CHIPPENHAM 66 CHOSEN HILL FP 14

After last week’s disappointing display at Walcot, Chosen were looking to salvage some pride and hopefully some points but they got off to a bad start when a down field kick that was meant to put pressure on the home side drifted harmlessly in field and home full back John Squire launched a counter attack, chipping the Chosen defence to give himself a clear run to the posts. Taylor converted and Chosen were seven points down within just two minutes.

Chosen recovered some composure as their forwards matched the home eight at line-out and scrum and a stalemate developed before slick passing and support play saw the home side score their second converted try after eighteen minutes. Ten minutes later Chippenham scored and converted again but Chosen refused to give in and on the half-hour outside half Matt Elston crossed for a try converted by winger Mark Yemm. Two minutes later they cut the deficit to just seven points when centre Justin Andrews scored with Yemm again adding the extras but on the stroke of half time the home team scored and converted their bonus point forth try.

Ten minutes into the second half Chippenham touched down again but the conversion was missed and Chosen still had hope of adding two tries for a bonus point, but as the game entered the final twenty minutes the high temperature and constant defensive effort began to take it’s toll on a Chosen team who were showing a lot more commitment than the previous week. With the game effectively won,Chippenham’s confidence was sky high as they began to throw the ball around and they added five further tries, the last three coming in the final five minutes.

Chosen have two home league matches left, whilst St Ives, the side below them on points difference but equal on points, have just one match remaining so Chosen’s fate may not be known until after they have played Clevedon at Brookfield Road on Easter Saturday.