Fixture

An excellent display of rugby at Chepstow RFC today.

With the whole team turning up nice and early on what can only be described as a very fresh morning! The boys got changed very quickly and were organised before we even left the changing rooms. We did everything as a team today and that really paid dividends on the field. We talked extensively about concentrating on us and not the opposition and an excellent warm up coupled with brilliant communication ensured that the opposition knew we meant business before we took to the field.

With a lengthy delay from the previous game the boys were like caged animals by time they got on the pitch…. They showed great maturity in getting themselves organised for the kick off and Nathan was very quickly into his stride leaving several bodies on the floor from his first run.  Chepstow were on the scoreboard very early with Nathan going over to give us a 5 point lead, the conversion was unfortunately missed. Soon after, with some excellent handling we were illegally stopped just short of the line, but some quick thinking from Will Morgan put us another try ahead from a quick tap and snipe, again the conversion was missed.

With St. Peters starting to get a little possession, the one and only time our defensive structure wasn’t quite right they went through for a try under the posts which was well and truly against the run of play. The boys didn’t allow their heads to go down and started to monopolise possession and territory with the pack dominating upfront. Briden was turning over a lot of ball on the floor, the one man wrecking machine Lloyd was ensuring quick ball for us and no ball for them and Nathan, Taylor, Joe, Morgan, Sam and Jayden were carrying and linking well with the backs, and this meant we were soon out of sight on the scoreboard. An excellent Hatrick before half time from the exceptional Sam Jenkins, with will Morgan adding another and Ben Hope-bell converting 2 of them resulted in us being 34-7 up at half time. The opposition had no answer to our defence and line speed with us hitting them time and time again behind the gain line, forcing mistake after mistake with the pressure really showing and their game plan being torn to shreds.

With plenty of subs we were able to ring the changes at half time, with Macsyn and Lewis joining the pack, Bobby going on the left wing and Owen starting his first game on the right wing. The boys continued where they had left off, hitting rucks very hard, turning defence into attack and smothering the opposition.

Ben was starting to control things, Josh was solid at the back making some excellent breaks, and Lloyd was putting in hit after hit, which seemed to lift the whole pack who were winning ruck after ruck. Some good pressure led to a kick through for Owen to show great awareness and speed to touch over in the corner.

Final Score 46 – 7 and it’s the best game of rugby I have seen from this team.

Plus Points:

1. Owens scoring debut for the club.

2. Defensive structure and line speed was absolutely excellent

3. Playing for one another as a team.

4. Decision making

5. Attacking play

6. Confidence and commitment from the off

7. The list really could go on

Things to work on:

1. Receiving kick offs (really clutching at straws now!!)

2. < >

I’d like to say thanks to everyone who helped out today particularly the people in the Kitchen, Mike on first aid and James for helping me clean the changing rooms, oh and last but not least Jem who put in an excellent refereeing performance.

On we go……..