NEWENT 30 CHOSEN HILL FP 28

The two sides had not met at senior level for nearly forty years and this match was not only a Western Counties North encounter but also the Quarter Final of the Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup so there was much at stake and in the end Newent managed to cling onto their recent unbeaten record.

Chosen opened the scoring after just four minutes when quick ball from a penalty lineout twenty metres out was shipped from right to left for winger Elliott Creed to cross wide out with number ten Andy King adding the conversion.

Five minutes later Newent landed a penalty goal but soon after King restored the seven point advantage with a penalty of his own before Newent’s second penalty goal was followed soon after by a converted try which put them in the lead for the first time.

A converted interception try from near the half-way line from Andy King put Chosen back in front and on the stroke of half time brother and centre Mike King crossed for Chosen’s third try which went unconverted but gave his side a 22-16 interval lead.

Penalty goals from King on fifty and sixty five minutes increased the Chosen lead to twelve points but with just three minutes remaining Newent responded with a converted try from a quickly taken tap penalty that narrowed the gap to only five points.

A long touch finder from near their own twenty two saw Newent set up a lineout ten metres from the visitor’s line and a Chosen error gave the home side the opportunity for a scrum which they drove towards the line before it collapsed and was reset.

A second scrum drive also collapsed and the referee then awarded a penalty try which levelled the scores and with the final kick of the game the simple conversion gave Newent victory.