Rugby result: Hammersmith and Fulham 28 Chiswick 14
A glimpse of the sky and then down to earth as Chiswick failed to match their local rivals either in organisation at scrums and lineouts, or in getting numbers quickly to ( the all-too-common ) breakdowns. However, Chiswick’s determination and the threat from their backs, where John Gibson in particular had a cracking game, kept them in the hunt until near the end, when both teams were suffering from the heat and a forty nine minute first half.
Seven minutes into the game, Hammersmith scored a neat and simple-looking try when their full back came into the line after good build-up play down the left was followed by slick handling just inside the Chiswick 22. The conversion was made easier, possibly, by the fact that the kicker had just missed an earlier penalty kick from the same spot.
Minutes later, Peter Townsend made a weaving break from defence, Lee Miller of the dancing feet took the ball well upfield, and the move was finished off by Alistair Pickering romping over near the posts. Tom Duffy slotted the conversion.
After thirteen minutes Chiswick went in front when a diagonal kick by Duffy was taken on the full by Mark Jones, under full sail, and he cruised round behind the posts for another easy conversion. Hammersmith were knocked back for a while, but Chiswick failed to get on top, and the home team were coming back strongly as the referee allowed a huge amount of injury time.
Duffy’s kick-off was a disaster, and Hammersmith attacked strongly from the scrum back. Hooker Stuart Parmeter did well to clear the ball after Ben Cheston had put in a try-saving tackle. Al Pickering had to go off, and the Chiswick machine began to creak. Seven minutes in, again, Hammersmith equalised, when constant pressure took them to the line line, and their No.7 spun over. For a short while it was nearly all Hammersmith, with the previous scorer adding a second, converted, try within a couple of minutes. A determined break by Duffy, however, looked promising, but in trying to make a little more room before passing out to Miller, he was just tap-tackled ( painfully ).
Sub Matt Pickering was doing well at the front of the lineout, and Ben Cheston saw half an opening, but the home tackling was just good enough. Duffy just missed a penalty kick, but the game was still open. Then it wasn’t, as a wicked bounce took a useful kick away from Townsend into the Hammersmith player’s hands. Chiswick had a number of late opportunities, but the home side defended well in numbers, got in a try-saving interception, and just deserved the final result.
Chiswick team :- Donaldson ( Warrington ), Parmeter , Davies ( Pickering M ), Hood, Tonkin, Adams, Pickering A ( Robbings ), McConnell, Luckman, Duffy, Miller, Gibson, Cheston, Jones, Townsend
September 21, 2009
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