Another titanic battle ended at Kingsey Road with Rosslyn Park battering away at the Chinnor line deep into injury time. A cross field kick was gathered by right wing Edwards who evaded the covering defence to equal the scores. Lound who had been perfect from the tee all afternoon had the final kick to seal the win for the visitors. His cry of joy as he kicked the crucial conversion indicated he was confident it was sailing over but the brisk westerly had other ideas and the kick fell short.

It was looking ominous for Chinnor in the early period when the large and physical London outfit took an early lead through McFarlane. Converted Lound for a 0-7 lead. This was lead was doubled on 13 minutes when Lound spotted a gap and stepped through the defence to score. He again converted to 0-14

Chinnor were struggling to get a foothold in the game against a strong and committed defence but managed to register on the scoreboard with a Ryan penalty after good combination from Goss and Joseph. However, Chinnor were dealt a blow when Ryan had to leave the field with a nasty looking injury on 20 minutes.

This injury blow seemed to jolt Chinnor into action and they lifted the pace and ferocity of attack. Holland moved from the wing to outside half and his running threat immediately paid dividends after a big break he converted a penalty to narrow the score to 6-14 on 26 minutes.

A superb break and offload by Holland released the ever supporting Bordill who stormed in from 25 metres and with several defenders on his back. Holland converted to 13-14.

The visitors struck back when a couple of cheap penalties gave them a good position in Chinnor’s 22. Inevitably a driving maul led to Park’s third try, again converted by Lound. 13 -21 on 36 minutes.

A huge break from the dangerous Goss from a midfeld ruck put Chinnor to within metres of the line. Goodfellow made a trademark dart and seemed to have dotted down on the line. After consultation with the AR who was 50 metres away the referee decided not to give the try but penalised Park for offside. Holland was successful with the penalty and Half time was blown at 16-21.

With the wind in the second half Chinnor restarted with a bang . After a series of pick and drives Holland took the perfect ‘winger’s angle’ to sniff out a try as he beat several defenders to score under the posts. Holland converted his own try for Chinnor to take the lead 23-21. Chinnor seemed to have a strangle hold on the game playing the conditions well and dominating possession. From a lineout deep into Park territory Ben Thomas finished off the driving maul to extend the lead on 57 minutes .Holland converted 30-21. Chinnor struck again to extend the lead when Holland knocked over a long penalty on 62 minutes , 33-21. Holland had taken to his emergency stand off role to the manor born, a constant danger with ball in hand and immaculate in his kicking.

It seemed that the home side now just had to keep the foot down and not give Park any easy outs. The visitors realised they now had to change tactics and start attacking from deep. This they did and after a big break from the dangerous Weightman , Frampton reached out from the ensuing ruck to dot down on 64 minutes. Lound converted off the post to set up an enthralling climax, 33-28. Chinnor put themselves under unnecessary pressure with a knock on which allowed Park to launch a last ditch push.

Several penalties led to Park throwing the kitchen sink at the league newcomers. The home defence was valiant and with the last play seemed to have sealed a well deserved victory. However, Lound who had an outstanding game, picked out the dangerous Edwards with his precision kick.

Honours even in a pulsating game and another blockbuster for the Chinnor faithful.

MoM Craig Holland

Referee Dan Parrott
Chinnor
Goss Joseph barnes © King Holland Ryan Goodfellow Price George Gilding Gray Thomas Ramshaw Bordill Burns
Reps: Beesley Oliver Manning Barton Nawaqaliva

Rosslyn Park
Robinson Amesbury Weightman Munroe Edwards Lound Weir Nwakor-Nwanebi
Vaughan-Edwards Doran-Jones Gillanders Mills Macfarlane Barnard Laventure
Reps: Frampton Maguire Grove Ellis Hayhow

Matvh report by Johnny Vaughan