A muddy pitch in January and 1 degrees on the thermometer may not sound like everyone's dream day of rugby but it's the perfect weather for the Choughs and our very Cornish brand of rugby. For the third successive season we went to top of the league Chiswick as underdogs and came back with a hard fought win.

The trains being down would ensure the usual ramshackle pre match build up with the mismatch of kit and trickle of players on the pitch joining a slow game of touch. As a contrast the Chiswick squad were running through drills being overseen by their clip board wielding manager all clad in their maroon strips keen to build on their 9 game unbeaten run which has taken them to the top of the league.

Despite our standard hungover and bedraggled appearance the Choughs contain some talented players and we had pulled together a strong squad with a full bench. Suffering from the tail end of flu and having an abundance of back-row the skipper relegated himself to the bench and handed over the armband to the red-eyed Friday night reveller Alex Coates.

On a heavy and narrow pitch the plan would be simple. Keep position, build phases through the forwards and strangle the pace out of the game.

With the Janner halfback pivot of Lloyd and Buscombe returning, Buscy started off the game with a deep kick and our line was up quickly to close down Chiswick.

Although a low scoring game there was plenty of action throughout with non-stop phases, big hits being made across the pitch and plenty of turnovers from both sides. An early infringement form the Choughs gave Chiswick the first sniff at points but their penalty fell short.

Not long after this Chiswick gave away a penalty well within the returning Rob Lawleys range and Rob obliged to give the Choughs an early lead 0-3.

After these points the Choughs relaxed a bit and Chiswick started to get the better of possession but the defensive line repeatedly held firm. Big hits being made from the likes of Springer, Preston and Monteiro and phase after phase was repelled. One on one tackling was the best we have seen out wide with the narrow pitch helping our cause. I was loving it on the sidelines, proper Cornish rugby!

With ball in hand the Choughs looked the more dangerous with Lawley looking fit and carrying well along with Shorty and Riddolls. A painful injury to 'the lower abdomen' on Monkey saw Chris 'Chin of Glass' Turner returning in the back row and a bang to the head saw Andy Collie also returning to the wing for Thom Lang.

Another chance at a penalty was surprisingly dragged wide by Rob and after halting more late pressure we went into the half deservedly ahead a 0-3.

A fired up half time speech was well received and it was clear if we sorted out the ruck we could get more from the game. Joe 'Cilit Bang' Forster was on for Ali Springer who had made it through a strong half without aggravating a shoulder injury and Will 'Off Grid' Murray replaced Choughs regular hooker and one of the three Chough geordie's Pete Myatt.

The Choughs started the second half as we had finished the first but with added improvement around the ruck. Big hits continued to be made around the park, Andy Collie defying his size and position with a couple of belting hits on the wing. Preston continued to make himself a nuisance with a couple of great steals and strong work at the breakdown and everyone upped their game around the pitch.

Robbie Stewart was on to replace Iain Short who was struggling with a groin injury.

Very strangely, halfway through the second half the Chiswick manager ran onto the pitch to chat to the ref and shortly afterwards we found ourselves having to move pitch to accommodate their 1s on ours (not the first team pitch anyway). The sceptic amongst us couldn't help realise that we were moving to a much wider pitch and had lost the slope we had got on the other. The 1s game also only kicking off 5 mins before ours finished......

On a wider pitch the game had become slightly more expansive but the dream 0-3 score was still on. A great box kick from the growing in confidence Lloyd Jones had got us out of some trouble in our 22 and Chiswick were struggling for ideas to get past us.

A deep kick from Lawley was was picked up by the oppo winger who ran back at the advancing Lawley. Rather than pass to the man over the winger tried to cut inside and was expertly dumped to the ground by Lalwey who was back on his feet quickly for the steal. Pinged for holding on Lawley asked Coatesy for the points and slotted the three in a move he had fully created himself. 0-6 and the small Cornish support was ecstatic.

With a decent Chiswick crowd gathering and their manager and subs screaming from the sidelines Chiswick finally managed to find a chink in the Choughs defensive armour.

After broken play the Cornish line was slow to regroup and slinging the ball wide their winger managed to squeeze through to touch down wide right in the corner. With a difficult chance to take the lead on the conversion the Chiswick flyhalf dragged the ball slightly wide. 5-6 with 11 mins on the clock.

Monkley was back on in the second row for Stocky, who had put in a great shift in the middle of the pack and the Choughs had 11 mins to keep the lead.

5 mins of back and forth went by and Chiswick's flyhalf had the opportunity to spectacularly win the game with a dropped goal, from a great position the ball sailed inches wide and the Choughs could breathe again.

Marshalled by the likes of Coatesy and Lloydy the Choughs dug in for the last 5 mins, brilliantly keeping posession for multiple phases and frustrating Chiswick. I won't mention Lloyds attempt to keep the drama by a box kick after the time had run out......

Joyous scenes at Dukes meadow! 5-6 to the might Choughs, bring on HAC next week.

Squad.

1. Jon Laverick 2. Pete Myatt 3. Alan Jones 4. Alex Coates 5. Tom Stock 6. Ali Springer 7. Andrew Preston 8. Ed Monkley 9. Lloyd Jones 10. Iain Buscombe 11. Tom Riddolls 12. Craig Monteiro 13. Iain Short 14. Rob Lawley 15. Thom Lang SUBS Murray, Forster, Turner, Collie, Stewart

M.o.M - Lloyd Jones - Another strong performance at scrumhalf in only his third run there!
D.o.D - Joe Forster - Backdated for numerous offenses!