Clifton were far more pragmatic in the manner in which they adapted to the atrocious weather conditions. Fly-half John Barnes showed how the game should be played in heavy rain, swirling winds and a greasy surface. He continually pumped the ball into the corners utilising the skidding surface to telling effect. Clifton then pressurised Chinnor into errors and punished them accordingly. With a personal contribution of 17points, comprising 3 penalties, 2 drop goals and a conversion he put his stamp on the game. In contrast Chinnor elected to play a handling game and suffered as a consequence.

Barnes opened the scoring with a penalty. A blindside run by scrum-half Frost , with the Chinnor defence nowhere to be seen saw Lloyd win the sprint to the chip ahead to touch down in the corner. A drop goal from Barnes put Clifton further in front before Cathcart replied in kind for Chinnor. Another drop goal from Barnes on the stroke of half-time gave an interval lead of 16pts to 3 to Clifton.

With the wind in their favour Chinnor were reluctant to adopt the Clifton formula of putting the ball into the corners. With the ball becoming increasingly difficult to handle they were creating handling errors mainly brought about by their insistence of trying to put the ball wide. A penalty by Barnes and a try by King following Chinnor spilling the ball in the middle of the field compounded Chinnor’s woes. Another Barnes penalty in front of the posts, where Darren Oxley was sin-binned, put the home side further in front. With Chinnor eventually securing a platform to attack, Sam McIvor went over in the corner with Chad Ward converting from the touchline.

With the score at 27pts to 10 and Chinnor on the attack, a sloppy pass in the middle of the field saw Broaders intercept a wayward pass, say thank you, and score. Barnes surprisingly missed the conversion.

For Chinnor Darren Oxley was the pick of the threes, with both Ward and McIvor brave in defence. In the forwards Hutchins and Martin did not stop trying.