MIDSOMER NORTON 21 CHOSEN HILL FP 22

Last week Midsomer Morton had recorded a fine victory over Matson at Redwell Road whilst Chosen went down heavily at home against new leaders Chew Valley so the odds were pretty much stacked in the home side’s favour but Chosen were determined to bounce back from defeat and continue their run of away victories and things looked promising when winger Ashley Lewis crossed the line after just five minutes but he had put a foot in touch and the opportunity was lost.

However, minutes later Chosen’s continuous pressure did tell when full back Scott Claridge joined the line at pace and scorched over unopposed for the opening try with Lewis’s conversion attempt drifting just wide.

Play was going from end to end with both sides looking to run the ball at every opportunity but defences were strong and after fifteen minutes the home side were awarded a penalty which they duly converted.

Ten minutes later they took the lead with an unconverted try of their own but on the stroke of half time Chosen won a line out fifteen metres out and great play from second row Marc Riddel set up flanker Rob Panting who barged his way through two tackles to cross the line under the posts with Lewis adding the extras for a four point interval lead.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Midsomer regained the lead with an unconverted try from a driving line out and, in what turned out to be a bit of a purple patch for them, they then drove over from a five metre scrum near the corner to extend their lead to six points.

Despite losing number ten Mike King to a recurring knee injury Chosen continued to push for a converted try that would give them the lead and it came with just twenty minutes remaining when centre Josh Pettifer, back in the team for the first time since being injured in the opening match of the season, ran a lovely line to go over under the posts. Lewis converted and Chosen led 19 – 18.

When Chosen were penalised for offside just outside their twenty two Midsomer gratefully accepted the three points that put them back in front by just two, but then in the final minute of play Chosen won a scrum about forty metres out and Claridge, who had moved to ten, displayed his foot-balling skills when he calmly slotted over a drop goal that gave his side victory by just one point.

Next week, Chosen are at home to Cirencester who currently sit bottom of the table.