Match Report by Rob McCaffrey-Thomson.

SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2016 CHISWICK RFC v TOTTONIANS RFC 2.30pm. Kick Off.... Could we have expected fireworks from todays game? Chiswick kick off, Tottonians return the ball with vigour and for the first few minutes we find Chiswick on the back foot, defending, kicking to clear their lines 3 times, failing to find touch, numerous mauls and rucks ensue, the endless phases of play come to an end with a scrum to Chiswick. Chiswick win their own scrum and make a break out of their own half, this is quickly smothered by Tottonians centre pairing of Mike Searle and Robbie Searle, it's turnover ball, Tottonians pass the ball backwards and it's cleared from the edge of their 22 in to touch. Chiswick win their line-out, they play it through the Backs hands, knock on, Tottonians scrum, Chiswick win against the head, Tottonians press up as a line, defending with heart, it pays off with a turnover and a scrum to Tottonians. 11 minutes gone, a Blood Bin injury sees Pierre Clarke replaced by Freddie Prince. Play restarts with a great scrum from Tottonians, Kevin Raqio picks and goes, gains ground and is supported by a rampaging Moose, in Ali Ramus, a steady build-up going forward is stopped by a turnover by Chiswick, who clear out of their 22 with a kick to touch on their own 10 metre line. From the line-out Tottonians move forward with a great carry from James Gay, as Tottonians are looking to score a Penalty is given away by Chiswick for not releasing the Player. Tottonians elect to kick for the posts, 5 metres outside of the 22 and 5 metres in from touch, Robbie Searle kicks and misses the left post by inches, (quite remarkable considering the size of the posts, maybe BT would like their Telegraph Poles back?). 17 minutes have passed, the Blood Bin is reversed, just in time for the 22 Drop-out from Chiswick. Tottonians return to type and start hammering away at a resilient Chiswick defence, with some great carries from Ali Ramus, Mike Searle, Nick Jones and Dylan Baptista, who ran over his opposite number with such power and pace he may still be seeing stars or believe that the fireworks had started early! 20 minutes gone, Tottonians are have to been adjudged to have forward passed, scrum down, Chiswick ball, they win their scrum and kick the ball clear for a Tottonians line-out on halfway. Tottonians knock-on in the line-out, scrum to Chiswick which they win and put a kick over the advancing Tottonians Players, the ball is caught and returned over the advancing Chiswick Players by Pierre Clarke, who follows his own kick, along with Robbie Searle who picks up the ball and draws 2 defending Players in, dteps inside and

pops the ball to Pierre, the Referee adjudges another forward pass? Chiswick win the impending scrum and clear their lines with a sliced kick out of their own 22, Dylan Baptista returns the ball at pace, but is held up in the maul, it's a turnover and scrum down. Chiswick win their ball, but through numerous phases cannot run the ball out of the 22, so kick for touch. The line-out is won by Tottonians, and put through hands to Pierre Clarke, who attempts a drop goal from the 10 metre line, missing to the right of the uprights, Chiswick clear from the 22 drop-out, attempted catch and a knock on, Chiswick scrum on halfway, they win and pin Tottonians deep in their 22 with a kick to touch, (if these kicks get any higher, we may lose a ball, as we're directly under the Heathrow flight path!). Chiswick win the line-out and ship the ball from left to right with decent passes through the Backs hands, same again going back the other way, they then knock on, giving Tottonians the scrum, which they win and Harry Dolbear kicks to clear the lines, Chiswick run the ball back and then kick to touch. They win another line-out and start knocking on the door of Tottonians 22, Tottonians don't open the door at any stage with a hearts on the sleeve show of tackle after tackle, defending with everything they have, knock on by Chiswick, Tottonians win the scrum and clear with a kick by Pierre Clarke to Chiswick's 10 metre line, they run it back, using what seems to be to be every blade of grass between both 10 metre lines, running and moving the ball through hands across the pitch and back again, only kicking to touch as a means to put Tottonians on the back foot again. After winning another line-out, Chiswick should have scored, but for more staunch defending from Tottonians, who turn the ball over with great work from Joe Searle and Mike Wisnewski. They break, and run the ball into Chiswick's half, turnover to Chiswick just outside their own 22 and clear with a kick, Tottonians had an opportunity to run the ball back but the ball is kicked forward, running out over the dead ball line for a 22 dropout. Dylan Baptista is injured and replaced by Freddie Prince. The 22 drop-out goes in to touch for a line-out, which Chiswick win, but knock on, Harry Dolbear takes a quick tap and go, is tackled within 10 metres of the penalty, another penalty to Tottonians which is taken and passed through hands before another knock on. Chiswick win their scrum, ship the ball from left to right and back again, they see a gap with a 3 on 2 overlap, and with his head down, Chiswick's Sam Hobbins goes over for the try, 5-0. Simon Hallett steps up, misses the conversion. The score remains CHISWICK 50 TOTTONIANS at Half Time. 2nd HALF 3.20pm. Tottonians start the half by kicking off, Chiswick return with a kick to touch, Tottonians win the line-out and play the ball through numerous phases before there's a deliberate knock on by Chiswick, but no card, scrum to Tottonians, stood up, reset, stood up and reset again, Chiswick win against the head, but with over zealous handling, they knock on their own ball this time.

Tottonians scrum, they win and use the backs to pass the ball right to left, across the park, back left to right, right to left again, surging forward, Chiswick defend, tackle after tackle, break down after break down, then offside Chiswick, penalty to Tottonians. A kick to touch and Tottonians win the line-out from Chiswick, as they break Tottonians are penalised for blocking, Chiswick elect the scrum, they win it and their 8, Sam LeslieMiller picks and goes from the back of the scrum, but is closed down at speed and double-teamed by Joe Searle and Mike Searle, who hold him up in the maul for a turnover and scrum to Tottonians. A winning scrum by Tottonians who pass the ball out, with great handling, then Nick Jones comes off the right wing, heading to the centre of the pitch he collects the ball and with a step to the left and a flick to the right, (like a line out of a Duran Duran song) he's through and under the posts for 5 points. Robbie Searle kicks the extra 2 points. Chiswick 5-7 Tottonians 12 minutes gone in the second half, Chiswick restart, Mike Searle catches and breaks forward down the left, he steps inside and is over-hauled by 3 Chiswick defenders, but the ball is recycled by Tottonians in the clear out, and passed across the park, knock on by Tottonians, Chiswick win their scrum and clear from the 22 straight to Pierre Clarke, he takes the contact, Tottonians go forward, steadily, pod after pod making ground, from their 22 to Chiswick's 22 metre line, there's a break down in play and Tottonians give away a penalty, which Chiswick use to clear to touch on the halfway line. Tottonians win the line-out, and through hands manage to get the ball across to the right wing, where they're put in to touch. Chiswick line-out. Mike Wisnewski is replaced by John Wilton. Tottonians win the line-out, churning the ball out for a rampaging Moose, Ali Ramus, to collect and go over for the try. Chiswick 5-12 Tottonians. Robbie Searle converts from a tight angle for the conversion. Chiswick 5-14 Tottonians The restart is another high kick, hoping to shock another pilot on approach to Heathrow, Tottonians collect and show some good handling skills, and clear with a kick, Chiswick return with a kick, we're hoping it's not the start of a Table Tennis game as Tottonians kick back, but thankfully put an end to the kicking shennanigans by finding touch. Chiswick win their line-out, it's a short, pop pass to Max Burrows (12) to score for the 5 points, Simon Hallett (10) converts. Chiswick 12-14 Tottonians My hands are cold, but the twitching of My Bottom is generating heat, this is adding to this hotly contested match, a stones throw from the River Thames. 27 minutes, Tottonians are up quickly and win their own restart, but Chiswick come up

with the ball and kick long, Pierre Clarke catches and kicks to touch. Chiswick use a back ball at the line-out, it's effective, but Tottonians win the break down and clear, touch isn't found, Chiswick apply pressure immediately, but Tottonians defend fiercely again, expletives were heard from a Tottonians player, “Just clear the ball, You FUDGING CHAPS!” Tottonians responded by clearing, the ball was swiftly returned, on the run by Chiswick, a huge tackle was put in by Harry Dolbear and the ball is knocked on for a Tottonians scrum, then a Chiswick free kick, they knock on, Tottonians penalty, an error from Chiswick, Tottonians penalty, it's like a film, Fast and Furious, but without cars. Tottonians kick the penalty, Chiswick return the ball at pace, with a second try for for Max Burrows (12) with Simon Hallett (10) missing th extra points. Chiswick 17-14 Tottonians 35 minutes, Chiswick put in a long kick from the restart, but give away a penalty with an offside offence. Tottonians clear to Chiswick's 10 metre line for a line-out,Tottonians win the line-out and pass from left to right as they attack Chiswick, threatening with a 3 on 4 overlap, but a stray pass goes in to touch. Line-out Chiswick, which they win, and kick for the far touchline and it's another line-out, this time to Tottonians. Tottonians win the line-out, but are deep in their own 22, they are held-up and the ball is given to Chiswick for a scrum down, which they win but give away the ball with a penalty to Tottonians. They tap and go, cold hands must be playing a part now as the ball is knocked on, Chiswick scrum on Tottonians 22, they're stood up, reset, stood up and reset again, Chiswick win the scrum, playing the ball through hands, Tottonians are resolute in defence, Chiswick recycle, recycle, recycle and recycle again, there's more recycling happening here than on a Sunday morning at Your Local Tip. Chiswick emerge with the ball and head for the left hand upright, Tottonians hold the ball up. That's it, Game Over, either side could've won, as the game went around and around like a Catherine Wheel, it was Chiswick who sealed the win. FINAL SCORE CHISWICK RFC 17- 14 TOTTONIANS RFC