Phil Chesters

Phil Chesters (born 29 October 1987) is an English rugby union player who is currently playing for Chinnor in National League 1 having signed for the club for the 2017-18 season. Prior to that he had made his name at Ealing Trailfinders where he had also been part of the medical staff.[1][2] His best position is winger and over his career he has proved to be a tremendous try scorer who has set multiple records in lower division English rugby with Ealing, notably all-time records of 42 tries in a season in tier 3 (National League 1) and an amazing 70 tries in a season in tier 4 (National League 2 South) – a record that is unlikely to ever be beaten.[3][4] As of the end of the 2017-18 he has also become the National League 2 South all-time try scorer with 117 tries.[5]

Phil Chesters
Birth namePhilip Chesters
Date of birth (1987-10-29) 29 October 1987
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger
Current team Chinnor
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008-09
2009-17
2017
2017-		 Westcombe Park
Ealing Trailfinders
Old Elthamians
Chinnor		 10
183
1
21		 (9)
(1,135)
(0)
(95)
Correct as of 28 April 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012
2012
2012		 Devon
Barbarians
England Counties XV		 1
1
3		 (5)
(5)
(20)

Surprisingly, despite all the records he has set Phil has been relatively unheralded by the English mainstream press and he has not played at the highest level of English rugby in the Premiership. As well as appearing for Ealing, Phil has also represented his county side Devon as well as Barbarians and England Counties XV.

Rugby Union Career

Early career

Although he grew up in Devon, Phil started his senior rugby union league career at the south-east London based club, Westcombe Park, during the 2008-09 season.[6] Deployed as a full-back in what was a very competitive division, he found his chances limited at a club that would ultimately be relegated at the end of the season.[7][8] After just one year at Wescombe Park, Phil would be signed by another local club, Ealing Trailfinders, who were playing in National League 2 South – the same division Park had just been demoted to.[9] At Ealing Phil was switched from full-back to the wing where he was better able to make use of his speed and timing at a strong, attack focused team. Becoming a first team regular he had an outstanding debut season, scoring 29 tries to become the divisions top try scorer and helping his side to 3rd place in the 2009–10 National League 2 South, narrowly missing out on the playoff spot despite being tied on points with runners up, Rosslyn Park (who had a better for and against record).[10][11]

Breaking records

If his debut season was good, his second season at Trailfinders was record breaking. Having come close to promotion last time around, Ealing would be strong favorites for the title along with league newcomers Jersey. The national league record for tries in a season had been set by Chris Ashton who had scored 39 tries while helping Northampton Saints make an instant return to the Premiership by winning the 2007–08 National Division One league title, himself beating the record of 38 tries set by Richard Newton of Penzance & Newlyn (now known as Cornish Pirates) back in 2000.[12] This record was blown out of the water by Phil who broke it by February when he scored his 40th try against Richmond, ultimately ending the season with an unbelievable 70 tries.[3][13] As well as breaking the most tries scored in a season, Phil also equaled the divisional record of most tries per game set by James O'Brien back in 2004 – by scoring 7 tries in a game – twice.[14] Unsurprisingly considering the number of tries scored by Phil and the team as a whole (over 1,400 points scored in total), Ealing finished as champions of the 2010–11 National League 2 South, run close by runners up Jersey, with both teams streets ahead of everyone else.[15]

His third season at Ealing was another good one for Phil and the club. Although some doubted that in a stronger league he would be able to dominate defences as he did in National League 2 South, he continued his rich vein of form by finishing as the league's top try scorer and breaking the National League 1 try record with 40 tries – the third year in a row he had finished as his division's top try scorer.[16] Ealing battled for the 2011–12 National League 1 title with Jersey, as the two promoted sides dominated the league, but in the end had to settle for second place (and missing out on the only promotion spot) as the Islanders had a tremendous season. His form for Ealing would lead to Phil being called up by Devon for the Bill Beaumont Cup in May, bagging 2 tries in a 20 – 33 group stage defeat against Somerset in his only appearance at the competition.[17] Phil would also be honoured with a cap for the Barbarians later that month, scoring a try in a 40 – 17 win for the Ba-Bas against Loughborough Students.[18] The final highlight of another great season was a call up by England Counties XV for their tour of East Africa. Phil scored 4 tries in 3 games played for the Counties which include a brace in the pre-tour game against an Irish XV in Preston, Lancashire as they won all their games.[19][20][21]

Near death and rehabilitation

The 2012-13 season was going well for Phil and his club. Ealing were top of National League 1 and Phil was having another prolific try scoring season with 29 tries to his name before March had drawn to close when disaster struck. Having helped Ealing to a 62 – 7 victory away to Sedgley Park in which he scored six tries, Phil had returned to London and had a night out with friends, during which he was hit by a car and suffered severe injuries including a fractured skull, broken jaw and injured shoulder. He was rushed to intensive care for surgery and spent a week in hospital until he was released to spend the rest of the season at his parents home to recover from his injuries.[22] Despite missing their key try scorer, Ealing managed to win the league title and promotion to the RFU Championship for the first time in the club's history. Phil also finished as the top try scorer in the division as his 29 tries were enough to claim this accolade – now the fourth year in a row in which he had been the top try scorer in his division.[23][24]

Championship up and downs

During his rehabilitation Phil had been unsure if he would ever play rugby union again due to his injuries but after several months he was given the all-clear and returned to the Ealing Trailfinders squad for contact training in August 2013 in preparation for the 2013–14 RFU Championship season.[22] He made the Trailfinders team for the first game of the season at Allianz Park (a neutral venue for what was billed as the "Big Rugby Weekend"), making history by being the first Ealing try scorer in the Championship, in what was otherwise a disappointing game for his side as they lost 13 – 44 to London Scottish.[25][26] It was a huge step up in class for both Phil and his team as Championship defences were far meaner than they had been in either National League 1 or National League 2 South and they struggled throughout the season, falling out of the British and Irish Cup before Christmas and being involved in a relegation battle with old foes Jersey. Phil scored 12 tries over the season but in the end his team experienced the agony of a last day relegation losing at home to Rotherham Titans while the Islanders had a bonus point victory away to Bedford Blues – staying up by a single point as Ealing's two losing points were not enough to save them from an instant return to National League 1.[27][28]

The 2014-15 season saw Phil and Ealing back in National League 1. During the course of the season Ealing proved to be far too strong for the majority of the teams in the division, winning 27 games out of 30 to take the league title and make an instant return to the Championship – nine points clear of second placed Rosslyn Park.[29] In a division where defences were less tight and playing for a winning team, Phil rediscovered his lethal try scoring touch, finishing as the divisions top try scorer with 33 tries.[30]

Although Phil was not as prolific as he had been in the previous campaign, he still played an important role in ensuring that this time Ealing remained in the Championship, contributing 9 tries in the league over the 2015-16 season and condemning Moseley to the drop instead.[31] The 2016-17 season saw Ealing go from strength to strength as they achieved a 3rd-place finish in the league and qualification to the playoffs where they lost to Yorkshire Carnegie despite winning the second leg.[32][33] On a personal note Phil was relegated to more of a squad player this season despite appearing in one of the playoff semi-finals. In March 2017 he signed with Old Elthamians who would go on to achieve promotion from the 2016–17 National League 2 South via the playoffs, although Phil did not feature in the playoff victory.[34][35]

Back to National 2 South

After his short spell with Old Elthamians, Phil decided to sign terms with Chinnor, signing for the club in June 2017.[36] He scored 19 league tries during the 2017-18 as his side would go on to finish as league runners up in National League 2 South, and ultimately gain promotion after winning the play-off against Sedgley Park, although he did not play in this game.[37]

Season-by-season playing stats
Season Club Competition Appearances Tries Drop Goals Conversions Penalties Total Points
2008-09 Westcombe Park National Division 21010209
2009-10 Ealing Trailfinders National League 2 South2628000140
2010-11National League 2 South2770000350
2011-12National League 12942000210
2012-13National League 12329000145
2013-14RFU Championship211200060
British and Irish Cup510005
2014-15National League 12933000165
2015-16RFU Championship13800040
British and Irish Cup210005
2016-17RFU Championship7200010
British and Irish Cup210005
Old ElthamiansNational League 2 South100000
2017-18ChinnorNational League 2 South211900095

[38]

Honours

Ealing Trailfinders

Chinnor

County/Representative

Playing Records

Notes
  1. Tied with Ian Clark who was also top try scorer two years in a row with Hartpury.[39][40]
  2. Tied with James O'Brien who also got 7 tries in one game playing for Old Patesians.[41]
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References
  1. "PLAYER PROFILE – PHIL CHESTERS". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  2. "CHESTERS EXTENDS CONTRACT AND JOINS MEDICAL TEAM". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. "National Two South 10/11 Leading Try Scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 7 May 2011.
  4. "Nutrition X Announces New Rugby Partner". Nutrition X. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. "National Two South All time try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 29 April 2017.
  6. "Dan Lee faces mad dash to play for Devon". Western Morning News. 4 May 2012.
  7. "Stroll in park for All Blacks". West Briton. 8 December 2008.
  8. "Club relegate rivals Combe". Bexley Times. 29 April 2009.
  9. "National Two South 09/10 Ealing Trailfinders Season squad". Rugby Statbunker. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  10. "National Two South 09/10 Leading Try Scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 19 May 2010.
  11. "Parknews153 – Rosslyn Park FC" (PDF). Rosslyn Park FC. 19 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  12. "Chris Ashton profile". Northampton Saints. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  13. "Phil Chesters sets National League try scoring record". Ealing Trailfinders. 9 February 2009.
  14. "National Two South 10/11 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 7 May 2011.
  15. "Latest victory means promotion to National League 1". Ealing Today. 4 May 2011.
  16. "National One 11/12 Leading Try Scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2012.
  17. "Somerset beat Devon to get RFU County Championship bid off to winning start". Western Daily Press. 7 May 2012.
  18. "Barbarians visit completes fine season for Loughborough Students". Loughborough University. 15 May 2012.
  19. "Counties turn on the style at Preston". rolling-maul.com. 16 March 2012.
  20. "England Counties put five tries past the Elgon Warriors". rugbynetwork.net. 10 June 2012.
  21. "Counties end memorable tour with 34-14 victory". Fylde Rugby. 17 June 2012.
  22. "Phil Chesters is quick again after almost dying". The Rugby Paper. 5 October 2013.
  23. "Ealing Trailfinders 41 Coventry 17". Coventry Telegraph. 29 April 2013.
  24. "National One 12/13 Leading Try Scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 4 May 2013.
  25. "Tickets on sale for Greene King IPA Big Rugby Weekend". Rugby Football Union. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  26. "REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 13 – 44 London Scottish". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 14 September 2013.
  27. "RFU Championship Statistics – Top Try Scorers". Rugby Round Up. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  28. "REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 29 – 36 Rotherham Titans". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 26 April 2014.
  29. "EALING TRAILFINDERS RETURN TO GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP". englandrugby.com. 20 April 2015.
  30. "National League 1". The RUGBYPaper (344). 26 April 2015. pp. 32–33 & 41.
  31. "Problems in key areas cost Moseley RFC Championship place". Birmingham Mail. 20 April 2016.
  32. "Greene King IPA Championship". The RugbyPaper (450). 30 April 2017. pp. 26–27 & 36.
  33. "Greene King IPA Championship". The RugbyPaper (450). 30 April 2017. pp. 26–27 & 34.
  34. "Players leaving or staying?". Nottingham Rugby Unofficial Fans Forum. 5 April 2017.
  35. "History-making OEs hit new heights". Old Elthamians RFC (Pitchero). 9 May 2017.
  36. ""Try Machine" Chesters choses Chinnor!". Chinnor RFC (Pitchero). 9 June 2017.
  37. "National Leagues". The RUGBYPaper (503). Rugby Paper Ltd. 6 May 2018. pp. 26 & 30.
  38. "Philip Chesters Record by competition". Rugby Statbunker. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  39. "National Two South 11/12 Leading try scorers". Statbunker. 28 April 2012.
  40. "National Two South 12/13 Leading try scorers". Statbunker. 11 May 2013.
  41. "National Three South 03/04 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 17 April 2004.
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