fortunately, by the time the half time whistle was blown, we`d scored 2 tries of our own, the first from one of the aforementioned stalwart 2nd rows – Langers – and the second from Alex Wilson following a neat switch move in the backs.
So 21-12 down at half time and with the wind in our faces for the 2nd half we knew we`d have to cut out the defensive errors if we were to have any chance of overturning the deficit. To everbody`s credit, not only did we do that but we also maintained control of the ball and were a lot more clinical with the ball in our hands.
A try from Nev to match that of his 2nd row partner set us on our way and we thought that a win was within our reach. What we didn`t bargain on was another piece of opportunistic play from Chester which restored their lead. However, the more the game wore on, the more it looked as though we could sneak the win. Josh Longmuir, on his debut slotted over a penalty and then clinically exploited a gap to score in the corner and which he duly converted to bring us within 3 points of Chester.
A second Longmuir penalty as the clock wound down brought parity, only for Chester to miss an attempt for 3 points of their own, which if successful would have made it very difficult for us to recover.
So, honours shared at the final whistle. We know we can play better, an indeed we will have to if we are to secure a spot in the top half of the league.
The highlights, apart for the much improved all round display in the 2nd half, were a very impressive competitive debut from Mike Waddington, Thommo`s first full game at tight head prop (give or take 15 minutes!) and an encouraging cameo from Olly McCall.
What controversy? That`s another story!
RJH
With a heavier and more experienced pack (we will gloss over the combined age of our 2nd row!) our plan was to keep it tight and for Bebbs to release the ball to the backs when we could see that the gaps were there for them to exploit. All pretty straightforward you might say, but what we didn`t bank on was some very tenacious defence from Chester which caused us to fail to ground the ball over the line on 3 occasions in the first half, and more critically to allow them to capitalize on turnover ball to run in 3 tries from their own half.
Fortunately, by the time the half time whistle was blown, we`d scored 2 tries of our own, the first from one of the aforementioned stalwart 2nd rows – Langers – and the second from Alex Wilson following a neat switch move in the backs.
So 21-12 down at half time and with the wind in our faces for the 2nd half we knew we`d have to cut out the defensive errors if we were to have any chance of overturning the deficit. To everbody`s credit, not only did we do that but we also maintained control of the ball and were a lot more clinical with the ball in our hands.
A try from Nev to match that of his 2nd row partner set us on our way and we thought that a win was within our reach. What we didn`t bargain on was another piece of opportunistic play from Chester which restored their lead. However, the more the game wore on, the more it looked as though we could sneak the win. Josh Longmuir, on his debut slotted over a penalty and then clinically exploited a gap to score in the corner and which he duly converted to bring us within 3 points of Chester.
A second Longmuir penalty as the clock wound down brought parity, only for Chester to miss an attempt for 3 points of their own, which if successful would have made it very difficult for us to recover.
So, honours shared at the final whistle. We know we can play better, an indeed we will have to if we are to secure a spot in the top half of the league.
The highlights, apart for the much improved all round display in the 2nd half, were a very impressive competitive debut from Mike Waddington, Thommo`s first full game at tight head prop (give or take 15 minutes!) and an encouraging cameo from Olly McCall.
What controversy? That`s another story!
RJH
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