CHOSEN HILL FP 23 AVONMOUTH OLD BOYS 37

The injury jinx that has marred Chosen’s season struck again when influential centre Max Hough turned an ankle during mid-week training meaning that Chosen took to the field with three seventeen year old backs in their team but they got off to a dream start when winger Ashley Lewis followed up the Chosen kick-off and leapt high in the air to take the ball and charge into the visitors twenty-two. When he was halted, the ball was quickly re-cycled and forwards and backs combined well to send flanker Mike Panting charging over near the posts. Full-back Adam Morgan, who had only got off a plane from America six hours earlier, landed the conversion to leave the shell shocked visitors seven points down.

Ten minutes later, Panting who has been in fine form this season, had to leave the field with an ankle injury to be replaced by Kirk Lewis. Avonmouth got their first points on the board after fifteen minutes with a penalty goal from full-back Joe Wearne and ten minutes later he put his side in front by one point when he crossed for an unconverted try.

Morgan landed a penalty goal for Chosen to re-gain the lead and added a second penalty shortly afterwards but on the stoke of half time Avonmouth skipper Neil Evans crossed for a converted try to give his team a 15-13 interval lead.

Minutes into the second half Chosen’s chances of victory were dealt a severe blow when skipper John Wand, who was having a fine match playing at outside-half instead of his customary scrum-half position, was late tackled and forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury. The resultant penalty allowed Chosen to clear their lines but the enforced re-shuffle of their back line inevitably meant they lost some of their momentum.

An unconverted Avonmouth try increased their lead but when their hooker was yellow carded Morgan landed the penalty goal to keep Chosen in the game at 16-22.

With fifteen minutes remaining a third try from the visitors looked to have secured them a comfortable victory but Chosen were still in determined mood and their forwards were matching the Avonmouth eight in all departments so it came as no surprise when with just five minutes remaining, replacement flanker Kirk Lewis matched his son’s earlier efforts with a try of his own. Morgan converted to narrow the gap to just six points but, on the stroke of full time, Avonmouth had the final say with their fourth and bonus point unconverted try.

To see photos from this match courtesy of Sammi Parfitt of Avonmouth Old Boys RFC click on this link:
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/avonmoutholdboys/photos/avonmouth-37-vs-23-chosen-hill-191879.html

Next week, Chosen travel to the Forest of Dean to re-new matches against old rivals Berry Hill.