With time up on the clock & with Chinnor pounding away at Caldy’s line, Chinnor were awarded a penalty under the posts. Chinnor spurned the chance for a draw and threw everything at Caldy but their defence stayed solid and took the win.

Chinnor started the game with a bang and Tom Ranaboldo crashed over in the 5th minute . Chinnor struck again immediately after some superb hands from Dancer and Oliver released Goss to score. Caldy then kicked a penalty through Jones to make it 10-3. Chinnor looked to be getting on top as they launched several threatening attacks which culminated in Burns running an arc to crash over from 30 metres. Holland converted to make the score 17- 3 after 21minutes.

Caldy then launched an impressive fightback , gaining several penalties though their work at the breakdown. Caldy kicked to the corner and drove the lineout with Saunders scoring after 25 minutes. Caldy scored again after 32 minutes when O’Donnell barrelled over to make the score 17-14.

The game seemed to hinge on the five minutes before half time when Caldy manage to defend several dangerous attacks from Chinnor and gained two turnovers on their line when they were down to fourteen men.

Conditions got continuously worse during the second half which seemed to play into Caldy’s hands with their effective pick and drive game. This led to a penalty try on 63rd minute after pressure at five yard scrums and another yellow card for Chinnor. Caldy led 17-22.

Chinnor looked dead and buried but showed great spirit to fight back again which led to crowd favourite Ben Manning taking a great line to score with several Caldy defenders on his back. Holland converted to take Chinnor into the lead 24-22 after 71 minutes.
Caldy immediately struck back through their dominant forwards and with a throw back in years they launched a flying wedge and Dickinson drove over from five metres to regain the lead 24-27 with 5 minutes left on the clock

Matt Williams,, Chinnor DOR, was reflective after the team decided to roll the dice on the last play. “ With a much changed pack I can’t fault the ambition and will to win but sometimes cool heads are needed. We’ll learn and grow"

Referee Mr Calum Howard
Attendance 539

Chinnor
Goss,Joseph,Dancer,Barnes ©,Holland,Hopkin,Goodfellow, Beesely,Oliver,Gilding, Ramshaw, Ranaboldo,Davies,Dancer Burns

Reps Bingham,George,Manning,Barton,Angell

Caldy
Roberts,Royle,Barlow,Othuha,Hibberd,Hayes,Jones,O’Donnell,Stagg,Salisbury, Collister,Sanders,Crowe,Davidson,Dickinson

Reps
Wittaker,Gerrard, McCawacross,Jones,Soutar