Oxford probably arrived at Kingsey Road with some confidence having already beaten Chinnor at home this season. Chinnor however, seemed blissfully unaware of history. As they lined up for a double – header, a place in the County Cup Final and Berks, Bucks and Oxon (BBO) league points.

The wind and rain raked the pitch, but Chinnor appeared focused and began energetically with purpose.

Early on, playing into the wind and benefiting from concerted pressure they were awarded a penalty about twenty metres out just off centre. Ben Hewitt agonisingly saw his kick strike the upright and bounce out.

Chinnor continued to assert pressure and it was this pressure, which led to the ball bouncing loose from an Oxford hand and bobbing up for the on – rushing Ben Hewitt to gather it and stride ahead under the posts to atone for his penalty miss a short while earlier. No doubt buoyed by his score he slotted the conversion to give Chinnor a 7-0 lead.

The Chinnor front row were had their tails up and were having a growing impact upon proceedings, this in tandem with sound first up tackling gave them an edge. The pressure this created was to produce another penalty for not releasing and Ben Hewitt was on target to make it 10-0. A further penalty followed but Hewitt's effort drifted past the outside of the posts.

Towards the end of the half, by virtue of aggressive offence, Oxford demonstrated that although they were down, they were certainly not out. They intentions came to an end though, when the calculating Hewitt terminated the half by calmly putting the ball out.

At 10-0, the contest was far from over and when the second half commenced it was noticeable that Chinnor were intent on taking it up a gear.  

Chinnor made wholesale changes, as their forwards were having a good day, strutting their power. It was that power, which allowed them to pound the Oxford line relentlessly, before releasing their backs to monopolise on the space that appeared. Rapid width, ensured that the ball reached Centre Tim Hughes in space and his magic boots did what was required to push Chinnor out into a 15-0 lead. Ben Hewitt was confounded by the elements, when he failed in his quest to take maximum points from the score. 

Oxford got their only points from a very well struck twenty metre penalty into the wind.

At 15-3 and with time passing, Chinnor played an intelligent game which forced Oxford to play from very deep. Whilst everyone kicked well for touch, Ben Hewitt was the pick of the bunch, as he frustrated Oxford with long accurate strikes. This and superb defence appeared to be key to nullifying the Oxford effort.

As the whistle drew near, Chinnor were awarded a further penalty, which Hewitt struck straight, before it unfortunately died just short of the crossbar.

When the final whistle did grace the air, Chinnor had no less than they deserved a place in the Colts County Cup Final for the third year running and hard fought BBO points.

To a man, every  Chinnor player who took the field of play, performed very well, but what really sealed it for them was their willingness to play for one another. Well done lads, awesome.

Next stop Horspath Road, Oxford on 2^nd April for the Cup Final.

Please get down there and support your team  

Team: Arthur, Batting, Bishop, Blewitt, Davis, Duffy, Ellson, Garrod, Grellier, Hackshaw, Heath, Hewitt, Hiscock, Hughes, Maloney, John,  Sanders, Stock, Spinks, Thompson, Quadrado and Williams