March 8, 2025
Today saw Fatbear’s second visit of the season to Allington Fields to watch Chippenham RFC, after watching them beat Longlevens in December.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/12/chippenham-37-26-longlevens-att-200-est.html
This match-up was a local derby between 2nd and 3rd in the table, and was a repeat of the first ever game Fatbear saw at Chippenham, when in September 2021 Trowbridge emerged victorious 33-22 after an exciting encounter.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/09/chippenham-23-33-trowbridge-att-300.html
Chippenham Update
Since the win over Longlevens, Chippenham had twice been defeated, 10-36 at Weston-super-Mare, and 14-36 at home to Drybrook, to slip from top spot to being 2 points behind leaders Drybrook. Chippenham had thumped Drybrook 66-24 earlier in the season.
Chippenham now possessed a 15-0-3 record, and last time out they won 60-5 at back-markers Swindon.
From the side that played against Trowbridge in 2021 only back-row forward Ed Hendy appeared to still be in the Chippenham 1st team squad.
Trowbridge Update
Trowbridge sat a further two points behind Chippenham but had played one game more, but would leapfrog Chippenham with a victory today, and maybe even Drybrook, who faced a tricky looking fixture at Weston-super-Mare.
In 2021/22, Trowbridge finished 6th and followed that up by coming 7th and 6th.
This season Trowbridge had won 14 of their 19 matches, with the 5 losses coming to Drybrook ( H 24-28, A 13-37 ), Weston-super-Mare ( A 17-21 ), Stow-on-the Wold ( A 19-22 ) and at home to Chippenham in the reverse fixture ( 17-22 ). Last week, they thrashed Thornbury 50-13 at home.
Unlike Chippenham, the Trowbridge squad this season contained 8 players who featured in the game back in 2021. Winger Alexander Christopher played for Chippenham that day but is now turning out for Trowbridge. Centre Oli Weaver, who was one of the key players for Trowbridge that day is now playing for hammersmith and Fulham in London Division 1.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Trowbridge to Chippenham is 13 miles and should take 24 minutes.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was sunny with blue skies and with temperatures at a seasonally high of 15 degrees.
Admission was free as were the programmes. A large Pinot Grigio was £8.00 whilst a pint of Atlantic Pale Ale was £5.70. Getting served before kick-off was difficult in a packed bar with only two people serving, but it was much better at half-time with 5 people behind the bar !
Chippenham made 4 changes from last week, with Chris Cook coming in at full-back, Archie Healy at centre, Alex Salah in the back row and Harrison Croker at loose-head prop. The Chippenham starting XV contained nine players described as home grown, with one more amongst the three substitutes.
Trowbridge had made two changes from last week, with Daniel Jenner swopping with Austin Reid in the front row, and Ben Mallett coming as blindside flanker at the expense of Gareth Davis.
Trowbridge were playing in a kit of yellow shirts with black shorts and socks. Chippenham were playing in their usual black and white hoops with red trimmings, with black shorts and black and white socks.
Match Report
Trowbridge kicked-off but a long clearing kick from Chippenham fly-half Jack Smith bounced awkwardly, although Trowbridge wing Joseph Martindale was able to gather in his own 22. The visitors were awarded the scrum put in at the subsequent ruck.
An attempted clearing kick from Trowbridge scrum-half Harrison Wall was charged down, but the ball bounced off for a line-out inside the Trowbridge 22. Chippenham were penalised for offside at a ruck, but the following line-out by Trowbridge was not straight.
Play was almost exclusively in the Trowbridge half in the early stages, and Chippenham number 8 Matt Dickens picked up at the base of the scrum and made 10 yards, after which Smith made a break towards the Trowbridge 22, and after being tackled Chippenham had the scrum. The ball was spread wide and full-back Kalif Barnes surged into the visitors 22, but the referee had spotted crossing, and Trowbridge kicked their penalty to the Chippenham 10 metre line.
Lock Kyle Oakley soared to win the lineout, but Trowbridge coughed up position in midfield. Smith kicked ahead only for Martindale to unconventionally kick back on the volley back to Smith, who then sent a kick bouncing into touch 5 metres from the Trowbridge line.
Trowbridge won their line-out and cleared to touch, but Chippenham won their line-out ball on the visitors 22. Chippenham put the ball through the hands of their backs, but the referee deemed the pass from wing Danny Sugg was forward. The match was still scoreless with 10 minutes played.
When Trowbridge had a scrum 10 metres from their own line, fly-half Tom Weaver attempted a cute chip to Martindale on the touchline, but the ball bounced away from the winger and into touch. Chippenham won their lineout, and Larrimore broke from a ruck but was pinged for not releasing after being tackled. This enabled Trowbridge to kick to just inside the Chippenham half, but again their lineout throw was not straight.
From first phase play, Smith made a great break through the centre of the Trowbridge defence up to the visitors 22, and passed to give centre Will Hendy a simple run to score. Barnes added the extras to give Chippenham a 7-0 lead after 14 minutes.
At the restart Chippenham’s Salah ran straight into the referee, leading to a scrum being given, from which Smith sent a good kick bouncing into touch just outside the Trowbridge 22. Again, the Trowbridge throw was poor and a Chippenham forward with no number on his shirt, ( Ed Hendy ? ) made the catch enabling a kick ahead, but a Trowbridge defender won the foot race to touchdown for a dropout from behind their own line.
After 19 minutes, Trowbridge back-row forward Andrew Twinney won a line-out close to the Chippenham 10 metre line and Weaver chipped over the advancing Chippenham back-line, and after a couple of knock-ons, Trowbridge had the put in at the scrum. This time it was Trowbridge’s turn to be pinged for a forward pass when they attempted to move the ball wide.
There was now little rhythm to the play. Chippenham centre Archie Healy dropped a pass, and when Chippenham won a penalty at the scrum, Smith’s kick failed to find touch and Trowbridge full-back James Macfarlane embarked on a scorching run from close to his own line to the Chippenham 22. After being tackled, the visitors move the ball across the field to the other touchline where Christopher passed inside for centre Alexander Murchison to run for the line, twisting to dive over the whitewash. The touchline conversion attempt from Weaver was missed, so it was now 7-5 after 25 minutes.
The restart was claimed by Wall, who sent a high kick back into the Chippenham half, where Barnes, under little pressure, spilled the catch to give Trowbridge a scrum on Chippenham’s 10 metre line.
After making little progress spreading wide to the left wing, Trowbridge chipped ahead where Will Hendy called for the mark, made a quick tap and ran back at the visitors. However, play was then scrappy, with neither side making many yards, until a Trowbridge player was bundled into touch midway inside the Chippenham half.
This time the Chippenham throw wasn’t straight, and from the scrum, Trowbridge centre Ali Frost went on a crashball and won a penalty for his side. Weaver stepped up to send the posts through the posts from a central position just outside the 22, to give Trowbridge the lead. It was now 7-8 with 33 minutes played.
Chippenham’s response was another fine kick from Smith, a 50/20 bouncing into touch 5 yards from the Trowbridge line. As Ed Hendy went for the line the ball was knocked out of his grasp, and a follow-up chip from the home side was taken over the goal line by a Trowbridge defender to give the home side the 5-metre scrum. Both Dickens and Murphy were held up as they went for the line, but finally prop Harrison Croker burrowed over the line from close range. Barnes knocked over the conversion to make it 14-8 with 38 minutes on the clock.
Centre Will Hendy saw his shirt ripped off his back after a tackle, which resulted in the scrum being awarded to Trowbridge. Despite a good shove from the home pack, Trowbridge were able to get the ball away and Macfarlane’s burst was illegally halted by a high tackle. This time Weaver’s effort from just inside the Chippenham 10 metre line hit the outside of the post and went wide.
The Chippenham dropout went straight into touch, and the visitors opted for a scrum on the Chippenham 22. Trowbridge’s pack made some yards and won the penalty, which this time Weaver slotted through the posts. 14-11 after 42 first half minutes.
Play continued for another two minutes but neither side were able to create anything, so Chippenham headed to the dressing rooms with a 3-point lead.
With many of the spectators still making their way from the bar, Chippenham started the second half strongly as Dickens burst into the Trowbridge 22, and after offloading, the ball went through a pair of hands for Barnes to score in the corner. Barnes failed to add to his try so the score became 19-11 after 42 minutes.
Trowbridge tried to quickly hit back. Twinney won a lineout, Weaver kicked deep into the Chippenham 22 where Barnes took the catch, and from the ensuing ruck, scrum half Charlie Parsons set off on a snipping run. Trowbridge won the loose ball, and won a penalty to take play back to the Chippenham 22.
Ben Mallett won the line-out for Trowbridge, but Chippenham’s defence was good. Trowbridge had a scrum 5 metres out, but it was messy, with Trowbridge going backwards, but they had a penalty advantage for which they were thankful for when Sugg made an interception and looked about to run clear.
Surprisingly Trowbridge opted for a scrum rather than kick to the corner, from which they won another penalty, and Chippenham lock Larrimore was shown a yellow card. With a player advantage, Trowbridge this time did kick to the corner.
Chippenham again defended the rolling maul well, and when a ruck was formed, the ball appeared to be out, so winger Sugg picked up and ran clear. However, the referee thought differently and penalised Sugg, and in a period of confusion, centre Healy was shown a yellow card. Chippenham were now down to 13 men after 51 minutes.
Oddly, rather than use their numerical advantage by spreading the ball wide, Trowbridge attempted to go through the middle of the Chippenham defence, whose good defence won a penalty. Hendy took a quick tap and sped up to his 10-metre line, and Trowbridge went over the top to prevent the release of the ball. Smith kicked the penalty to 15 metres from the Trowbridge line.
Murphy won the lineout for the home side, but Chippenham knocked on, and Trowbridge took the opportunity to fly-hack to the Chippenham 22. Sugg was able to get back to gather the ball but was pounced upon by two Trowbridge players following up. Winning turnover ball, Trowbridge number 8 Rory Murchison had numbers outside him but decided to go for glory only to be tackled. Finally, he looked up and sent a long bouncing pass to wing Christopher, who did well to collect and score in the corner ahead of the cover defence. The touchline conversion was missed, but it was now 19-16 with 58 minutes played.
When Chippenham restarted play, a voice in the Trowbridge midfield called out leave it, so three players did as instructed only for the ball to bounce into touch for a Chippenham lineout 10 metres out. Chippenham secured their ball and scrum-half Parsons passed to Smith. The fly-half scythed passed two would be tacklers to score out wide. The attempted conversion was poor, but Chippenham had restored their 8 point lead despite being two men down and had secured the 4 try bonus point. 24-16 after 61 minutes
Chippenham were now back to full strength as Trowbridge attacked. Substitute Max Day, lock Oxley and hooker Redman all combined to take Trowbridge deep inside the Chippenham 22, but a Dambuster pass lost 20 metres. Trowbridge had another penalty advantage which ended with another interception, but they were back with a 5-metre lineout.
Chippenham continued to show good defence as Trowbridge battered their line and won turnover ball enabling Smith to kick to half-way, and Trowbridge knocked on as they tried to reply.
A Chippenham lineout was thrown too long, and substitute Archie Robertson picked up and fed Rory Murchison, who won a penalty, and the visitors were back in the Chippenham 22. This time Trowbridge threw too long and again Robertson anticipated to claim the loose ball as Trowbridge pressed for the line. However, yet again the Chippenham defence won turnover ball, and Smith broke to his 10-metre line, but without any support he was pinged for not releasing.
Trowbridge were now having the edge in possession but were failing to make use of it. Messy line-out ball saw Chippenham scrum half Parsons kick clear, and another lineout mess enabled Parsons to run down the touchline, but without any support Trowbridge won possession.
With 5 minutes of normal time remaining, Trowbridge had a lineout on halfway after Cook attempted and failed to keep a clearing kick in play. The visitors won their ball, and Frost made a break but a good tackle won a penalty for Chippenham, who were able to kick back to the Trowbridge 22.
Murphy won the lineout and Chippenham’s forwards rumbled forward. Smith was given the ball and made a break, but his attempted pass to his centre was knocked on in an effort to intercept. A penalty in front of the posts, and Barnes added the three points. With 77 minutes on the clock, Chippenham now led 27-16 and it looked like game over.
Trowbridge looked to get within losing bonus point territory, but Chippenham won a scrum against the head despite a good push from the Trowbridge forwards, but Chippenham knocked on just inside their 22. Trowbridge won a free kick at the scrum, took a quick tap and went left then right. Suggs made a good tackle to prevent Alexander scoring and the Trowbridge winger was penalized for not releasing.
With 80 minutes just about up, the Chippenham lineout wasn’t straight. From the scrum, Trowbridge chipped ahead, and then Alex Murchison followed up with a grubber kick and Martindale won the race to touch down. Robertson added a good conversion to take the score to 27-23 after 80 minutes.
The referee announced there was a further 6 minutes to be played, so we were set for a tense finale.
Immediately, Trowbridge number 8 Rory Murchison broke from his own 22 and was able to run the length of the field for a sensational solo try. Although the conversion from Robertson was missed it was now remarkably 27-28 as Trowbridge had scored two tries in a minute to come back from the dead to take the lead.
Chippenham were shell-shocked, and straight from the kick-off Macfarlane charged down the touchline without a Chippenham player laying a hand on him, and passed inside for Martindale to score a third try in barely 3 minutes. Robertson was this time successful from the tee to take the score to 27-35
The game continued, and there was still time for a yellow card to be show to Murphy for a high tackle. Robertson pointed to the posts, but instead of trying for the extra points, simply hammered the ball 40 yards wide and off the field of play to bring the game to its conclusion.
Trowbridge walked off the pitch with an amazing victory, having looked a beaten side as the game approached its final minutes. Chippenham will be wondering how they conceded three times at the death in barely three minutes.
Trowbridge moved up to 2nd place in the table, four points behind Drybrook but having played one game more. Chippenham were 2 points behind in third but with a game in hand.
