Chiswick charge continues


Rugby Result - Old Millhillians 5   Chiswick 36

This was not much of a contest, although the plucky Millhillians never gave up, and were the first to score. Sad, considering the beautiful pitch, and a day made for rugby, that the home team had only sixteen players available from the whole club, which used to run six teams and provide players for England.


Chiswick should have scored within a couple of minutes, Ben Hinze making a sizzling break through the middle before losing the ball in the final tackle. It was all Chiswick, but an ambitious blind-side move spelt disaster when Keith Luckman’s chip was brilliantly charged down, the Millhillians centre then just winning the race to the corner to touch down.


A chastened Chiswick slowly responded to the exhortations of acting captain Kelvin Campbell, and the pressure on the home team was re-established. Winning nearly all the lineouts, thanks to Matt Vinden and Mark Williams, and with several strikes against the head by Will Green, Chiswick had plenty of ball, and it was a break down the middle by centre Adrian Lewis which produced a try under the posts for full back Lewis Hammond. Luckman converted.


Good kicking then set up a five-metre lineout, and Vinden took the home ball and gave it to Marko Chraplewczyk, who romped over for number two, which was not converted. From almost the next lineout, Luckman decided to cut through after a couple of dummies, and sliced his way to the line – the conversion was no problem.


Next to score was the ubiquitous Nick Pritchard, after an exemplary rolling maul set up via a clean lineout take by Williams. The conversion attempt spun away off the post.


The second half was a bit disappointing for Chiswick, but in truth they had to defend well on occasions, with one superb saving tackle by Ian Walker catching the eye in particular. The next try was simple. An initial break by Walker from his own half went all along the line, and winger Lee Miller scored wide out. No conversion. Miller then made another break down the right line, and was pulled up just short. Prop Shane Donaldson, supporting well, found himself with the ball in the home 22. The ball was recycled out to Simon Slattery, who stepped inside and carved his way to the posts. Luckman had no problem with the conversion.

Chiswick team :- Donaldson, Green ( Nichols ), Campbell, Chraplewczyk ( Pickering, M ), Williams, Vinden, Pickering A, Pritchard ( Robbings ), Walker, Luckman, Slattery, Hinze, Lewis, Miller, Hammond


November 14, 2005