St MARYS OLD BOYS 23 CHOSEN HILL FP 40

Chosen Hill travelled to St Marys Old Boys knowing that unless they wanted to rely on other results going their way, a win was vital to ensure South West One West league survival, but an uncharacteristically nervous start saw them concede eleven unanswered points in the first thirty minutes as St Marys belied their lowly league position with a fine display of running rugby.

The sun was shining and the pitch was in perfect condition as the home side showed their intentions from the kick off by opting to run almost all their own possession and Chosen’s nervous start was typified by a high missed tackle count and some desperate last line defence that only added to the confidence of the St Marys back line.

The home side’s pressure finally told when Chosen conceded a penalty near the posts after twenty minutes and outside half Chris Ramwell converted to give his side the lead. Three minutes later St Marys went further ahead when second row Pearce charged over for a try. Ramwell missed the conversion but on the half-hour he added a neat drop goal to give his side an eleven point lead.

Despite the deficit and the shaky start, Chosen began to impress in the set piece and a fine pick-up from the back of a scrum by number eight Dave Wells saw him charge deep into St Marys territory to set up an attack that saw blindside flanker Marc Riddel cross for Chosen’s opening try. Skipper Andy King converted to narrow the gap to four points.

Five minutes later Chosen scrum half John Wand sprinted away from the base of a scrum thirty metres out and Wells was up in support to take the pass and cross in the corner for an unconverted try that put his side in front for the first time. With first half injury time being played skipper King dummied his way through the home defence for a try under the posts and his conversion saw his side take a 19-11 lead into the break.

Almost from the kick off of the second half St Marys number seven Foss showed an incredible turn of speed as he ran in an unconverted try in the corner from twenty metres inside his own half. Chosen then lost flanker Tom Gyde to the sin bin for a high tackle but they continued to press for further scores and two penalty goals from King on sixty and sixty three minutes gave them a nine point lead.

With Gyde back on the field and replacements Ian Riddel and James Hemming on in the forwards Chosen increased their lead when Marc Riddel, who had moved out onto the wing to replace the injured Mark Yemm, crossed for his second try after good approach work from full back Matt Elston and flanker Gyde. King converted but was unable to add the extras to Chosen try number five, scored by hooker Chris Dallard.

With injury time being played St Marys produced another fine attacking backs move that saw them cross for a converted try near the posts but Chosen closed out the match with a final penalty goal from King that brought up the forty points and gave them the victory that ensured their league survival.