CHOSEN HILL FP 13 NORTH BRISTOL 15

Still waiting to have all their squad fit and available on the same day, Chosen’s side showed seven changes from their last league performance with former skipper Chris Dallard coming into the centre and scrum-half Pete Gyde, winger Jamie Gamble and second row James Hemming all making their first full league appearances of the season.

North Bristol had first use of the Brookfield Road slope and after ten minutes they opened the scoring with a converted try after some slick inter-passing between forwards and backs managed to break down the solid Chosen defence.

Chosen outside half Andy King reduced the arrears to four points with a penalty goal after fifteen minutes but the visitors restored their seven point lead with a penalty goal of their own five minutes later. Chosen continued to match their visitors in all aspects of play including the forward exchanges where the visitor’s big pack had been expected to dominate, and King added his second penalty goal on the half-hour to keep his side well in the match..

A minor scuffle just before half time saw Chosen number eight Stewart Hendry sin-binned for “a team offence” and minutes later he was joined by flanker Kirk Lewis but North Bristol were unable to capitalise on their two man advantage and half time arrived with just four points separating the teams.

Early in the second half the visitors lost a man to the bin to reduce their advantage to a single man but all three sin binned players had returned before Chosen took the lead on sixty minutes with a great try from full back Ashley Lewis, who was playing despite awaiting attention to a broken nose.

Chosen won a ruck near the half way line and scrum half Pete Gyde, who was having a fine match, spun the ball out long to King who put a delightful grubber kick through for Lewis to run onto. The full back scooped up the ball and dived over the line with King adding the conversion to put his side 13 – 10 up.

Chosen continued to play with a confidence that defied their lowly league position but the turning point of the match came with just ten minutes remaining. Chosen were penalised thirty five metres out and the visitors opted to kick for the corner. The kick clearly went long and players and spectators alike assumed that it was touch in goal but the visitors touch judge appeared confused and after hesitating, signalled a five metre line out. North won the line out and managed to drive over in the corner for what turned out to be the winning try.

Chosen tried desperately to get into drop or penalty goal distance but were unable to do so and in the end they had to be content with a loosing bonus point.

After the match Chosen coach Chris McNeill sympathised with his side’s frustration but praised their efforts and in particular those of the front row of Ross Pillow, Mike Darby and Dave Revell.
Next week Chosen travel to Bristol to take on Old Bristolians in another league match.