After the deep disappointment at Doncaster, and already assured of being league champions, Chiswick struggled to raise their game against a dogged Actonians side, whose forwards were unrelenting in their efforts, and thoroughly deserved their try.

Chiswick attacked tidily from the off, and were soon in front when a penalty was awarded right in front of the posts, Luckman stroking the ball over. The Actonians’ ploy was soon obvious, as they smothered the Chiswick players with bodies on the small pitch, and concentrated on slowing the play down.

Early kicks by the home fly half gave Simon Slattery a little room, but the winger couldn’t quite set up a decisive attack against the hard tackling home team. Marc Jones did a good dispossession job on the Actonians’ winger, but when Steffan Davies got the threes moving the final pass to Slattery was just forward. Scrum half Nico Fryer, centre John Gibson, and flankers Al Pickering and Graham Robbings were all prominent with their industry, and in particular with their tackling, and the home threes rarely got a look in. With their forwards it was a different matter, and the home lineouts were well controlled, as were the consequent mauls. Although their scrum was being pushed back in the scrums, their No.8 did an excellent job of running from the back, harassed as he was by Fryer.

Adie Lewis, filling in at full back on his return, did well to deal with a good little chip by the home fly half in the Chiswick 22 as the home team gained confidence. Actonians maintained their pressure, and had a good chance to equalise, but the kick was pulled. The Chiswick try when it came looked very simple. Gibson did a good switch behind Luckman, the pass was clean, and the nippy centre was away and clear before the home defence reacted. The race for the corner was tight, but “Jonno” made it, as we knew he would. The kick was always a no-no, against the strong breeze, but Luckman’s effort came creditably close.

Actonians came back strongly, and set up a maul from a lineout eight metres out. Sixteen seconds later they crashed over the line for a try. Game on. The conversion attempt was poor, and the Chiswick fans sighed with relief. Chiswick got on the attack, but a hard hit on Alex Matulick, who had been putting in a great effort, stopped the attack, and led later to his retiring with a dead leg. Actonians had a great chance with a five metre scrum right in the centre, but the Chiswick pack put in a great shove, and got the put in. Winning their own scrum, the forwards gave Luckman the chance to clear a dangerous situation.

The home pack had to concede a couple more against the head, and Jones eventually had a couple of feet space, but he was closed down by three defenders ( teams now know about Jones ). Chiswick won a couple of kickable penalties, but Luckman pulled the first and pushed the second. A brilliant kick by Luckman was caught by Fryer but a good smother tackle prevented him getting it to the supporting runners. Another great move foundered on a knock on, but then Luckman slotted a penalty from right in front, and Chiswick cruised home.
Next week the Middlesex Bowl final to look forward to, and after that one league match to win to make it a 100% league record. What a season.

Chiswick team :- Davies, Joubert, Matulick ( Campbell ), Delaney, Samson, Pickering, Robbings, Vinden (Adams), Fryer, Luckman, Slattery, Gibson, Cheston, Jones, Lewis

March 31, 2008