CHINEHAM RFC suffered a 21-8 defeat to visiting Fareham Heathens last Saturday in Hampshire One as three yellow cards cost them dear, writes TOM SCOBLE.

In a hard fought game and it was the visitors who scored first after a ruck.

After sharing possession between the 22’s Fareham were awarded a penalty on their own 10m line which the Fareham scrum half took quickly, captain John Lingham did not retreat the required 10 metres and following his tackle saw him receive a yellow card.

After some good phase play Chineham were awarded a penalty which scrum half Douglas Ireland slotted over.

From the resulting kick off Chineham tried to play out of their 22 but a loose pass went into touch, and the resulting lineout resulted in a Chineham scrum.

The scrum was won by Fareham and they scored from this to lead 14-3 at half-time.

The second half started with some sustained Fareham pressure and a score under the posts to score a converted try.

After some good defence and kick chase, Chineham got a penalty in the Fareham half and decided to go for the corner.

A good drive from the lineout Chineham fell just short of the Fareham line, but a quick pass to centre Lloyd Amos saw him power over for a try. The conversion was missed by Chineham.

Following some good defensive work Chineham turned the ball over near their own line and the resulting clearance kick resulted in a high tackle on the wing.

The Fareham scrum half took it quickly and Chineham full back Tom Green tackled him without retreating 10 metres, this resulted in Chineham’s second yellow card of the game.

The home side then lost centre Amos to a head injury.

After some good Chineham pressure Fareham were awarded a penalty and a frustrated Dan Waller's outburst saw a third yellow card with eight minutes to go.

Chineham finished the game strong piling on the pressure on Fareham’s line but were unable to score.

The week before, the Lions were denied victory by a last minute penalty as the game ended 22-22 all with visiting Ellingham and Ringwood.

Chineham started strongly in the pack and it continued throughout the day with the much anticipated comebacks of Jack Douglas and Karl Pullen really showing what they can add to an already solid pack.

Through the first 10 minutes Chineham really put Ellingham through their paces with strong running from the forwards given the backs space out wide resulting in a try in the corner for Keegan Wicks.

The home side then conceded two quick penalties in succession which were both converted.

Chineham regained dominance and following some good phase play a strong run by Will Rouse saw him score just to the left of the posts.

The home side then stretched the Ellingham defence and forced them to concede a penalty in the corner.

Chineham’s pack then blasted the Ellingham pack back over their own try line which meant number 8 Karl Pullen had the simplest of tasks to pick up and put the ball over the line so Chineham led 15-6 at half-time.

The second half started with Lions conceding two early penalties to reduce the lead to three points.

The visitors then took the lead again due to a loose pass which was intercepted on the Chineham 22 and scored under the posts, which was converted.

Chineham then regrouped and started tightening the screw on the visitors and two back to back penalties took Chineham to within five metres of the Ellingham line, where the Ellingham scrum crumbled and the referee had no choice to award Chineham a penalty try which was converted by fly half Douglas Ireland, Chineham had a three point lead with minutes to go, but a penalty decision which left the Chineham supporter dumbfounded gave Ellingham the opportunity to level with the last kick of the game.

This Saturday, the Lions are away at Romsey.