Cullompton 18 Chosen Hill FP 25

With the advantage of the cold easterly wind and buoyed on by their previous week’s away victory over second place Brixham, it was home side Cullompton who opened the scoring after twelve minutes when the ball was worked out to winger Marcus Busch and he squeezed over in the corner for a try converted by full back Ross Toms.

Chosen, who were playing only their third match since November 20th, responded immediately when they drove play deep into the home half and when they were awarded a penalty thirty metres out, skipper Andy King kicked for the corner to set up a driving line out, but although they got the ball over the line they were held up and the opportunity was lost.

Five minutes later the Chosen forwards, who were in magnificent form all afternoon, crossed the line again but as before, fine Cullompton defence meant that they were unable to ground it.

A third driving maul after twenty five minutes finally led to Chosen’s opening score when influential scrum half John Wand flicked the ball out to King and he barged his way over, but his conversion attempt drifted wide.

A penalty goal from Toms increased the home side’s lead but King then kicked a penalty goal himself before, on the stroke of half-time, Toms landed his second goal to send his side into the break with a 13-8 lead.

An injury to centre Max Hough saw Chosen replacement Martin Roberts take the field for the second half and with the wind now behind them King slotted a thirty five metre penalty goal after forty two minutes to reduce the deficit to just two points.

Chosen’s forwards were relishing the tight battle and the back row of Tom Gyde, Ian Riddel and Rich Austin were constantly to the fore in both attack and defence, whilst the front row of Mike Darby, Chris Dallard and veteran Jonny Mullis also did well and locks Rich Mountford and Dean Barnard added powerful contributions both in the loose and at the line-outs.

With territorial advantage set up by their forwards, drop goal attempts from King and centre Jon Coles both narrowly missed before, on fifty minutes, Chosen took the lead for the first time when King crossed for and then converted his second try, but just three minutes later Cullompton set up a tense final quarter when they drew level at eighteen points all after winger Busch went over for his second unconverted try.

With both sides looking for the break through it was Chosen who got the decisive score. A fine counter attacking run from full-back Justin Andrews took play deep into the home twenty-two and when the forwards launched another series of pick and drives it was lock Rich Mountford who finally crashed over for the try converted by King.

The result leaves Chosen in ninth place in the league with games in hand over most of the other sides, and next week they are at home to Ivybridge with a 2.30 kick-off.