Chichester move into top four as Becks are beaten

Chichester beat Beckenham 25-17 in a fast and furious London oner south game between two good teams which was great to watch.

Chichester deservedly won by four tries, a conversion and dropped goal to two converted tries and a penalty.

They dominated the first half and the contest should have been over at the break, but they missed four place kicks. Becks came back well in the second half when the play was even and each side scored two tries.

The result moved the Blues fourth in the league and Becks dropped from third to fifth. Chichester’s undefeated run is now eight matches and it was their extra passion and determination which gained the reward and a bonus point.

They were forced into several changes after Richard Deed broke a leg in training and three other regulars were unavailable. Richard Adams moved to fly half, Ben Polhill to right wing and Alex Chappell came in for his first game of the season at No8.

As usual at Oaklands, the game started at breakneck speed.

Full-back Toby Golds and Adams found touch with long kicks and slick interpassing nearly brought a score before an easy penalty went wide.

A drop-goal attempt went close but Blues opened the scoring on 14 minutes. A catch by Scott Barlow led to quick transfer and a break by hooker Rob Lawrence. With panache, he dummied twice to left winger Eddie Armah to fool the defence and charged over the line.

More pressure on the Becks five-metre line seemed certain to bring another try but the Kent lads held out, and Phil Veltom was unable to plough across. They tried again using the backs, Ben Robson making ground and offloading to Polhill who was forced out just short.

The second try was top drawer. Adams made a half break and the ball whistled across the backs, Sam Renwick looping to take the final firm pass on a lovely line. The Hartpury hare pinned back his ears and outpaced the converging cover to dive over at the left flag.

The Chichester scrum was on top but both packs had a problem with the referee’s insistence on slow engagement and resets were the norm.

Lineouts were competitive but Barlow and Nick Blount were secure on the home throws. Billy Toone was in control at scrum-half and he tackled like a tiger.

A minute before half-time, clever recycling gave Adams space to drop a nice goal to make it 13-0. Becks had rarely been in the hunt but they were a different proposition in the next hammer-and-tongs 40 minutes.

Becks won a penalty, converted by Mahutariki. Chichester responded and drove back, a good tackle by Robson providing a penalty and lineout ball.

The pack were bound together and shunted their opponents 15m for Lawrence to touch down again. Adams added the extras and it was 20-3.

Becks started to cause trouble with driving maul , Thorne and Aylward working hard to gain the upper hand at the back. Nick Shopland epitomised the Blues’ team spirit as he hurled himself against the enemy tank and Chris Johnson and Toone stopped peel-off runners.

Golds received a yellow card for an accidental trip when he followed up his own high kick and slipped as he nailed his man.

Chichester’s 14 men did well but Becks pressed. Adams had to clear the lines with two huge touch kicks, but eventually Becks attacked from a lineout on the left and the ball was shipped to centre Jones to cross near the uprights. Extras were added to make it 20-10.

Restored to full strength, Chichester returned to attack. Armah caught brilliantly a high kick and his jinking run and offload just failed because of a knock-on.

Will Mitchell came on for his debut and impressed with a huge kick. Adams shaved wide of the post with another drop goal but made amends with a superb solo try.

The league’s top try-scorer received the ball from a great win against the head by the Chichester scrum. He ignited on turbo and scorched 40m along the touchline to crash over at the left corner – and no-one could lay a finger on him. Becks kept at it and drove quickly to Chichester’s 22.

Attempts to breach were intially thwarted by the home defence but a crack appeared and lock forward Roumps went over. Conversion extras made it 25-17.

Becks opted for a penalty to the corner instead of a shot at goal and lost their chance of a losing bonus point.

It had been a very interesting and entertaining duel. Even a dog clad in a Blues scarf on the touchline enjoyed it.

Director of rugby Paul Colley said: “We had to make changes for this game but the replacements did their job well and we were able to keep an effective structure. We scored four excellent tries and they had to be created against a very tough defence.

“But we will keep our feet on the ground because we made some mistakes and the winning margin should have been greater.”

This week Chichester go to Broadstairs for a tricky fixture against Thanet Wanderers hoping to maintain the momentum.

CHICHESTER: Shopland, Lawrence, Veltom, Blount, Barlow, Johnson, Lindsay, Chappell, Toone, Adams, Armah, Renwick, Robson, Polhill, Golds, Decoteau, Josh Mitchell.

ROGER GOULD