April 13, 2024
These diaries had previously visited Chippenham Rugby Club on three previous occasions when Fatbear had been on weekend breaks to Lacock, with the last visit being in October 2022.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/10/chippenham-34-22-keynsham-att-200-est.html
Having thought that the South West regional league season had finished, it was a pleasant surprise to find that Chippenham were participating in the much maligned Papa John Trophy. Win 4 matches and they could be playing at Twickenham……
There has been much criticism over this competition, with a huge number of sides not bothering to enter, and then a significant number of those that did enter, subsequently pulling out of the competition presenting walkovers to their opponents.
Today’s match was part of Regional Championship 2 Pool 4, which contained a full complement of four sides. Chippenham finished second in South West Regional 2 Tribute Severn, with a 16-0-6 record but only one loss at home. Also in the Pool were Royal Wootton Bassett, who won that division with a 21-0-1 record, but their one defeat was at home to Chippenham ( 28-33 ), and Winchester, who finished second in London Regional 2 South Central behind the Jersey Amateur side.
Newent RFC
Newent were in the same league as Chippenham until being level transferred for this season to Regional 2 Midlands West, where they finished second behind Silhillians.
Newent is located on the edge of the Forest of Dean, just north-west of Gloucester, and has a population of just under 7,000.
They faced a 60 mile journey to Chippenham, which should take around 75 minutes down the M5 and along the M4. Anyone travelling on their coach for the game had an early start, leaving at 9.45am !
Their home ground has the impressive name of “Stade de Rec” !
When these two sides met in 2022/23 honours were even. Newent won their home match 50-19, whilst Chippenham were victorious in the reverse fixture, winning 27-12. The two sides probably know each other quite well………
Matchday Information
In the past entrance at Chippenham was £5 with free parking but today there was no-one on the gate so admission was free ! Programmes were being handed out in the clubhouse. It was too early for a drink but I managed to navigate my way through the vending machine for a coffee ( £1.70 ). The beers on tap in the bar included Doom Bar, Ruddles, Pravha, Staropramen, Atlantic Pale Ale and Guinness, but I didn’t partake today.
There were 7 tables laid out for 9 people for the Sponsor’s lunch, which presumably was held during the game rather than before it, and the tables had been cleared away by the time the match had finished.
The weather at the 13.00 kick-off time was sunny with the temperature around 18 degrees but there was quite a stiff breeze so I had to put my coat on ! I still managed to get sunburn on my head though……….
Chippenham were hosting two other important matches at their Allington Fields ground today. At 15.30 on the main pitch, their Second XV were playing Lytchett Minster, the winners of D&W Counties 2 South, in the Southern Counties South Play-Off Final. The winners would progress to Counties 1 Southern South League for next season. Both teams had similar records, losing only one match all season.
Also, Chippenham’s Third XV were at home to Colerne in the Quarter-Final of the Counties 3 Dorset and Wiltshire Cup.
Chippenham were playing in their usual black and white hoops whilst Newent wore a kit of all green with yellow trimmings. At the kick-off there were fewer than 100 spectators watching but by the finish the number had swelled to probably over 300 as those having lunch, plus the visitors from Lytchett Minster were watching. There were probably around 30-40 supporters from Newent, the self-styled Green Army, who had made the journey.
The team list in the programme was the same as those which had been published the day before on Twitter, but I don’t know how accurate they were to those that actually took to the field, as I noticed the Chippenham full-back was Khalif Barnes, who had been listed as a substitute. Also, Chippenham only had only three substitutes listed, and I counted at least four coming on at some point during the match. However, apart from Barnes, it will be assumed all the other numbers were correct for the purposes of this report, and will corrected if subsequently advised otherwise !.
The programme also indicated that 10 of the Chippenham 18 man squad for today were home-grown players.
Match Report
Newent kicked off with the breeze at their backs. Chippenham tried to run the ball back at them but failed to get out of their 22, and kicked the ball back to Newent. Full-back Doug Long went on a great run down the left-hand touchline before cutting back inside, but was halted by a good tackle. Newent spread the ball to the right but a big hit stopped what looked to be a certain try. However, the referee had spotted an infringement by Chippenham, and centre Tom Webb stepped up to slot the penalty in front of the post to give the visitors a 0-3 lead with barely a minute played.
Two minutes later Newent had a scrum midway inside their own half and launched a flowing move with good hands showed by Webb, Hartland, Oakey and Tovey before the impressive Webb made a break through the heart of the Chippenham defence, and slipped a pass to number 8 Benjamin Vincent up in support, who strolled over close to the post. Webb added to extras to take the score to 0-10 after 6 minutes.
Chippenham’s response was for lock Sam Larrimore ( with no number on his back ) to make a strong run through the centre of the field only to be illegally stopped. The penalty took the home side into the Newent 22, but the line-out throw wasn’t straight. Newent were under pressure at the subsequent scrum, but fly-half Harry Tovey was able to clear their lines.
Newent won the Chippenham line-out but their penalty advantage was wasted with Tovey kicking out on the full. Newent then won a line-out and Vincent burst through two flimsy tackles to run in under the posts for his second try, and with Webb again slotting the easy conversion, Newent now led 0-17 after 12 minutes.
Newent then conceded a penalty for a high tackle on Barnes, and Chippenham were back inside the Newent 22. Line-out possession was secured, and the rolling maul rumbled to within 5 metres of the try-line before being halted. Chippenham drove several times towards the line but eventually prop Croker was ruled to have been held up, and Newent had a drop-out from behind their try-line.
Chippenham won a penalty from the drop-out but the kick from Barnes into the wind was poor and was kept in play, and from the attempted clearing kick from behind the Newent try-line Chippenham winger Brooks step into touch in his efforts to keep the ball alive.
Newent then infringed at a ruck close to the half-way line and Chippenham were again inside the visitors 22. Unfortunately for the home side, the throw to the front of the line-out to flanker Knight was knocked-on for a scrum to Newent, who won a penalty at the set-piece.
Chippenham continued to fall foul of the referee, and Newent were able to kick their way to the Chippenham 5 metre line. Webb made another eye-catching break, and an inside pass found wing Hartland, and although he was stopped short, the Newent forwards piled in and one of them dived over the line. Webb was again successful with a routine conversion, taking Newent’s lead to 0-24 with 23 minutes played.
Shortly after Chippenham won a penalty inside the Newent half, and after some back-chat from Hartland cost 10 metres, the kick was inside the 22. Again though, the execution into the wind by Barnes was poor, and the attempt for the corner went dead.
Newent had the put-in to the scrum just inside their 22. Despite a good shove from their 8, Newent scrum-half Preston conceded a penalty. Chippenham lock Murphy took a quick tap but was halted just short of the line at the expense of another penalty. Again, a tap was taken but a Chippenham forward knocked on close to the try-line.
Chippenham’s execution was letting them down, with several great opportunities being squandered. Flanker Knight then went on a strong run down the right touchline but was stopped short of the line. Croker was also stopped from a close-range drive, but when the ball was moved to the left, fly-half Parkes was able to dive over for the first points for the home side, and the conversion from Barnes put them on the scoreboard at 7-24 with 31 minutes on the clock.
Any hopes that Chippenham would be able to build on this breakthrough were dashed when Tovey produced a superb 50/20 kick that bounced inches in front of the Chippenham corner flag. Oakey won the line-out for Newent and a smart pass from Webb enabled Vincent to again crash through some non-existent tackling to score his third try. Webb was again untroubled from the tie, and with the score moving to 7-31 after 34 minutes.
It was in danger of becoming a cricket score, with Newent looking likely to score every time they entered the Chippenham 22. However, the home side quickly hit back. Centre Eoin Baker made progress along the touchline and after passing to lock Larrimore, another inside pass enabled fellow lock Harry Murphy to crash over from close range. The conversion from Barnes looked like it may have slide wide, but the flags were raised to take the score to 14-31 after 36 minutes.
Chippenham were looking to add another score before the interval but knocked-on in midfield after a promising move and Newent flanker Oakey kicked ahead. Chippenham’s Leko did well to gather the loose ball under pressure, and fly-half Parkes chipped ahead and was able to field his own kick, but Newent won turnover ball. Play became scrappy and Newent fly-half Tovey’s kick went dead.
The referee blew shortly after for half-time, with Chippenham needing a big half with the wind in their favour.
The start of the second period was so low key I missed Chippenham scoring their third try almost immediately after the restart, but was reliably informed that centre Baker had scored with a run from close range, and Barnes added the conversion. At 21-31 after 41 minutes it was game on !
Both sides appeared to have made three substitutions at the interval, but Chippenham though continued to make elementary mistakes, as substitute number 18 kicked for touch without realising the ball had been taken back inside their 22.
Newent therefore had the line-out 15 metres from the Chippenham line, but their throw went too long and Chippenham were able to gather. When they spread the ball amongst their backs, number 18 knocked on and then angrily went after an innocent Newent player. The referee had been playing an advantage though, so Chippenham had a penalty to clear their lines.
Chippenham then won a penalty for a high tackle on Thyer near the half-way line. However, a poor tap back from their throw enabled Newent prop Woodman to claim the ball, but the home side were awarded a scrum.
Chippenham were enjoying a good spell of possession but a rolling maul was held-up for a scrum to Newent, and the visitors were soon back inside the Chippenham 22. Several drives were made towards the Chippenham try line but this time their defence was good and the attacks were repelled, and they were awarded a touch-line drop-out after a final effort was held-up.
Newent allowed the kick to bounce, and a fortunate bounce gave the home side the line-out. After some ping-pong at the line-out Chippenham gathered the ball and prop Corker and lock Murphy showed good handling skills as they progressed through the centre of the pitch, until centre Leko knocked on.
Newent though had other ideas and quickly took play back into the Chippenham half as Tovey kicked to 10 metres from the home line. Newent again pressed for the try line, but the Chippenham defence was again good, and forced a penalty.
Out of almost nothing Chippenham conjured up a superb try. After Knight won a line-out, the ball went through the hands of a number of players, with the final passes being substitute 20 to Thyer, and finally to Barnes, who converted his own try. 28-31 with 15 minutes remaining it was now a three point game.
Chippenham then won a penalty at the restart, but with a great opportunity to put Newent under pressure, Barnes kick went straight down the throat of Newent full-back Long.
Newent won a penalty soon after, and kicked their way back into the Chippenham 22. Their number 21 won the line-out and offloaded to Vincent, who barged over from 10 yards for his fourth try. Webb was again successful with a straightforward conversion, and Newent could now breathe a little easier at 28-38 with 8 minutes left to play.
Chippenham’s pack though got to work to drive into the Newent 22 but they carelessly lost possession, and when Newent tried to counter attack, they too knocked on.
With three minutes remaining, Chippenham won a line-out but with numbers on the left, fly-half Parkes went to the right, and the attack ran into traffic and was crowded out. Although Newent looked to have won turnover ball, the referee though otherwise and awarded a penalty to Chippenham.
However, Newent stole the line-out on half-way and Chippenham were forced to concede a penalty to prevent a dangerous attack. Chippenham won Newent’s line-out ball and tried to attack from all sides of the pitch, but failed to make any in-roads against some stubborn defending, and Newent won another penalty.
Newent butchered the subsequent line-out but the referee pinged Chippenham for crossing in the line-out, and Newent took play back into the Chippenham 22. Newent infringed at the following ruck, but Parkes failed to find touch with his penalty and the referee blew for full-time when Newent put the ball out of play.
Newent deserved their win, and in Vincent and Webb they had the game’s two most impressive players. Chippenham though will be kicking themselves for failing to win this game, and they regularly failed to take advantage of good positions through poor execution. Their supporters though would probably be more interested in their Second XV winning their promotion play-off 36-25, and their third’s winning their Cup Quarter Final 62-17 !
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