Thanet's celebrations speak volumes as Blues miss out

London one south

Chichester narrowly failed to extend their eight-game unbeaten run on their longest trip of the season against a side notoriously tough to beat on home soil.

In overcast conditions and on a tacky surface, Chichester started the stronger.

Dynamic running pressured the blue and golds and Moses Kasujja powered through into the 22m only for the final pass to be spilled. The Blues maintained the pressure with a powerful early scrum disrupting the Thanet ball.

Wanderers scrambled the ball away and from the resulting lineout, Blount rose high and the away side drove forward with Thanet pulling down the maul. Will Mitchell, on his first start for Chichester, calmly slotted the three points.

The Blues again attacked well, giving Eddie Armah a sniff of the line. Only good covering defence managed to force the flying wing into the corner flag.

The hosts countered with the home No10 delaying his pass perfectly to put the inside centre through a gap. Johnson and Toone got back to cover and Johnson stole the ball – but the ball was spilled and the Blues were penalised for offside at the breakdown to make it 3-3.

There was a penalty each way. Mitchell slotted the more difficult kick following another excellent steal from Johnson. That made it 
6-3 and the Thanet kicker missed.

Thanet rallied again to pierce the brittle defence. Good hands and a series of weak tackles gave the home side the try.

The Blues upped the tempo with Adams kicking to good effect down the significant slope. Blount and Barlow were solid in the lineout, creating good front-foot ball. Although the Chichester scrum was solid, they were against a tough scrummaging outfit.

The Blues pressed but the home No7 and No8 scrambled well in defence.

Chichester had a penalty as another driving maul was pulled down, Mitchell confidently slotting the extras for a 9-8 lead.

The Blues were stepping off their tackles and Lawrence tried to show the way with a cannonball hit to level an attacker. The Blues finished the stronger but lacked precision and patience in the kill zone.

The Blues had edged possession but the defence had not been up to usual standards.

After the break, the Blues attacked from deep. Decoteau accelerated though a gap, good hands saw Robson bursting 20m and the final pass found Mitchell out wide. He powered over to score an excellent try. Mitchell missed the difficult conversion but it was 14-8.

The Blues fell into the trap of forcing the pass against good defence.

The blue and golds breached the midfield defence again and after two slipped tackles they crossed the line. With the conversion missed, Chichester still led 14-13.

After a maul was pulled down, a kick five metres inside the home half drifted agonisingly wide.

Another offside decision against the Blues gave the home side a 16-14 lead.

With the clock ticking, Decoteau went on another surging run, the kick pushing the home side deep in their own half. Johnson got to the breakdown first, forcing the vital penalty for holding on. Mitchell stepped up but ball drifted harmlessly past the posts.

The celebrations on the whistle from Thanet’s team and supporters showed how much they prized the win.

Chichester head coach Richard Isaac said: “We lacked precision and must look to learn from this. The try we scored was a positive but overall we are very disappointed with our defence and some of our decision making.”

Director of rugby Paul Colley said: “We had enough ball but failed to play the phases. We’re disappointed in the performance but will take the bonus point. Thanet will give most sides a tough time on home soil.”

CHICHESTER: Decoteau, Lawrence, Shopland, Blount, Barlow, Lindsay, Johnson, Kasujja, Toone, Adams, Armah, Robson, Renwick, Polhill, Mitchell, Pszczonka, Jackson, McCluskey.

n This week the Blues face Cobham at Oaklands Park (2.30). All support is welcome.