TABARD 17 Amersham and Chiltern 26

Tabard’s warm up game against Amersham and Chiltern on Saturday ended in a defeat for the home club but it was still a useful prelude to the league season which kicks off next week when Tabard play London Nigerians at their Cobden Hill ground, kick off 3.00 pm.

Amersham and Chiltern had already played a couple of games this season and this showed in their more cohesive play to start with although their only reward was two penalty goals. In fact, Amersham and Chiltern probably edged the loose play throughout the match but Tabard had much the better threequarters and this enabled Tabard to score the three best tries of the match. For the first centre Mike Thomas scored after Tabard had run the ball from the re-start kick, with stand off Jack Reilly making the initial surge before feeding Thomas. Amersham replied with a try of their own before Keiran Murphy, playing on the wing got one back for Tabard after they gained possession from a turnover ball. Amersham again converted a penalty before Murphy got his second try when the ball was passed down the line from a good line out take but Amersham scored two further tries to give them the victory.

The game was played over four quarters and both sides gave their squads a good run out prior to the serious rugby starting next week.