BERRY HILL 49 CHOSEN HILL FP 5

Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup Semi-Final
Berry Hill 49 Chosen Hill FP 5

Having decided that their priorities for the rest of the season lay with consolidating their Western Counties North status, Chosen Hill opted to take the field in this Intermediate Cup semi-final with an experimental team that contained just four first team regulars including two playing out of position, and whilst those that stepped up a level from the second team performed admirably, Chosen Hill were unable to match the team cohesion of their hosts.

The match was mostly played from end to end at a frantic pace, with both teams opting to spread the ball wide at every opportunity. Berry Hill took the lead after just six minutes when they landed a penalty goal after Chosen infringed in the tackle. Berry Hill’s experienced forwards were causing the Chosen eight some problems at the set scrums and with their driving mauls and line out play, and using their forwards to good effect, they scored three first half tries and one conversion for a 20 – 0 half time lead.

Chosen started the second half brightly and got their only points of the match after five minutes of the second half when veteran hooker Kirk Lewis was driven over by his fellow forwards for an unconverted try in the corner.

Chosen’s decision to opt for an experimental team had looked fine to start with but when they lost first team regulars full-back Ashley Lewis with a broken nose, prop Kieran Bowes and influential second row and skipper for the day Craig Hopton with a leg injury they found that despite some fine defensive work from the likes of Matt Bates, Jamie Gamble and Jon Pavey they were unable to compete effectively and Berry Hill ran in six second half tries to seal victory.

Chosen Hill now turn their attentions to next week’s home clash with high flying North Bristol who are a side that Chosen have had many close encounters with in the past.