CHOSEN HILL FP 15 BARTON HILL 8

Chosen, who had to make last minute changes to their forward pack when skipper Chris Jones turned his ankle in the warm-up, had first use of the Brookfield Road slope but it was Barton Hill who opened the scoring with a penalty goal after five minutes.

However, Chosen were quick to respond and just five minutes later, with their forwards replicating the lineout drives that had proved so successful in their previous victory at Bristol Harlequins, they drove a five meter penalty lineout over the whitewash for flanker Tom Gyde to touch down for a try that number ten Andy King narrowly failed to convert.

The next twenty minutes was very much about strong defences as both sides looked to open up play but were unable to make the final breakthrough and just before the break, which arrived with no further score, Chosen lost flanker Gyde to the sin-bin after a tackle offence.

King started the second half with a precision drop out that enabled number eight Rob Panting to win the ball in the air and it was quickly shipped out along the backs and then back through the forwards to within ten metres of the Barton Hill line where the visitors conceded a penalty but Kings goal attempt from near the touch line went wide.

Chosen’s second try came after fifty five minutes when a fine team effort ended with in-form centre Mike King crashing over the line. Brother Andy converted to extend the lead to 12-3.

Both sides went close several more times but again, strong defences were the order of the day, and on eighty minutes, and with both sides expecting the final whistle, King knocked over a penalty goal to ensure victory. However, the referee ordered a re-start and after five minutes of added time Barton Hill powered over for an unconverted try that finally signalled the end of the match.

The victory moved Chose up to 5th place and next week they play their final match of 2013 when they travel to 8th placed Avon to whom they lost 30-31 earlier in the season.