Chipping Norton 3rd XV 5 vs. Chinnor 4th XV 7
Saturday 15th September 2007
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In conditions more suitable for Cricket, Chinnor travelled to Chipping Norton near Hobbiton this week. Avoiding the Black Riders during the long, arduous journey.

The first half saw Chippy camped in Chinnor’s 22 for some time, but never really threatening. Chinnor’s stout defence held firm giving good turnover ball on occasion. With some familiar faces missing this week, the slots were ably filled. James “Shoes” the young leaping Salmon standing in for “Lady Penelope” and Andy “Not related” Heley filling Mike “Sippy” Hughes boots, while he was sunning parts in warmer climes.

Chinnor’s defence forced Chippy to kick, this in turn allowed the youthful Chinnor backs to capitalise and show their mettle. The Chinnor pack kept good possession making ground in Chippy’s half. Despite this they suffered a number of penalties much to their surprise, during the maul in particular. So on each foray they came away empty handed, or saw the ball cleared downfield. The first half continued in much the same fashion, with occasional flair from the Chinnor backs, the score remained at 0-0.

The whistle for the second half blew. Rolling substitution allowed Gordon “Gordon” Fennel to pull off players at will. A strong bench of  John “Yenohe” Can, Tim “Gr Gr” Granville, Andre “Vander” Van, Matt “Mr Tracey” Locke and Rob “Roy the Polak” McLachlan enabled the pack to keep fresh and alert. Suffering from the wind in the first half, Andy “Not related” Heley tightened his resolve for the second half. The youthful, Paul “Lightening” Davis demonstrated good skill in the loose. The second half was as much a series of adventures, as the first half was not. “Mad” Mike Neuman had a short rest after suffering an unusual ball injury. The referee called so many penalties, it was like watching Dr. Strangelove in parts.

The first score came after yet another series of penalties. Chippy had tried but failed to convert 2. This occasion saw them on the Chinnor 10. Despite knocking the penalty on, the referee was unsighted, Chippy span the ball left through 2 sets of hands and went over in the corner. 5-0.

Chippy’s score was enough to wake up the sunburnt beast of the Chinnor back line, which had been sunbathing up until that point. Chinnor rallied, and after defending another barrage of penalties, won a lineout on the Chippy 10. The ball span left to the indefatigable Chinnor backs who made the gain line, the ball recycled, left again to the seasoned hands of Alan “Eh?” Aitkin, who passed out to Will “Virgil” Dickinson then to “BishBashBosh” Bishop who ran out side one defender then inside another two to touch down to the left of the posts. Converting his own try to give Chinnor the lead, 5-7.

Chinnor continued to repulse Chippy’s attacks until the final whistle blew. A disjointed performance, but again vital practice for their league campaign. Man of the match was the quiet Craig “The Assassin” Davis on his debut for the fours at no. 9, while mare of the match was “Mad” Mike for allowing the unusual ball injury to effect him.

Scorers:
Tries: Ben “BishBashBosh” Bishop 
Conversions: Ben "BishBashBosh" Bishop

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