Andover 26 Chichester 14
It was another dominant performance from Saxon Sponsored Andover as they overcame the challenge of high flying Chichester at the Goodship ground last Saturday.
This was the fourth meeting in the past two seasons between these sides and Andover had never beaten the visitors before, but that record was never going to stand as Andover put in a assured display from the outset.
Playing up the slope, even an early error that led to a harsh penalty try and a yellow card for young Joey Yates for an adjudged high tackle did nothing to dampen the Andover spirit as in defence and attack they had the better of their opponents most of the afternoon.
Indeed the only surprise was that Andover didn’t make more of their chances in the first half, as Yeates and the very threatening Bryn Waite constantly bamboozled the Chichester defence with their elusive running, and the big ball carriers up front made inroads almost every time they had the ball.
At the lineout Callum Hollinshead and Keiron Bush dominated and it was only really at scrum time Andover that Andover came under a bit of pressure, but still secured plenty of ball.
It was no surprise then that just before the break Stan North went over for Andover after a great series of phases involving Yeates, Nic Reed, skipper and CJ Feirn.
With slope in favour in the second half Andover knew they had the momentum and before long a catch and drive saw them camped on the visitors line, before a superb pass from Scrum half Sean Higgins found man of the match James Reeder again hitting a hard line to crash over.
Now in the lead Andover never really looked back.
Chichester were wide with a penalty in a rare attack but Reeder soon struck again after fine work by Hollinshead.
Tails up Andover went for the bonus point and piled pressure on the Chichester line.
Eventually they had to break and Feirn forced his way over from a tap penalty to secure the extra point.
The excellent Rich Retallick kicked his fourth conversion to set Andover well clear.
Chichester did have the last word with a late catch and drive as Andover relaxed a little too much but in the end they left empty handed as Andover continue to climb the table.
Afterwards senior coach Craig Hodgson said ‘ I thought the lads were ver good today in all departments and a few were unlucky that James Reeder was on such good form to claim the man of the match. We are really starting to gel so the challenge is to keep it going.’
