HISTORY REPEATS AS ALL GOLDS COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT CHARGERS
Christopher Wilson at Lockleaze Sports Centre
BRISTOL ALL GOLDS 26 – 24 LONDON CHARGERS
Two years ago, the All Golds came from 20 points down to defeat the Chargers in an extraordinary comeback. This game was not quite so dramatic but given the disappointing nature of the first period it was just as remarkable as again the All Golds erased a 20-point deficit to claim the points.
The first forty minutes saw the All Golds waste promising positions early in the tackle count and allow the Chargers to roll forward. To their credit, their scramble on their goal-line was what kept the score down, and in the end was what won them the game as they held out a full set of tackles on their line in the final heart-stopping minutes.
Coming off a hammering by Hammersmith last week, the Chargers fielded what looked like a mobile but light pack with the go-forward supplied by the second rows initially and then from the interchange bench, which helped them to build a strong half-time lead.
With the visitors moving smoothly upfield, the All Golds were soon behind.
They lost possession late in their opening set and the Chargers worked a short side move that ended with Jonathan Allen touching down Shay Flanagan’s kick to the in-goal.
The blustery wind made conditions more comfortable for spectators than in recent weeks but played havoc with both kicks at goal and kicks from hand with Flanagan missing three of his five attempts.
The Chargers immediately doubled their lead as Josh Catlett rumbled through a gap between wing and centre to run forty metres to the line for an unconverted score.
The All Golds, however, responded well and were soon on the board, fast hands giving Joe Capener the chance to touch down in the corner. David Weetman was unable to add the goal into the teeth of the wind.
The sides exchanged sets for the next few minutes with both defences holding on in relative comfort. Jermarie Chatham had a chance to score but failed to gather the ball cleanly from a play-the-ball almost on the Chargers’ line.
The Chargers extended their lead to 14-4 with just over 20 minutes gone. After an attacking kick had been blocked giving them a fresh set close to the line, Flanagan’s dart and cute offload sent David Castle over untouched.
Flanagan added the extras and almost had another opportunity with the boot after Catlett made another break, but George Brown failed to ground the ball as he attempted a spectacular finish in the corner.
The All Golds were showing plenty of effort but seemed very disorganised and the Chargers were clearly on top as the interval approached.
Just before the half-time break, a penalty for the All Golds’ kick-chase running offside gave the Chargers a chance and a superb break from Tom Oldroyd saw him skate inside some flailing arms and race to the post to make Flanagan’s conversion a formality.
The Chargers’ 20-4 interval lead was thoroughly deserved as they were the better team in the first forty minutes and it didn’t take them long to extend their lead in the second period as Flanagan touched down for a try but his conversion was ruled to have missed by the referee.
Then, one of those little things happened that turned the whole course of events and changed the game completely.
Weetman found touch with a well-placed kick but Flanagan’s effort at the end of the next set ballooned over the whitewash to hand the All Golds decent field position.
They grabbed the chance with both hands as Tega Rume-Tabiowo tore and twisted his way through half a dozen defenders on an unstoppable run to the posts. Weetman added the extras and the momentum of the game had turned on its head.
There was still defending to do for the All Golds but they stood up to the challenge, hit hard and scrambled for all they were worth; holding the Chargers up on the goal line after they had regathered the kick-off.
On the hour mark, Weetman’s pass met Brandon Lamb’s line perfectly for the centre to race over by the posts. With the extras duly added, the All Golds were just 24-16 down and sensing a famous victory.
They had some luck as, after Lamb’s dropped ball had given the Chargers a chance, Allen let slip a difficult pass around his ankles with the home defence badly stretched.
Chatham then made a good break that ended in a penalty, and from very close range, Sam Gilder forced his way over. Weetman cut the deficit to two points with the goal and, with ten minutes remaining, the game was there for the taking.
Soon afterwards, the comeback was complete. A Chargers hand knocked down a pass and straight from the scrum Capener showed great strength to force his way over. Weetman was unsuccessful with the extras, but the All Golds had a 26-24 lead to cling to.
And cling they did as the Chargers applied the blowtorch, but the defence held out.
In the final seconds the unwritten rule that back-to-back penalties inevitably lead to a try was broken. Consecutive penalties piggy-backed the Chargers upfield as the clock ticked down, and, in the last minute of the game, the All Golds magnificently defended a full set of tackles on their tryline in an epic goal-line stand.
Next week, The All Golds have another home fixture against Eastern Rhinos and will hope to get the win to stand any chance of getting into the play-offs.
MatchStats
TEAMS
ALL GOLDS: Jermarie Chatham; Leon Atherton, Brandon Lamb, Lewis Harris, Joe Capener; Jack Uren (Capt.), David Weetman; Joe Macklin, Adam Turner, Angus Parkin; Jamie Jenkins, Ben Smith; Tega Rume-Tabiowo. INTERCHANGE: Luis Rowe, Dan Short, Morgan Lewis, Sam Gilder.
Scorers:
Tries: Capener (10, 74), Rume-Tabiowo (54), Lamb (59), Gilder (69).
Goals: Weetman 3 from 5.
CHARGERS: Gabe Burrill; Jon Allen, Tom Oldroyd, Josh Catlett, George Brown; Shay Flanagan, Tom Hackett; Will Armour, Doug Chirnside (Capt.), Easton Pollard; Cash Radford, Ope Okuboyejo; Ben Cary. INTERCHANGE: Josh Hawthorne, Ezra Paxman, David Castle, David Burgess.
Scorers:
Tries: Allen (2), Catlett (5), Castle (23), Oldroyd (38), Flanagan (47).
Goals: Flanagan 2 from 5.
Scoring Sequence: 0-4, 0-8, 4-8, 4-14, 4-20, (HT), 4-24, 10-24, 16-24, 22-24, 26-24, (FT)
Referee: Obi Ijeoma (RFL)
Penalties: All Golds 4-5 Chargers
Thatchers Cider Bristol All Golds’ Player of the Match – All Golds’ prop Joe Macklin put in a supreme effort as he played much of the game. He produced strong carries and bone-crunching defence throughout his stints on the field and thoroughly deserved this week’s award.