Chichester are caught in the storm at Cobham

Chichester made nine changes – Pete Farrow, Joe Woods and Charlie Wallace came into the pack, Harry Seaman, Tom Knight and Tim Cook returned in the backs with Richard Ives, Jack Knight and Kyle Armstrong on the bench.

In persistent rain, Cobham kicked off with the wind behind them. Chichester were first on the scoreboard with a Tom Blewitt penalty kick from 30m after a Cobham infringement. Blues doubled the score on 12 minutes with a second Blewitt penalty kick making it 6-0.

Despite playing into the wind, Chichester were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and 15 minutes had gone before the home side crossed the halfway line with the ball.

On 18 minutes it was Blues’ turn to infringe and with wind assistance Cobham were on the scoreboard, 3-6.

A Cobham infringement allowed Blues to kick for touch in the corner and from the lineout on the 5m line the forwards inched the ball forward with a series of pick and goes.

Gareth Davies deftly chipped a ball over the defence but a Cobham hand applied the downward pressure in the ensuing scramble for a 22m dropout.

On the half hour the home side levelled the score with their second penalty. Three minutes later a well-timed pass on halfway split the Chichester defence and Cobham were through for a converted try, 13-6.

With a couple of minutes left in the first half the referee produced a yellow card and Blues were down to 14 men.

Cobham increased their lead with another successful penalty kick. In the dying moments of the half Chichester moved the ball out wide through Harry Seaman, Charlie Wallace, Pete Farrow and Nick Blount. Blount’s long pass found Davies who was forced into touch just short - 16-6 at half-time.

The small contingent of Blues’ fans were pleased with the first-half performance which saw Chichester dominate for significant periods in challenging conditions.

Despite being a man short Chichester repelled all opposition advances at the start of the second half, and looked dominant in the scrum. Eleven minutes into the second half the referee produced yellow again, reducing Cobham to 14.

With a numerical advantage Blues advanced into the opposition red zone and won a penalty which was kicked to the corner.

From the lineout Chichester’s pack moved the ball forward with a series of pick and goes and Rhys Thompson darted over the line to touch down. But the referee disallowed the try and took play back for an earlier infringement.

Blues opted for the 5m scrum and drove Cobham back over the try line, allowing Baz Magda to dot down. Conversion missed, 16-11.

Cobham increased the lead to 19-11 with a penalty four minutes later and started to stamp their authority on the game. Their wingers and full-back were up quickly while the fly-half was screwing low balls into touch keeping Blues penned in their own half.

Cobham increased their lead to 22-11 but Chichester weren’t ready to concede defeat. Blues’ pressure resulted in another penalty, kicked to the corner for a lineout. Blount secured the ball and the pack drove for the line before being stopped illegally.

The referee signalled a penalty try and produced the yellow card, reducing the opposition to 14 for the second time, 22-18 with three minutes left.

Chichester conceded a penalty eight metres from their try line and, expecting Cobham to kick the penalty, were caught out by a quick tap by the scrum-half, who dotted down. An excellent conversion from out wide into the wind meant it ended 29-18.

MoM was Materati Waqanisau.

Chichester: Deavall, Farrow, Woods, Magda, Blount, Wallace, Makasi, Waqanisau, Seaman, Davies, T Knight, Thompson, Blewitt, Rowland, Cook, Ives, J Knight, Armstrong.

Chichester welcome Medway to Oaklands Park on Saturday (2.30pm).