, 2017
06
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Friday, December 8, 2017
Sport 29
Blues boss left wanting more despite PostSport bonus point victory over Maidstone CHICHESTER RFC coach Scott Ashley admits he is frustrated despite his side chalking up a second bonus point win in a row. THe Blues followed up a victory over league leaders Medway with a 44-26 success against Maidstone. THe five points keeps Chi fourth in LSE Division One South, seven points off top spot. With a match away to Old Colfeians tomorrow (2pm), a side who have won their past two matches to move above Maidstone at the bottom of the league, Ashley is demanding more from his players as the halfway point of the season draws near. Speaking after the match, the head coach said: “THere were some good bits but I'm a bit frustrated to be honest after the excellent performance last week. Maidstone were a handful and we will work on some areas at training this week.” Chichester had to make changes from the previous week with two players from last year’s Colts making their debuts - Alex Margarson starting on the right wing and Will Prior on the bench. THe home side were quickly on the attack, with pacey open side flanker Charlie Wallace surging over with only two minutes on
the clock. After winning the kick-off, Tom Hutchin entered the line well at full back to put lightning wing Cam Hopkins on the outside where he gassed past the defence to score the Blues’ second try with only eight minutes gone. Hutchin slotted the extras to make it 12-0. THe game then turned on a referee's decision, with the visitors' first foray into the Blues' 22 seeing a penalty try and yellow card against the home side. Ten minutes later, Maidstone had scored three converted tries to take a 21-12 lead. THe Blues regrouped with skipper Jack Bentall carrying hard to get over the gain line. It reached Hopkins, who again showed his wheels to ghost over wide. THe conversion made it 19-21. A penalty put Chi in the lead before skipper Bentall and ever present forward Martin O'Callaghan smashed over to give the Blues a 32 - 21 lead at the break. THe second half was slightly frustrating as Chi made some simple errors. But they stayed disciplined and never let Maidstone back in the match. Number 8 Chris Johnson signed off another powerhouse display with two tries to seal the comfortable victory.
f Blues scored seven tries in the victory
f Chichester's Chris Johnson carries the ball through the Maidstone defence during the 44-26 victory at Oaklands Park
Purple and Greens seek eight in a row
f No 8 George Castleton scored twice in Bognor's win
BOGNOR RFC made it seven wins from seven - but they were made to work for it to secure a 31-27 cup win over Cranleigh. THe Hampshire One side were pushed all the way by the Surrey visitors and it was only a late Patrick Gibbs try that secured safe passage into the third round of the regional cup. THe Purple and Greens return to league action tomorrow, heading across the water to face the Isle of Wight (2.30pm). Sitting in second in Hampshire One just two points behind league leaders United Services, Bognor know a strong performance across the Solent will put pressure on their title challengers. Lee Balchin returned for the Cranleigh match. But it was the Surrey Two side that made the stronger start, crossing for a score after an interception. Bognor hit back though, thanks to a piece of magic from Darren Bidwell. THe second rower chipped over the rushing Cranleigh backs, gathered his own kick and
offloaded out the back door to vice-captain Shane Stevens, who finished with ease in the corner after great footwork. THe home side followed that up with another try shortly after, with number 8 George Castleton picking up from a ruck to cross. THe power in the Purple and Greens pack started to pay off, Balchin taking advantage of a missed pass to make it 19-7 at the break. Cranleigh hit back after the restart to make it a one score game. But Bognor hit back through Castleton, the scrum cap wearing number 8 weaving through the visitors' defence to score his second and further increase their lead to 26-14. Cranleigh then struck again to make it a five point game. Both teams were starting to tire but Bognor prop Chris Webb sparked the game's winning move, breaking the line and somehow running three-quarters of the pitch with one boot on. He drew the last defender and gave the ball to the oncoming Gibbs to seal the win.
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DARTS: THe first trophy of the winter darts season has been decided as the father and daughter team of Andy and Jody Cooper took the Friday Night Benevolent Mixed Pairs crown. More than 30 pairs took part in the Sandy Carter Memorial competition at the Newtown Social Club which rounded off the first half of the season. THe Coopers (Claremont) sealed their place in the final after beating Karen Wilson (Richmond Rebels) & Adam Hall (Aldingbourne Mavericks) in three legs. THe second semi-final saw Emma Bist (Aldingbourne Mavericks) & Ian Hackett (Claremont), who took out the champs from two years ago, take on the summer league's mixed pairs runners-up, mother and son Bridget Scott-Ragless & Richard Ragless (Friary 'Z'). After three hard-fought legs of darts, the former won through. THe final saw the Ragless' go first by winning the bullseye, but a score of 132 from Jody Cooper saw them take the early lead. Getting to the double first allowed Andy Cooper to take only one dart to hit double 16 and take the leg. THe second leg saw a ton from Richard Ragless, but three scores of 80 plus from the Coopers saw them in the lead again. Bridget Scott-Ragless had left her son with 98, but he missed double 12 for the leg. With the Coopers on 22, it was up to Andy Cooper again, and he did the same as the first leg, only needing one dart to hit the double, taking the match 2-0, and the title of the 'Sandy Carter Memorial' Mixed Pairs Champions 2017/18.
DARTS: Cliff Prior threw just 42 darts as he helped his QEII side cruise to victory over Friary Arms in week 13 of the Bognor Tuesday Double In Double Out darts league. Here are the results in full: DIVISION ONE - QE2 14 Friary Arms 8; THe Legends 14 THe Hoffs 7; Old Barn Owls 9 Neptune 13; Newtown Raiders - bye. MAN OF THE MATCH - Cliff Prior (QE2) 21 & 21 darts [23.86 av]; Gary Blackwood (the Legends) 22 & 24 darts [22.36 av] MOM - 2nd leg 72 left in 18 darts 180s Wayne Wadsworth (QE2) x1; Courtney Wilson (THe Legends) x1; Tom Cripps (Neptune) x1. TON+IN-SHOTS - Gary Blackwood (THe Legends) 160 x2; Nick Green (Neptune) 160; Cliff Prior (QE2) 130; Adam Judd (Friary Arms) 120; Graeme Dutton (Friary Arms) 116 & 101; Richard Pennells (THe Hoffs) 116; Dave Bourne (Friary Arms) 112; Paul Bizzell (THe Hoffs) 105; Ben Marley (THe Legends) 102; Peter Lagden (Neptune) 101 & 100; Richard Ragless (QE2) 101; Micky Rowland (THe Legends). 100 TON+OUT-SHOTS - Nick Spicer (QE2) 116; Micky Rowland (THe Legends) 110. WHITEWASH LEGS - Jake Perry (Friary Arms) whitewashed in 21 darts by Cliff Prior (QE2). DIVISION TWO - Wheatsheaf 9 BRSA 15; Pier Bar 17 Richmond Arms 5; THe Hoffmeisters 9 Cabin Cruisers 12; Hunston Club 13 Chi Snooker Club 10. MAN OF THE MATCH - Alex Norgett (Chi Snooker Club) 21 & 21 darts [21.48 av]; Lee Passey (BRSA) 22 & 25 darts [21.32 av]; Rob Palmer (Cabin Cruisers) 23 & 27 darts [19.00 av]; Dougal Powell (Pier Bar) 24 & 26 darts [20.12 av]. TON+IN-SHOTS - Rob Misselbrook (Hunston Club) 122; Keith Robinson (Chi Snooker Club) 120; Glen Scott (BRSA) 116; Lee Passey (BRSA) 115 & 100; Alex Norgett (Chi Snooker Club) 102. TON+OUT-SHOTS - Andy Cooper (Cabin Cruisers) 117; Lee Passey (BRSA) 114; Alex Norgett (Chi Snooker Club) 108.