Chosen Hill FP 20 Ivybridge 13

With first use of the wind and slope Ivybridge, who had no opportunity to warm-up after their coach was delayed on the motorway, were quickly into their stride and for the opening five minutes there was barely a halt to play as first Ivybridge and then Chosen launched wave after wave of end to end attacking moves.

The first scoring opportunity fell to Chosen but skipper Andy King was off target with a penalty goal attempt after the visitors infringed at a ruck. Ivybridge’s outside half Steve Atkinson missed a drop goal attempt on fifteen minutes before Chosen opened the scoring when they won a set scrum twenty metres out and number eight Ian Riddel broke off to hand an inch perfect pass to oncoming centre Matt Elston who crashed over near the posts with King adding the conversion.

On the half hour Ivybridge’s Atkinson landed a penalty goal but five minutes later Chosen increased their lead when prop Jonny Mullis finished off a driving maul with an unconverted try. Chosen then lost flanker Tom Gyde to the sin bin and whilst he was off the visitors scored a try of their own when their forwards, reinforced by the addition of several of their backs, drove a maul over the line. Atkinson converted but Chosen had the last say of the half when they attacked up the left and then cleverly switched play across to the right where left wing Ashley Lewis arrived with perfect timing to take the final pass and cross for an unconverted try in the corner and a 17 – 10 lead to the home side.

With the elements in their favour Chosen started the second half strongly and were obviously hoping to cross for a fourth and bonus point try but it never arrived as committed Ivybridge defence repeatedly halted promising attacks. The only scores of the somewhat disappointing second half were penalty goal exchanges from King and Atkinson.

The win, combined with results elsewhere meant that Chosen retained their ninth place in the table and next week they travel to Bristol to take on third placed Old Redcliffians.