Sat 5 Apr 2025
The Frome RFC 1st XV welcomed Chippenham RFC 2nd XV to The Lane for the last League fixture of the 2024/25 season.
Although Chippenham's league position would indicate an easier fixture for the home side, the visitors have a vast amount of talent, with plenty of experience so Frome were not heading into the game lightly.
Frome kicked off with the sun behind them, the visitors started well with some good attacking plays, but dominant tackles from Cory Plumridge and Murray White would halt any momentum.
A break down the blind from Fly Half Simon Westlake would see Frome gain 40m up field, with Josh Hills supporting before being brought down in the oppositions 22. Some quick hands from John Benstead, and link play between White and Geoff Taylor would see Skipper stop just short of the try line, and eventually see Chippenham awarded a scrum.
Frome dominated the scrum and were awarded a penalty, quick thinking from No. 8 Alex Mallon would see him take the quick tap and crash his way through the defence to dot down under the posts for a try. James Howard adding the conversion.
The restart was received cleanly by Frome, with Cory Plumridge putting boot to ball to clear the pressure.
Chippenham would win their own line out, and a well placed kick from the visitors Fly Half would see them gain a 50-22 and set up a good position.
Solid defence again from Frome meant Chippenham resorting to a kick through, which was cleanly collected by Sam Cassidy who dotted down for the drop out.
A scrum on the 22 would see Frome playout a set move, Centre Plumridge crashing his way through before the backline could stretch their legs, Westlake passing wide to Bryn Lewis who tackled high before getting the offload away to Winger Sam Cassidy, who beat two defenders before popping a kick over the Full Back to catch and go the rest of the length to score under the posts. Howard adding the extras.
Frome would win penalty shortly after the restart and opting for the tap and go rather than the kick, they ran from their own 22, Stevan Randall would make a trademark barnstorming carry before the ball was moved into the centre field finding Mallon who broke several tackles and taking Frome into the oppositions 22.
Tom Weston would continue the hard running, edging closer to the Chippenham line, but shortly after Frome would be penalised and the visitors were able to relieve the pressure.
The territory was short lived, with Centres Weston and Plumridge driving back the attacker and securing a penalty at the breakdown, near the opposition 22. Quick thinking from Murray White saw him dance his way through the defensive line to score under the posts. The conversion being added by Howard.
Frome were caught napping and given a taste of their own medicine when a quick penalty tap by Chippenham saw them dot down 5m out. The kick being added
A lineout shortly after the restart deep in the Frome 22, saw White make another break all the way to the halfway line, a box kick from Benstead saw Howard regain before the ball went wide, Westlake putting the backline into space, Rob Sully taking the ball just short of the line.
The ball came back into the centre field where White was given the ball, crashing through the defensive line to score. Howard adding the conversion
The final 5mins were played in Frome half, and some stern defence from Phil Clarke and Nick Powell would keep the attacks at bay.
HT: Frome RFC 28 - 7 Chippenham RFC II
Changes at Half Time would see the introduction of Academy graduate Seb Smith, making his Senior debut and Leo Hamblin coming onto the Wing.
With the first few minutes of the half going back and forth between the two sides a break by the Chippenham No.8, however a fantastic tackle by Seb Smith stopped the would be try.
The line out unfortunately was lost and Chippenham built good pressure 5m out, winning a scrum before going wide for their winger to score in the corner. The kick being missed.
Frome would have a scrum just outside the Chippenham 22, with Darrell Thompson now on at Fly Half he found Tom Weston who crashed through several tacklers before being brought down.
A nice bit of handling from Benstead to Mallon saw him get close, before a quick pick and go from Howard saw him dot down for the try. Howard adding the extras.
Chippenham would look to build pressure again with their large pack, but a great steal from Stevan Randall saw him carry the ball out off the 22 to relive the pressure.
A Frome scrum, just outside of their 22, would see Mallon pick and go before offloading to Bryn Lewis. With the ball coming back in field, Howard challenged the line before tipping onto Josh Hills finding his way deep into the oppositions half.
A superb behind the back pass from Benstead released Seb Smith but the ball eventually went to the floor before going out.
The next few minutes would begin to see errors creeping in for both sides, and with the penalty count beginning to rise, Frome were able to calm things, when a kick to touch saw them set up great field position.
Nick Powell would go close, with a superb carry before being brought down just short of the line. Phil Clarke was on hand, to dive over the for the try. Howard adding the extras.
A penalty for Chippenham on the half way would see them tap and go, but a miss pass in the backline saw the ball loose and a fly hack from Westlake saw the ball kicked into the Chippenham 22. With Westlake and Plumridge in hot pursuit, the covering defender dotted down for the drop out.
With bodies beginning to tire, it was long until Frome stern defence broke, and after multiple attacked close to the line Chippenham crossed over. The extras being missed.
FT: Frome RFC 42 - 17 Chippenham RFC II
Player of the Match was awarded to No.8 Alex Mallon, sponsored by K. Gregory Construction Ltd.
Although the result caps off the league Counties 1 Tribute Southern South 2024/25 campaign, Frome can look forward to the Papa Johns National Cup, where they'll take on Old Bristolians RFC at home on Saturday 12th April.
