Shaky start - but Blues don't let Cobham breach Fortress Oaklands

It had been a see-saw affair until the break but they emerged clear winners by five tries, three conversions and three penalties to three tries and one conversion.

Their scrum had been disrupted, and that gave the visitors chances which they took. But changes to the formation proved to be the answer and the victory was rounded off by one of the best individual tries seen at Oaklands.

Chichester were without Veltom, Barlow and Shopland. Josh Pszczonka made his debut at prop, Jon Lindsay moved to second row, Andy Gray was No8 and Moses Kasujja inside centre.

There were immediate problems at the back of the scrum when Cobham’s scrum-half Kennard displayed robber bandit qualities. Billy Toone had inadequate protection, the ball was pinched and No8 Van Niekerk scored from short range after ten minutes.

Chichester soon replied from a scrum against the head. Richard Adams floated a lovely pass to winger Eddie Armah who timed his delivery perfectly to Toby Golds steaming up outside.

Sporting his new moustache, the confident full-back took it in his stride and and went over in the right corner.

The Blues backs were showing slick movement, especially with Ben Polhill, Chris Johnson and Andy Gray supporting on the shoulder. From a break and a forwards drive Cobham were offside and Adams kicked the penalty.

Shortly after, Gray crashed through the Cobham defensive line and ran 30 metres, offloading to Polhill to finish the second try. Adams added the extras to make it 15-5.

The Cobham pack were formidable with their backs unable to find a way through, the forwards took the initiative.

A well-controlled rolling maul gave them a penalty to the corner, a lineout and another solid maul for Van Niekerk to touch down. Fly-half Flower converted.

Chichester needed to lift themselves again and they did, with a sparkling move involving Johnson, Kasujja and Polhill, with Gray taking the final pass to score his second. Adams converted.

The Cobham backs made ground through their right winger who was held near the line. From a ruck and scrum there was a bit of a mess but home fans thought Toone had touched down first for a drop-out, but the referee decided otherwise and awarded Van Niekerk his hat-trick.

Just before the break, Golds followed his high kick and Cobham were penalised. Adams made no mistake and the Blues led 25-17.

Nick Blount had jumped well at lineouts and it was clear if they contained Cobham in scrums and limited their chances to maul, Chichester’s backs were more than a match for their opponents.

Kasujja switched to No8 for Gray, who had injured his hand.

From the restart, captain Kasujja broke over the gain line and did so repeatedly throughout the half.

As tempers rose, there was an exchange of ‘handbags’ but the referee was forgiving. Cobham took the blame and Adams succeeded with another penalty.

Sam Renwick carved a half-break in the centre to send Armah on his way but he was forced out.

Ulsterman Steve McCluskey came off the bench to take the scrum-half position with Toone moving to outside centre.

Prop Luke Davies also made his debut. Cobham kept trying to get to Chichester’s 22 but they received some hard tackles, especially from hooker Rob Lawrence.

The Blues besieged Vulture’s Corner and the Surrey men were under the cosh. Tenacious defence held the line against relentless attacks. Something had to give and a determined run by Toone set up the fourth try and brought a bonus point.

A penalty to touch and lineout won, Blues forwards drove over at the direction of Lawrence with ball in hand and he got his expected reward. Adams converted with a great kick from the touchline. Cobham went looking for a losing bonus point but Chichester defended stoutly near their own line and near touch. They won the ball back and McCluskey passed to Lawrence on the narrow side.

He handed on quickly to Toone who was hemmed in. He skipped past the traffic, broke clear and sprinted 75 metres along the touchline, incredibly beating two men with sidesteps in the first 20 metres. With the crowd roaring him home, he placed the ball down left of the posts.

It was a wonderful try showing pace and top-class footwork. This was the fourth time Chichester have scored 40 points or more this season at Fortress Oaklands.

Director of rugby Paul Colley said: “It was a good performance considering we had to make several changes. The replacements did well and we moved the ball around with skill.”

CHICHESTER: Pszczonka, Lawrence, Decoteau, Blount, Lindsay, Johnson, Polhill, Gray, Toone, Adams, Armah, Kasujja, Renwick, Jackson, Golds, Davies, O’Callaghan, McCluskey.

ROGER GOULD