AMERSHAM & Chilern RFC head coach Craig Burgess has told players and coaches alike to go away and think about what they’re doing after a last-minute one-point defeat to the bottom side last Saturday.

They lost 13-12 to Avonmouth Old Boys in National League 3 South West, and while a spate of injuries goes some way to explaining the defeat, Burgess says it’s only part of it.

He said: “It was an issue, but we had enough experience 1-18 to put in a performance and get the right result.

“I think, against the bottom of the league team, we thought we’d just turn up, get the points and say thank you very much.”

Wing Tim Lloyd and centre Tom Shiels were both absent from the backline, fly half Matt Gilbert picked up a leg injury during the week and then Steve Scopes (warm up) and Toby Hunt (20 minutes) got injured on the day.

But despite that, Sam Portland went over for 7-0 and after Avonmouth came back to lead 8-7, Portland crossed again to make it 12-8.

They couldn’t hold on though, with Avonmouth snatching it with a last-second try.

Burgess said: “We were going for a bonus point so to just get the losing bonus point is very disappointing.

“Both players and coaches need to go away and reflect because we’re under-performing and not where we want to be.

“We want to be in a top four side and we’re not. We’re consistenly inconsistent. We need to come out all guns blazing in the new year.”