OLDFIELD OLD BOYS 53 CHOSEN HILL FP 7

With their back division injury crisis not yet over, Chosen started the match with hooker Chrs Dallard on one wing, second row Craig Hopton on the other wing and young winger Jamie Gamble at full back. They also gave a debut to promising17 year old scrum-half Matt Bates.

Playing down the slope, Oldfield opened the scoring after ten minutes when a missed Chosen touch finder gifted the home side’s speedy winger Isaac Weier the first of his three tries. A second try, again scored wide out but this time converted put Oldfield 12 points up but Chosen’s forwards were in fine form and when they drove play up field they set up a series of rucks that ended with the ball being spun out through the backs for centre Max Hough to touch down. Outside half Mark Yemm converted to put his side right back in the match at just five points down.

A third try from Weier and a penalty goal from outside half Brad Barnes put the home side into a 20 – 7 half-time lead.

With the advantage of the slope now in their favour, Chosen were hoping for a better second half but the slick Oldfield back division were in uncompromising form and added five further tries to seal a victory that moved them up into third place in the table.

Despite the result there were several positives that Chosen were able to take from the match. The return of second row Dean Barnard helped ensure that the forwards matched or bettered their counterparts in every phase, and even though he started the match with his ankle heavily strapped, centre Max Hough managed to last the whole 80 minutes. Coupled with this, for the first time this season no further injuries were sustained and a fine “man of the match” debut from young scrum-half Matt Bates was another positive sign for the future.

Next week Chosen welcome Cleve to Brookfield Road with a 2.30pm kick-off.