Marlow U17's 17 vs. Chinnor U17's 36
Sunday 23rd January 2005
This was the fourth match for both teams during the
second phase of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Cup.
Marlow in their bright red change strip, started
like a train with a very aggressive mindset. Aided by a number of missed
tackles, they administered a stark reminder to Chinnor that they were in
a game, by scoring early doors with a try in the corner. The breeze,
distance and angle conspired to ensure that the score was only worth
five points. 5-0.
Chinnor withstood the early pressure and gradually
worked their way back into the game. Formal announcement that they were
up to speed, came when prop, Will Batting drove over through a crowd of
defenders from close in. Ben Hewitt slid the conversion attempt just
wide and it remained 5-5.
Chinnor then went ahead, when they went wide for
prop Mark Rumble to dive over in the corner. Again Ben Hewitt's kick
slipped past the uprights. 5-10.
Chinnor were now in the ascendancy and after they
had made good progress down the wing, flanker Luke Goddard, was on hand
to take a perfect pop pass in his stride and take the ball across under
the posts. Ben Hewitt needed no invitation to convert and it was 5-17.
It was Ben Hewitt, who again converted Chinnor
pressure into points, by selling a cute dummy and stepping through the
centre of Marlow's defensive line to touch down directly under the
posts. He then paid due regard to his personal skill by slotting the
ball for the additional points. It was 5-24 and that scoreline brought
the halftime whistle.
After the break, Chinnor sustained their pressure
and after Marlow had conceded a series of penalties close to their own
line, Chinnor got due reward following a ruck they set up. It came
courtesy of hooker Matt Grellier, who dived through a sea of legs and
over the try line. Ben Hewitt did what was required and Chinnor were
5-31 ahead.
Marlow responded with a proud and aggressive dash
from their fly-half, which did nothing for marketing Chinnor's tackling
skills. A successful conversion made it 12-31.
Almost immediately, Chinnor replied. Winger Brendan
Davis broke down the wing and outpaced the cover to touch down in the
corner. Not for the first time today, the elements, angle and distance
thwarted the kicker. In this case, Ben Hewitt was that man.
Consequently, it remained 12-36.
At the death, Marlow managed to get over in the
corner to make the score 17-36. The conversion attempt was never going
to get near, as the referee blew for the end of the game.
