Stags find their feet at home

Dec 23 2008

Chesham won their second game in succession with another nail-biting victory at the weekend, a morale-boosting 15-13 win over Banbury 2nd who are third in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon One North table.

The Stags were very much in control from the start at Chartridge Lane, dominating in the scrum. But although the forwards maintained possession for the most of half, they could not convert their it into points and Banbury went ahead with a deserved penalty.

The second half got off to a slow start for Chesham before they were encouraged by Geoff Dawson tearing through the Banbury defence, breaking three tackles, and scoring just right of the posts. An easy conversion by Ross Leek made it 7-3 to the Stags.

However, they then did what they so often do when taking the lead: letting the other team back in to score after only five minutes.

Tensions were beginning to fray on both sides, and the referee showed a yellow card to home scrum half Simon Halley.

Banbury went further ahead when they were successful with a penalty attempt and Leek missed one for Chesham.

With Stags' captain Daniel Rose rallying his team, Leek slotted his next penalty through the middle of the posts and the return of Halley signalled increased pressure in the Banbury 2.

The breakthrough came in the form of a five-metre attacking scrum.

As the pack drove forward, the ball was carried over the line for 15-13, a well-earned five points claimed by Halley.

The conversion missed so anxious Chesham supporters endured a nailbiting finale with Stags holding on to their narrow two-point lead.

Now that Chesham have played most of this season's away matches they hope to build on their potential at home, starting on January 10 against fourth-placed Aylesbury Athletic.