With league rivals Bracknell going down at Cleve, Chinnor became league leaders with a 38-19 victory over Bournemouth. With only three matches to go, they now have a realistic chance of promotion to the National leagues where they are likely to be playing league rugby against Henley Hawks.

Bournemouth were a much improved team from the last meeting of the two teams in early September. Chinnor opened the scoring after 4 minutes with skipper Hutchings touching down after a lineout catch and drive. Bournemouth then put up some stout resistance which prevented Chinnor scoring again until the 26th minute when Seymour tore away to set up Huxford to score under the posts, converted by Cathcart. Chinnor looked to be well in control until the two minutes before half time. In a crazy two minutes, they conceded two tries. Centre Payne went over first for a try converted by Flynn. On the stroke of half time, prop Joe Burns repeated the dose – this time unconverted – to level the scores at 12-12.

Shocked by Bournemouth’s comeback, Chinnor came out for the second half in determined fashion. After just two minutes, Powell touched down wide out. Five minutes later, Huxford scored his second try which was converted by Cathcart to give Chinnor a 24-12 lead. With 20 minutes to go Chinnor scrum half Gustafson scored for Cathcart to convert. Chinnor’s next score came from their dominant scrum who shoved the Bournemouth pack off the ball. Open side Winslade pounced on the loose ball and dispatched it along the line for Huxford to complete his hat trick – his third in successive matches.

Bournemouth completed the scoring when live wire scrum half Hardcastle took a quick tap penalty 5 metres out and, bumping off the ref, managed to touchdown. The try was converted by Flynn to give a final score of 38-19.

Bournemouth proved worthy opponents but were out scrummaged by a superior pack.  As always Chinnor defended well (apart from a crazy two minutes) and played with more adventure than of late. Moving the ball to the pacey Chinnor wingers brought rich reward. Gustafson had a fine match and the Chinnor front row must have enjoyed their all round contribution to the victory.

Chinnor team: Hewitt, Huxford, Powell (Williams 69), Oxley, Seymour, Cathcart, Gustafson, Winpenny, Cawston, Whelan (Baker 51), Hutchings (c), Black, McGuire, Winslade, Rixon (Hastings 67)
Replacements: Baker, Hastings, Williams

Scoring sequence