BRISTOL HARLEQUINS 41 CHOSEN HILL FP 23

Chosen started strongly with two good counter-attacking runs from full back Ashley Lewis, the second of which took him a full fifty metres from inside his own twenty to deep into Harlequins territory, and when he was halted illegally, outside half Ross Creed landed the penalty goal to put the Churchdown side in front, but this was to be the only time they were in the lead as Harlequins responded just two minutes later with a well worked converted try under the posts.

After twenty minutes Chosen lost number eight Mike King to injury with Rich Austin replacing him and soon after when Harlequins offended at a ruck, Creed landed his second penalty goal to narrow the gap to just one point.

The home side began to dominate at the scrum and with a game plan that clearly involved moving the ball as quickly as possible out to their speedy wingers they enjoyed a twenty minute purple patch in which they ran in three further tries to earn a four try bonus point and take an effective match winning 24 – 6 lead into half time.

For the second half Chosen brought on experienced prop Jonny Mullis and this immediately gave them parity in the set piece and after a solid scrum in their own twenty two they launched a promising attack down the left flank that took them to within thirty metres of the Harlequins line but the ball was given away needlessly by a misjudged kick ahead that landed straight in the arms of the grateful Harlequins outside half who spun the ball out to his fellow backs with the winger sprinting 40 metres to dot the ball down under the posts for a converted try.

A sixth try from Harlequins after fifty minutes following some suspect Chosen defence took their lead to 36 – 6 and things looked bleak for the Churchdown side but with scrum half Matt Elston in fine form and their forwards now more than matching the Bristol eight Chosen began a spirited fight-back that almost landed them two bonus points..

First to score was hard working open-side Rob Panting who was driven over near the corner following a penalty line out. Then fellow flanker Dan Probin went over for a try converted by Creed and minutes later centre Phil Halstead crashed over for try number three but Creed missed the conversion.

With less than ten minutes to go and a Harlequins forward in the sin-bin, it was still all Chosen and their forwards, with replacement Paul Guilding in the thick of things, crossed the line again but they were unable to ground the ball and with time running out Harlequins were then awarded a final try after it appeared that they had thrown the ball forward in the tackle during a counter attack.

So for Chosen a disappointing end to the match but they still have plenty to build on with more players becoming available as the season progresses. Next week with a 2.30pm kick-off, Chosen welcome Burnham-on-Sea for their first ever visit to Brookfield Road