Back To Winning Ways

Rugby result- London Nigerians 10 Chiswick 48

The displaced and disorganized London Nigerians team needed beating well for Chiswick to feel satisfied, and that’s the way it went, eventually. Against 14 players for most of the first half, Chiswick perversely managed to leak an early try when the Nigerians’ fly half sailed around the visitors’ defence for an unconverted try.

Not until the 14 th minute did they make the extra player count, when Ray Brooks set up good ball, which eventually reaches Sam Leslie-Miller via Andy John, Reggie Regan and the ubiquitous Riki Darroch. He touched down, but the conversion attempt failed.

Getting into their stride, Chiswick advanced again, through Ady Lewis. From the ensuing ruck, John put in a delicate chip towards the corner for Tom Steer to run onto, the speedy full back leaving the defence cold in a 20 metre dash for the line. No conversion.

Ten minutes later, and with Luca Vannini enjoying the gaps behind the home scrum, winger Joe Grindall, in his first outing, made a weaving break, then found Darroch on the inside. The move ended with Vannini sending Leslie-Miller in for his second try. John slotted the kick, and the Chiswick team were buzzing. Another five minutes, and Steer took a pass from Regan, and kicked through for the inevitable Darroch. Lewis then sends John in for the bonus point try, duly converted.

Up to 15 players for the second half, Nigerians tested Chiswick for ten minutes, but then Vannini chipped over the defence down the left wing, and recovered the ball to score a good individual try, again converted. Flanker sub Phil Gray made an immediate impact with a 50 metre burst and with quick recycling along the line, Brooks scored in the left corner. No conversion. On 68 minutes, John found Steer with a cut-out pass, and Steer used his pace and swerve to score another try. After Nigerians gained a consolation try, Regan wrapped it up with a sweet dummy from Chiswick lineout possession. The backs were back in style.

Chiswick team:- Shattock, Dibble, Joubert, Pickering, Joyce, Adams, Darroch, Leslie-Miller, Vannini, John, Lewis, Regan, Brooks, Grindall, Steer. Subs:- Tonkin, Gray, McLaughlin

October 28, 2013