LATE ALL GOLDS CHARGE ENDS IN DEFEAT
LONDON CHARGERS 20 – 18 BRISTOL ALL GOLDS
Christopher Wilson at Chiswick RFC
SUMMARY
Two late Bristol All Golds tries were not enough to snatch what would have been a third straight win over the London Chargers on a warm, muggy day in Chiswick. The home side had raced to a 12-0 lead with tries from Sam Felkin and Jon Armour both goaled by Isaac Greene. Oli Winterbottom responded with the first of his two tries, goaled by Callum Merrett midway through the half before Doug Chirnside’s unconverted try put the hosts 16-6 ahead.
Merrett’s 50-metre interception try reduced the deficit before the interval.
Shay Flanagan’s try just before the hour mark looked to have settled matters, but Winterbottom quickly cancelled that out and Leon Atherton’s touchdown in the corner edged the All Golds closer. However, neither were converted and the Chargers held on for a hard-earned victory that cements their place in third place.
FULL REPORT
Two late Bristol All Golds tries were not enough to snatch what would have been a third straight win over the London Chargers on a warm, muggy day in Chiswick. The defeat masks one of the best performances by the All Golds for a long time, and the statistics show the All Golds having a high completion rate when in possession and a relatively low penalty count gave few free opportunities to their opponents.
The All Golds worked hard to get into good field position but failed to take the opportunities they had created. On the other hand, the Chargers took theirs as they led 16-6 just before half time and 20-10 midway through the second half.
Both sides scored four tries, but the Chargers kicked two goals compared to the All Golds’ one. In May, it was the Chargers who were unable to gain a win or salvage a draw as they missed two late conversions in a 30-28 loss at Lockleaze and they were a relieved side at the final whistle this time having found the boot on the other foot..
The game was played in muggy and overcast conditions with the occasional brief light shower; fortunately not the scorching temperatures the forecasters were predicting.
The Bristol side began well, completing their first three sets and earned a reward when Jon Allen dropped a straightforward kick under no pressure.
However, Leon Atherton was forced into touch on the first tackle and the chance to build pressure and test the defence was lost.
The Chargers replied with a try on their first real attack Jack Gordon’s break was finished well by Sam Felkin. Isaac Greene added the goal for a 6-0 advantage after ten minutes of absorbing rugby league.
The Chargers made a mess of the restart but were not punished as the All Golds had a close-range score disallowed for an obstruction. After back-to-back penalties and an unsuccessful interception attempt by Callum Merrett, for the visitors, a well-worked move down the right gave the Chargers’ Jon Armour a try, converted by Greene to take the score to 12-0 to the hosts.
However, another wicked restart from Merrett forced an error in the in-goal, and from the goal-line drop-out, the All Golds pulled a score back with Oli Winterbottom crossing in the corner, Merrett adding a good goal from out wide.
Both sides then worked hard to create chances without success, until with half an hour gone, Doug Chirnside crossed following good work from Gordon and Harry Normington. Greene’s unsuccessful kick left the score at 16-6.
Just before half time, Merrett’s persistence at trying to get an intercept finally paid off as he snaffled a pass on halfway and just managed to reach the line for a much-needed score.
He was unsuccessful with the boot and the sides went into their halftime huddles with the Chargers leading 16-10.
Play resumed with the All Golds earning four consecutive sets, but after Winterbottom went close to a score, Atherton was held up over the line and the opportunity was lost.
Atherton then had a try disallowed for offside after he had collected Merrett’s kick to the corner. The Chargers hit back and were denied a score themselves owing to a fumble over the line. However, a penalty for offside gave them another opportunity which they took through Shay Flanagan.
The All Golds’ response was immediate as they regained possession from the restart and a flowing move ended with Winterbottom arrowing in at the corner for a try that put just a converted try between the teams with a quarter of the game remaining.
After the home side lost the ball on their next possession, the All Golds again constructed a well taken try for Atherton in the corner, but Winterbottom’s conversion faded across the face of the posts.
Both sides hunted the winner in the final fifteen minutes, but their desperation, and the warm conditions, saw play become scrappy. The Chargers’ defence held firm, though, and they had a chance to put a gloss on the scoreline in the final few minutes, but desperate defence held Chirnside up over the line on a last tackle play.
Next Saturday (28 June) the All Golds host champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists at Lockleaze (2.30pm) and will be looking to use their showing against the Chargers as a base for further improvement.
MatchStats
Teams:
CHARGERS: Harry Normington; Jonathan Allen, Jon Armour, Adam Simm, Ope Okuboyejo; Jack Gordon, Isaac Greene; Sam Felkin, Doug Chirnside (Capt), Guy Entwistle; Cash Radford, Joe Briggs; Callum Linton. INTERCHANGE: Shay Flanagan, Ciaran Mylod, Nick Sydorowitz, Chris Hayden.
SCORERS
Tries: Felkin (10), J. Armour (17), Chirnside (30), Flanagan (57)
Goals: Greene 2 from 4
ALL GOLDS: Oli Winterbottom; Joe Capener, Luke Davies, Will Armour, Leon Atherton; Josh Fitzgerald, Callum Merrett (Capt); Eric Davidson, George Lawless, Tega Rume-Tabiowo; Kurtis Haile, Brandon Lamb; Morgan Lewis. INTERCHANGE: Dan Short, Mike Ward, Angus Parkin, Rob Davies. 18th Player: Wes Long
SCORERS:
Tries: Winterbottom (21, 60), Merrett (37), Atherton (65)
Goals: Merrett 1 from 3, Winterbottom 0 from 1.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 16-6, 16-10, (HT), 20-10, 20-14, 20-18, (FT)
Penalties: Chargers 7-5 All Golds
Referee: Michael Brighton (RFL)
All Golds Player of the Match: In midweek, Oli Winterbottom was selected for the England Universities squad for the Four Nations Championship, and he carried that form into the match causing the Chargers all sorts of problems every time he carried the ball out from defence and appearing in the attacking line. He also added two well-taken tries, one in each half to keep the All Golds in with a chance of taking the lead.