Rugby: Chislett hailed as Twin Counties storm into Twickenham final (From Bournemouth Echo)

Rugby: Chislett hailed as Twin Counties storm into Twickenham final

7:00am Tuesday 25th May 2010 in

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ALAN Manning believes Scott Chislett is in the form of his life after Bournemouth’s scrum-half grabbed three tries to lead Dorset & Wiltshire to a Twickenham final appearance.

Chislett inspired Twin Counties to a 38-10 triumph over Oxfordshire by running in a hat-trick in the County Championship Shield semi-final at Swanage & Wareham.

The Lions duo are now looking forward to a showdown against Leicestershire, who beat Cumbria 37-35, at England’s rugby headquarters on Sunday.

Harvey Bell (Oakmeadians), Simon Lilley (Sherborne) and Tom Manning (Swindon) also dived over for Dorset & Wilts, with Adam Westall (Swindon) adding the rest of their points with his boot.

Prop Manning said: “It was an absolutely amazing display from Scott. You just couldn’t fault his performance.

“He played at inside centre after being scrum-half for Bournemouth all season and everyone was running and feeding off him.

“He’s in the form of his life at the moment. Scott was everywhere and for him to get a hat-trick topped off a marvellous individual performance.

“Players like that pull the team behind them. What’s great is he’s not a showboater or big head either.

“When our players congratulated him each time he scored, he just said ‘fine’ and got on with it.”

Manning, whose Twin Counties side have won six games in a row going back to last season, added: “We’ve got such a good team at the moment.

“Usually in a county side, players are thrown together and one or two want to lead and dictate the play, but it’s different with this team.

“The key to our run is everyone is playing off each other and we have gelled brilliantly.

“I’ve been involved with Dorset & Wilts since joining Bournemouth in 2005 and this is the best team I’ve played in.

“It’s crazy really. I don’t think anyone thought we’d get to Twickenham, even after we won our first pool game, but the |players have just clicked and we’ve been playing relaxed rugby.

“So it’s an honour to be going to Twickenham in what will be one of the biggest games in our rugby careers.”

Dorset & Wilts: K Lynch, Lilley, Gilmore, Chislett, Pope, Westall, Bell, Sanders, Stephenson, Barwick, Gilbert, Pallas, Manning, Wilford, West. Subs: Burns, Saville, Mannion, Richards, Mitchell, Bell, Pottage.