Chinnor 1st XV 17
vs. Clifton 1st XV 24
Saturday 29th January 2005
South West Division One
The defining
moment of the game came with just seconds to go in the first half.
Chinnor were trailing by 19pts to a very well drilled and pacy Clifton
outfit. Cameron Shaw, elusive as ever in the centre, had just been
hauled down inches from the Clifton line. A desperate clearing kick was
fielded by Chinnor who ran the ball back at Clifton only to gift a
woeful one handed pass into the grateful hands of a Clifton defender. An
80 metre sprint saw Boyle, the very quick Clifton full-back, score his
third try and give Clifton a 24pt. interval lead.
Chinnor took the
field with three enforced changes, having to dig deep into their reserve
strength. Alan Cawston, who played in the centre for the Two's the
previous week, came in as hooker. With Andy Milburn sidelined with a
back injury and Simon Pearson unavailable Stuart Tinegate took over the
No.8 duties. Chad Ward came onto the left wing with James Hewitt going
to full-back.
Chinnor went
behind after 8 minutes when Butcher, Clifton's captain and 2nd
row went over from a driving maul. Barnes, the league's top scorer,
making no mistake with the conversion. With Clifton running all over the
park and mixing their game with power up front and pace in the threes,
and Chinnor unable to get their hands on the ball, it was no surprise
when they added to their score with two more tries, both from Boyle.
Barnes again adding the extra points. Chinnor were looking down the
barrel of a heavy defeat as the half-time whistle went.
This was not to
be. Chinnor came back well in the second half which ended with Clifton
hanging on grimly. In this period Chinnor scored three well worked
tries. Chas Ward went over first after Chinnor had created a big
overlap. An Oxley try 10 minutes later further reduced the deficit and
when James Hewitt scored just 3 minutes later, after a sparkling build
up, with both forwards and backs involved, and Cathcart converting it
was game on.
It was now all
Chinnor who spurned penalty kicks to go for at least the draw. Clifton
held on with Chinnor regretting their 1st. half lapse. Clifton, by
virtue of their 1st half performance, are the best side seen at Kingsey
Road this season. The fact that they beat league leaders Cinderford at
Cinderford just weeks ago should give Chinnor confidence when they visit
the Forest of Dean side this coming Saturday.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
|
