Leaving it late? No, let’s leave it later!
Chichester 17 Beckenham 14
Ragional two south east
Chichester won this crucial match by scoring a try in the last seconds amid great excitement.
It had been a very competitive encounter between two teams who have been losing games, but not by much. There was great relief for home supporters and disappointment for Becks at the end.
A large crowd had watched and it was good to see several former Chi players from the last decade on the touchline.
Chi were missing three players including captain Rhys Thompson. His deputy Zac Conley took over. Owen Tucker and Niall Wright came into the pack, young Charlie Manger was at fly half and Jack Swain at full back.
Becks took the lead four minutes in. Chi dropped a pass on the left and Becks swept the ball with good hands to the right for the winger to go over in the corner, 0-5.
A Becks flanker was yellow carded for a high tackle. Conley was delivering good ball from lineouts. Charlie
Norton struck the left post with a penalty from 35m.
On 20 minutes, following a lineout near the corner, Chi forwards drove on and reliable prop Matt Prior touched down with conversion by Norton, 7-5.
Chi had one break along the right wing but were denied by a tackle into touch. Another attempt after a charge down in the Becks 22 resulted in a penalty for Norton to strike through the uprights, 10-5.
Blues defended stoutly in the red zone but were penalised
for holding on at a ruck and the Becks outside centre slotted three points to make 10-8 at the interval.
Chi rolled up their sleeves. There was an outbreak of swift passing with busy scrum half Matt Mclagan buzzing around. A huge attack went in from 10m out but Becks tackled hard and Chi were penalised for coming in from the side.
The visitors charged into the Chi half with lineouts on the right but lost possession. For Blues, flanker Tyrese Makasi was gaining many
yards with his running into opposition territory. But Chi were called back for a penalty to Becks in the centre of the pitch 40m from the posts which was beautifully landed - 10-11.
Blues went straight to the other end and hammered at the Becks fortress.
There was a setback when Chi were penalised for what could have been a deliberate knock-on when the ball went out to the Becks backs. Converted, 10-14.
Then Ross Miller received a final pass on the left wing and galloped towards the corner but Becks thwarted him.
Chi threw the kitchen sink at the massed defence, and from the very last play, from their fourth 5m scrum, the pack heaved slowly but surely over the white line and Ben Deavall pressed down.
What an amazing finish, with the try converted to make it 17-14 and earn four precious league points for Chichester.
MOM: Will Prior.
This week Chi travel to Old Colfeians.