November 20, 2021
With another weekend away in Wiltshire, we decided to make a
return visit to Chippenham RFC, particularly as Mrs Fatbear enjoyed our time
there in September when they were beaten by Trowbridge in an entertaining game.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/09/chippenham-23-33-trowbridge-att-300.html
Since then Chippenham lost a further 5 league games to have a
played 8, lost 8 record, although that run finally came to end in their last
outing, when Witney were overcome 25-21 at Allington Fields, but they remained
second from bottom in the table. A win today could see Chippenham move out of
the relegation places and into mid-table, such is the congestion in the bottom
half of the table.
Today’s visitors Frome made the 20 or so mile journey from
Somerset and were also in desperate need of points. Having been promoted to
this level after a second place finish in the 2019/20 Southern Counties South
division, they sat level on points with Chippenham but a place higher due to
having won two matches. Home wins were registered over Windsor ( 38-19 ) and
Buckingham ( 20-19 ), their most recent fixture, holding onto a one-point lead
in the final 20 minutes of the game. All four away matches were heavily lost
though, conceding 43, 36, 45 and 54 points respectively.
Entrance was still £5 per car and programmes were free. Some of
the beers on tap were different this time with the ales, all apparently £3 per
pint, ranging from Tribute, Doom Bar, Bellringer and Butcombe whilst the lagers
included Staropramen and Pravda. I went for the Staropramen ( £4.25 ) whilst
Mrs Fatbear tucked into the Prosecco ( £5.50 ). Whilst waiting for me at the
entrance to the clubhouse Mrs Fatbear engaged in some conversation with one of
the staff who was most surprised when asking were we supporting the home side
or the visitors to hear we were neutrals, as if this was almost an unheard of
event !
The weather was dry and temperatures 12 degrees at kick-off, which
was 3pm local time, with the home side choosing to play under floodlights
rather than starting at 2.30pm as per the other matches in the division.
Frome started strongly, and after a series of drives close to the
Chippenham line their forwards barged over to claim a 0-5 lead after 5 minutes,
with the conversion going wide.
Chippenham quickly responded to win a penalty within kicking
distance mid-way into the Frome half but fly-half Dowell pushed his kick wide.
When the play returned to the other end, Chippenham conceded a penalty and Thompson ( number 20 ) successfully converted from just outside the 22 to give the
visitors an 0-8 lead after 14 minutes.
Chippenham again responded well, and after a penalty was kicked to
the corner, they won the line-out and spread the ball to their backs. However,
good defensive work led to a ruck and although a Frome forward was clearly off
his feet at the breakdown he got away with it, and won the penalty.
From the line-out, Frome’s centre Davin Jones ( number 13 ) made a
great break and made 50 yards into the Chippenham but the danger was eventually
snuffed out.
After 24 minutes, Chippenham were awarded a penalty just inside
the Frome half and after a quick tap they made progress into the Frome 22 until
a knock-on ended the move. However, they soon had a line-out into the Frome 22
and from the catch and drive hooker Louis Snape was driven over for the try.
Dowell was again wide with his kick to leave the score 5-8.
Three minutes later Chippenham won their line out and spread the
ball through their backline, with winger Ayliffe being released to dive over in
the corner. Again, the conversion was missed, but Chippenham led 10-8 after 30
minutes.
Two minutes later, Frome winger Bull made a good break but dropped
the ball under little pressure. Chippenham gathered the ball and fly-half
Dowell launched a pretty poor cross-field kick into the Frome half. Luckily for
him there was a fortunate bounce which enabled Chippenham to gather the ball,
and full-back Jack Lowe was released to run in under the posts. With the easy
conversion, the home side now led 17-8.
With the clock edging to half-time Frome centre Jones made another
jinking run but was stopped by a high tackle. Rather than taking the straight
forward three points, Frome kicked to the corner. After winning the line-out
their forwards rumbled across the pitch, but it looked like one of the forwards
dropped the ball in the act of crossing the line. Chippenham survived and went
into the interval with a 17-8 lead.
Frome came out of the blocks strongly at the start of the second
half and after a scrum midway into the second half, full-back Thompson made a
good break only to be tackled about 5 yards short of the try-line. Chippenham
won a penalty at the ensuing ruck and were able to clear their lines.
Chippenham then had their own spell of pressure, but a 5 metre
line-out was stolen by Frome, and then a fairly straight forward penalty was
missed. In response, Frome won a scrum penalty against the head and kicked to
the corner. After winning the line-out and releasing their backs, a high tackle
on the centre led to a mass hand-bags brawl, and once things calmed down, Thompson opted to take the easy three points to bring the score back to 17-11.
Frome were starting to get on top, and after another scrum penalty
were back in the Chippenham 22. However, the home side won the line-out and
flanker Bean made a storming run back into the Frome half. Frome though won
another penalty and after a quick tap made progress back to the Chippenham 22.
After several phases, the ball was sent down the blind-side channel but the
attack was stopped just short of the try-line. Frome continued to press and
eventually Button was forced over the line and under the posts, and with the
conversion the visitors now led 17-18 after 64 minutes.
Chippenham upped the tempo and although Frome were able to defend
a 5 metre line-out and win a scrum, a clearing kick was partially blocked and
full-back Low released winger Ayliffe but his jinking run was halted just short
of the try-line. After a series of drives, prop Marshall was driven over the
line, and with an easy conversion the home side regained the lead, 24-18 with
around 10 minutes left to play.
Frome responded to going behind by kicking a penalty to the corner
but after several drives a knock-on gave Chippenham some temporary respite. The
home side were pushed back in a scrum but no penalty was awarded and from a
pick-up and go they were pushed into touch for a line-out on their 22.
Frome won their line-out thanks to a majestic leap by Mallon,their number
8, and after a couple of midfield charges, a dam-buster pass meant the momentum
lost and a fly-hack took the play back to half-way.
Frome lost their line-out, and then a knock on gave a scrum to the
home-side. Number 8 Faosiliva picked up at the base of the scrum and made 20
yards into the Frome 22 but the move was thwarted by a forward pass.
With the clock ticking into the red zone, Frome tried to keep ball
in hand but another knock-on gave possession away, and after another good run
by Ayliffe, Frome were caught off-side, giving Dowell a simple kick to put
Chippenham clear at 27-18.
From somewhere the referee found 10 minutes of added time, but despite Frome pressing to get a score to get back to losing bonus point range, another knock-on gave possession back to the home side, and a kick to touch ended the match with a 5-0 point win for Chippenham. Frome will probably feel they should have taken something from the game, but too many handling errors at key moments proved costly. Chippenham moved upto 11th in the table, and face a trip to bottom of the table Grove next week. Frome host fellow strugglers Witney.
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