Blues fightback just too late to claim win
Guildford 24
Chichester 17
Regional 2 South Central
Chichester couldn’t grab the win but did come home from Surrey with a losing bonus point.
Chichester made 11 changes to the team that beat Tottonians, last time out, with Alex Einchcomb, Josh Cameron, Charlie Davis, Joel Day, Seamus Mccormack and James Smith coming into the pack, Josef Amin and Luca Fleming joining the backs and Harry Sharp, Will Mesney and Ollie Horne on the bench.
After heavy rain in the week, and a hailstorm before kick-off, the pitch was soft but playable. Under a blue sky, Chichester kicked off into the gusting wind.
Guildford applied the early pressure but a combination of poor handling and a resolute Blues defence saw the hosts frustrated for 20 minutes.
Having been penalised a number of times, for offside at the breakdown, the referee sent a Chichester player to the sin bin. Guildford kicked the ball to the corner and their forwards mauled the ball across the line from the lineout, and the try was converted – 7-0.
The Blues dug deep and took the fight to Guildford. On 27 minutes they advanced the ball 60m down the pitch with the hosts conceding three penalties and finding themselves defending a lineout on the 5m line.
Having secured the ball the pack were joined by extra muscle from the backs to maul over the line, with Josh Cameron dotting down, 7-5.
The referee produced a yellow card for obstruction and Chi were back down to 14. Guildford reprised their earlier play with a kick to the corner for a lineout, which they mauled over, and it was 14-5 to half-time.
With the wind at their backs, Chichester showed most enterprise for the first 20 minutes of the second half, with Tom Blewitt and Josh Stops’ kicking putting Guildford under pressure.
MOM Seamus Mccormack was also causing problems, and when Stops recycled it to Josef Amin at fly-half, his pass was collected by Josaia Korobiau out wide and it seemed the Fijian winger would score in the corner, but was carried into a touch by a tackle on the line.
On 60 minutes Guildford mounted their first substantive attack of the half in the red zone with Chichester losing another player to the bin for collapsing the maul.
The scrums became uncontested and the hosts scored two unconverted tries and secured a bonus point before Blues returned to their full complement.
Chichester regathered the ball and advanced towards the red zone. Rhys Thompson broke the defensive line to run in under the posts from 25m, converted by Blewitt, 24-12.
Soon the were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Blewitt’s kick found touch 12m out and eventually the ball was spun out to the backs. Luca Fleming took the ball into contact and Guildford conceded a penalty for not releasing. Thompson took a quick tap and went over.
Chichester’s season ends on April 6 when they entertain Salisbury (3pm).