Frome RFC 24 - 22 Chosen Hill F.P RFC

Match report by Trevor Osborne

Frome RFC welcomed Chosen Hill Former Pupils RFC to Gypsy Lane on Saturday looking to build on recent performances and avenge a close defeat earlier in the season against the visitors.

The home side started with positive intent and with the Forwards carrying hard Frome put pressure on the opposition line and with the ball had moving across the back line, Outside Centre Eliki Bainimoli burst through several would be tacklers to score the first try of the day, the conversion being added by Full Back Henry Bull.

The visitors fought back and after a penalty in midfield they created a driving maul from the line out and replied with an unconverted try of their own.

Frome then pinned Chosen Hill back and from a ruck fifteen metres from the line, Flanker Sam Bartlett picked up and burst through the defensive line for a converted try to increase the home sides lead.

Frome continued to press but a break from the visitors Fly Half, Matthews left the home defence struggling to get back and Centre, Harrod crashed over for a converted try to cut the deficit to 2 points.

Frome continued to press and a Scrum inside the visitors 22 the ball was moved out to Full Back, Bull who glided through a gap in the defence to score a converted try and give Frome a 21-12 half time lead. 

HT: Frome RFC 21 - 12 Chosen Hill F.P RFC 

Frome kicked off the second half and Chosen Hill gathered cleanly and moved the ball quickly through the hands to create space for Winger Allenby to beat 3 would be tacklers to score on the corner. 

Despite being hugely dominant in the Scrums through the Front Row, Frome could not get a foothold in the visitors half, but an infringement at the breakdown, followed by the referee taking the visitors back another 10 metres, gave Bull the opportunity to increase Fromes lead to 7 points.

The visitors continued to press but some great defence by Frome kept them at bay until the Chosen Hill created an opportunity for Allenby to score in the corner despite a last ditch tackle attempt by Flanker Josh Hills. 

The kick was missed from our wide to leave Frome leading by 2points with 5 minutes remaining. 

A penalty put Frome within 5 metres of the Chosen Hill line but the resulting scrum Frome were adjudged to have pushed earlier and Chosen Hill looked to run the ball out of their own 22, but a great tackle by Winger Tom Weston saw his opposite number bundled into touch and to the relief of the Frome faithful the referee blew for the end of the game. 

FT: Frome RFC 24 - 22 Chosen Hill F.P RFC 

The Player of the Match awarded was jointly shared and went to the Front Row of Geoff Taylor, Alex Chalmers, George Benstead, Jason Barraclough and Phil Clarke for their sterling efforts in the Scrum and around the park.

We caught up with 1st XV Captain, Alex Mallon who commented "It was great to the win in the penultimate fixture of the season, it was a hard fought match and at times we made it difficult for ourselves, we have showed over the last few games that we certainly have the talent and skillset to play at this level, with a Pack that can compete with the best, and a backline that always threaten, we have a few weeks rest now before we play the last League fixture at home against Thornbury in the 25th."

The 1st XV now have a couple of weeks off before they play Thornbury RFC at home on the 25th March for the last League fixture of the season.