Gloucester Premier League

Chipping Sodbury 15 Old Richians 22

CHIPPING Sodbury knew that they needed to front up against early pace setters Old Richians on Saturday especially as they turned up with former Gloucester centre Terry Fanaloua in the side.

The standard was set in just the second minute when Sodbury’s ace defender Dom Pullen hit his opposite number Fanaloua.

The ball was shaken free and the point was made early that no team gets an easy ride at The Ridings.

Both teams showed huge endeavour, but mistakes were costing Sodbury dear.

Sodbury could have easily been behind but for Dave Guest.

On two occasions, Richians wingers broke free only to be hunted down by Guest, who showed incredible speed and tenacity.

Old Richians took the lead with a penalty after 15 minutes, galvanising the Sodbury pack to build a few phases and create a better platform for the backs.

Eventually, the visitors strayed offside and Dan Bradley stroked over from 25 metres.

There were knock-ons aplenty from Richians and fierce scrambling defensive work from Sodbury, but the score increased to 9-3 at half-time.

An innocuous free kick deep in Sodbury’s half was seized by Luke Carnaby. He tapped and ran, catching everyone by surprise and beating two tacklers before passing to Pullen.

Pullen picked up speed quickly and was able to rush fifty metres before making a sweet inside pass to Jon Cook, who cruised in beneath the posts, leaving a simple conversion to Bradley and a 10–9 Sodbury lead at the break.

The second-half started with Sodbury showing real purpose. George Barnes, Matt Cook and Luke Carnaby, along with new captain Pete Butcher, had surging carries.

The whole team also pulled together when Bradley kicked, offering a cohesive wall when chasing the ball.

Such was the effort in defence, Richians fell back into a kicking game.

They also found themselves able to kick two more penalties to stretch out a five point lead by hour.

Sodbury started to build field position and momentum again as Richians infringed, and a try looked likely from James Bennett when he received a 35 metre pass from Steve Hopes.

Bennett brushed the touchline while executing a swerve to be denied.

Then it all went wrong for the Sods.

A poor kick wobbled to a halt in front of Richians’ back line and a sixty metre kick put Sodbury on their own line.

Richians dived over on the blind side.

Sodbury came back immediately as they powered up the centre. After three rucks, the ball was moved right for Cook to get his second try and a losing bonus point for Sodbury.