04/10/08
CHINGFORD 17 CIVIL SERVICE 20
CIVIL FINISH STRONGLY TO TAKE THE POINTS
Civil Service finished strongly to take the points in a hard fought game on a windy afternoon. No team visits Chingford at home thinking they will get an easy ride the support alone is an extra man. Civil Service chose to start with the strong wind at their backs and were soon in the Chingford 22 putting pressure on their defence forcing Chingford into a risky wide pass that was intercepted by Tom Sumner to sprint to the line 0-5 after 3 minutes. Stung by the early try Chingford forced the play up field and were rewarded with a penalty quickly taken they surged forward from the ruck spun the ball wide with the Chingford centre bouncing off two tacklers to score a good try and conversion at 12 minutes 7-5. This was followed by Chingford’s best period of play with Civil Service on the back foot and the strong wind playing its part at the line outs. Chingford were looking strong at this point and kept up the pressure forcing Civil Service to infringe and from the tap penalty and ruck spun the ball wide for the No6 to score a good try converted by 12 on 23 mins 14-5. The game settled into a probing game with both sides getting involved but not making the try line due to good defensive work of both sides as the pressure built it was Chingford that received a yellow card and from the penalty 10 Liam Geraghty converted on 47 minutes 14-8. Second half started with much more purpose by Civil Service and forcing a penalty and lineout the ball was passed well in the backs for Wihan Grobler to dive into the corner 14-13. The heat was definitely on Chingford now as Civil Service seemed to find another gear, it was Chingford that now started to suffer in the lineout as the blustery wind played its part, Civil Service missed a penalty. Civil Service made a couple changes and the replacements reinforced the scrum that were having much more success at this point of the game. From the kick off Chingford pressed up field and gained a penalty and made no mistake 17-13. Chingford after catching the ball decided to kick and misjudged it coming all the way back for a scrum from where Civil Service forced play up to the Chingford 22 and in the rumble Chingford received a second yellow card. Short tap penalty Civil Service pressed inside the 22 with a short pass to incoming 7 Chris Kemp powered over for the final try and conversion on 66 minutes 17-20. Civil Service kept up the pressure defending well as Chingford attacked then keeping possession from defence into attack spending more time in the Chingford half. Civil Service were delighted to have bounced back and taken the points at fortress Chingford good result.
Paul Tiller