It wasn't quite the heatwave promised by the MET office but it was probably just as well as there were a number of mature gentlemen running around on the meads on Saturday.
Streatham and Croydon looked focused running warm up drills and stretches whilst the Motley crew of Chipstead discussed the length of time since they had last played a game of rugby ! As kick off time started getting closer a decision was made to do some warm-up - and what a silly decision that was - as Simon Martin, who was never one for stretching and on his first game in 2 years, went down lame and we'll have to wait another couple of years before we see him again !
The game started at a frenetic pace and this rather caught the Rapiers a little cold and although benefitting from the slope found themselves down by 2 tries in the first 20 minutes after some excellent attacking play from S&C driven by their live-wire of a scrum half.
The packs were equally matched in size, power and age but Jamie Maloney led the forward pack with a boundless energy being the only line-out jumper and the biggest ball carrier. In a quite brilliant flash of inspiration Bruv in at centre decided to lift a delft little kick over the top of the defensive line and with no one at home ran through to collect and dot down his own kick for the first points for the Rapiers.

Buoyed by the score the forwards started to work the patterns hooking around looking for work Tiny Tony came to the fore with some great carries and then just as the S&C defensive line thought they knew what was coming Jamie picked and went from the base of the ruck and flat footed the defence to head in under the posts - Jeevo couldn't miss the extras. Chris Bevan (first game in 2 years) had to retire early with a knock to his ankle and was replaced by debutant Ben Taylor who nearly ended up being immediately sent back to the side-lines when he attempted a textbook Andy Wright short arm tackle but the fabulous referee Fabrice decided his cards could stay in the pocket and the half drew to an end.

HT Chipstead Rapiers 12 - Streatham & Croydon 14

Coach Ryan had a couple of changes planned for the half time break but decided the 137 year old front row of Dupe, Forrest and Martin Gordon (first game in 2 years) needed a longer work out - Head Coach Wright came on for a 20 minute Cameo but is only half the man he was (needs feeding up Roy !) Chipstead started the half brightly and were rewarded when Jeevo was on the end of a well worked try and took the Rapiers into the lead for the first time. He even managed the extras.
This only stunned the S&C players back into life and they were able to build long passages of possession but were often guilty of not finishing off the opportunities they built for themselves. Eventually the pressure did pay when a nice kick, chase and lucky bounce saw them scoot over to take the try, conversion and the lead.

Ryan then tried a unique approach of taking off Matt Staunton (Never played Rugby) at scrum half and not replacing him ! The rapiers could of played the rest of the game with 14 if they didn't eventually have a scrum and no one to feed the ball ! So Ryan finally unleashed the Romanian assassins of Comrade Popp and Physio Cosmin along with debutants Adam (Forrests son-in-law) and Ethan, his first game of senior rugby, and once again the Rapiers started to get on the front foot. With Ethan, especially, creating much quicker ball from the base.
A superb tackle from Bruv in midfield (who had returned after his fag break) caused a turnover and then some excellent inter-passes and support running saw Lewis (first game in a year) score the decisive try which was once again successfully converted by Jeevo.
S&C tried desperately to get something out of the game but the Rapiers defensive line held out and with it took the glory.

FT Chipstead Rapiers 26 - Streatham & Croydon 21

We are committed on getting a 3rd XV out once a month until the end of the season and would love to see some more new or nearly new faces ! The next is on the weekend of the 18th November - would love to know if people would prefer a Friday night, Saturday morning or Sunday game instead ??

Availability to Chey - DoR@ChipsteadRFC.co.uk or 07886604807