Marlin XV v Chipstead

This fixture was hanging by a thread right till kick off, but all who turned up were not disappointed. Chipstead were looking for a home win to avenge their recent loss and spread out wide early to prevent those early break away tries. PJRFC forwards put the winter measures into place and played it tight in mid-field through a couple of phases before releasing the ball wide, and one such move saw the reinvigorated returning Swainson link with the backs to score through Reem. This awoke the sleeping Chipstead forwards who penalised PJRFC's poor presence in the line out and set up a rolling maul, which culminated in succesive penalties against PJRFC and their captain being caught off side, and Chipstead utilising their forward's well for a converted try. This seemed to strengthen PJRFC's resolve for better defence, and the tackles began to come hard and fast, leading Chipstead to use all 24 players available to freshen up the legs. PJRFC were unfortunate to lose "Passive" Paddy and "Towering" second row Tim woods early in the game to injury, leading to Bilchy and Mawer (man of the match) stepping up to to fill in the missing inches! PJRFC forwards dominated the loose play through some excellent running by Dave Sia, Matt Hanlon and Ed Swainson. This was music to the ears of "The dribbler from Derby" who made good use of the space offered to unleash the backs. Chipstead picked up the pace in the last 20 minutes of the game camping in the PJRFC 22, only to be denied a score through some excellent tackling by Jamie, Reem, Tom Browne, Mawer and Bilchy. So much so that the referee halted the game after a Chipstead player was substituted through injury, after one such tackle by Bilchy to enquire who had made the tackle on the towering second row!! But no one owned up fearing being named in his book! Tries by Officer Will from a quick penalty in support of the forwards, and by Norm supporting Dave Sia, who ran through the Chipstead team to off load to Norm kept PJRFC's points ticking over. PJRFC forwards were rewarded for all the hard graft through a try scored by Dave Sia. In the end the weather did not dampen a good days rugby played with much passion, occasionally boiling over with scuffles, but as always ending in the right spirit, off the pitch at the Bar!!