Chiswick RFC Middlesex Bowl Final

29/04/2007

Chiswick retain Hendon 7s

The 2007 vintage tasted just as sweet as 2006, as Chiswick 7’s squad won the Hendon 7’s tournament for the second year in succession.

Here are the facts: played 5, won 5; tries for 34, tries against 2; points for 200, points against 10. Outstanding, from a squad that just played better and better as the day went on.

With opposition primarily from leagues above Herts & Middlesex 1, including last years rivals Vauxhall, Hammersmith & Fulham and Barnet Elizabethans, Chiswick were the stand-out team throughout.

In the round robin tournament, wins were achieved against Vauxhall 2’s, Enfield Ignations and Watford. With Ade Lewis or Mark Jones fitting in alongside Graham Robins, Tom Adams and Sam Hood in the forwards, it gave the seven on the pitch additional firepower, and the opportunity to rotate weary legs. In the backs, Keith Luckman and Ian Walker shared scrum half duties; Lewis Hammond ran the show from fly half, while Jonno Gibson, Ben Cheston and Lee Miller provided the firepower out wide. Everyone played their part to a tee, displaying natural handling, running skills and support play which are the hallmarks of Chiswick rugby.

At semi-final stage we met an old adversary in UCS Old Boys, recently promoted to London 3. With increased aggression, particularly from G (one supporter was heard to say ‘who untied him?’) UCS’s previous clinical rugby fell apart. Mark Jones exploded into life with two power tries. Lee continued to dance the lines like a fluffer on acid. If anything, the standard was raised from the earlier rounds; a score of 47 unanswered points underlining our talent and togetherness throughout the squad.

With eery symmetry to last year, Vauxhall survived a scare in their semi-final to earn the chance of revenge in this year’s final. There was definitely the whiff of a grudge match as the two lined up. The Barley Mow boys in their fancy flowered shirts, taking on the larger Vauxhall team from a more senior league? Surely Chiswick couldn’t do it again?

And tight it was, for the first six minutes. One score each and Vauxhall, playing down the hill, pressing Chiswick’s line. But a gap, some great pace and hands, and the stranglehold was broken. From that moment on belief flooded through the ranks. By half time Chiswick were three scores to the good, turning round to play down the hill.

With the slope in our favour, confidence high and talent to spare, there then ensued 10 minutes of high class, winning sevens. Vauxhall rarely saw the ball without a defender in his face, and once possession was gained a score was almost inevitable.

Final score 41-5. A magnificent win, a great day enjoyed by everyone (and yes, we did have the best looking supporters). Impossible to highlight any one individual which, if anything, is why this squad probably just shades it over last year’s – now what a match that would be.

Team: Keith ‘Pony’ Luckman, Marc ‘Stinky’ Jones, Lee ‘The Fluffer’ Miller, Lewis ‘Love Rat’ Hammond, Jon ‘Son of Gibb’ Gibson, Ben ‘Slow Train’ Cheston, Tom ‘Gonzo’ Adams, G ‘Graham’ Robbings, Sam ‘Robot’ Hood, Ian ‘Bandage’ Walker and Ade ‘Propwing’ Lewis

Coach: Andrew ‘Been There Done That’ Barrington