Bowdon Away

With an extensive list of over 10 first team injuries, along with more away on top of that – Chapel travelled to Bowdon with 14 lads. Luckily, they were 14 lads motivated to work hard and bring home a result.
The little old ref blew his whistle and started the game – Chapel instantly put some pressure on to get a lineout on the opposition 5m line. A quick maul was set up which Rob Moore was able to slither his way through and slap the ball onto the try line to get Chapel off to the best of starts. With the wind blowing hard against the boys in this half, Jack Cottam’s tricky kick fell just short: 5-0.
After some controlled ball retention and pressure from HC, a lovely break down the middle from Tom Chambers allowed the ball to be worked wide, and Joe Maddock was able to out pace his opposite number and score in the corner, again the conversion just falling short: Half time: 10-0
After the 2nd half, Bowdon came out with a bit of fire and utilised some pace in the backs to score 2 impressive tries in the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half. However, after some stern words from skipper Joe Foulkes, the team went back to what they were doing well in the 1st half. Sustained pressure in the opposition 22 led to 2 penalties being sent over the posts by Jack Cottam to give Chapel back the lead: 16-10.
Another break down the middle from Tom Chambers led to him getting brought down just short of the line. After some controlled pick-&-go’s from the pack, Conor Gavin was able to crash his way over the line. Thanks to an error from the person controlling their electric scoreboard, the conversion that Jack Cottam missed actually counted (all about those percentages, Jack mysteriously had no money to buy anyone a beer after the game) 23-10.
2 minutes after this, Jack Cottam stepped a player, then stepped another player, then stepped another player, then stepped another player – he was one-on-one with the fullback and then stepped another player to go over in the corner. This one Cottam legitimately converted: 30-10. Straight from the kick-off, Chapel were able to pile on the pressure again, and just outside the 22, Joe Maddock cut a lovely line and sprinted inbetween the covering defenders to score under the posts. A try that spectator Mike Cottam described as “fine”. Cottam converted, 37-10.
This proved to be the last thing that Maddock did in the game, as the flirtatious side of him came out and as he gently stroked a Bowden player in the back, the homophobic ref pulled out a yellow straight away and said “none of that on my pitch please”. Joe and the Bowdon player have since gone on a getaway trip to the Cotswolds but agreed they didn’t have too much in common and should call it a day.
With Chapel down to 13 men, Bowdon were able to capitalise and score 2 breakaway tries, making the most of the increased space on the already large 1st team pitch. The score was flattering to Bowdon as Chapel dominated throughout.
Final Score 37-17
A fantastic effort from a reduced side who all held their hand up and made a statement to the returning players that it’s not going to be an easy task getting their shirts back. Skipper Joe Foulkes said: “Great win, great blokes, great effort, great spirit, great tits, great graft…just great”.