Chinnor produced a performance of superb bouncebackability as their high paced, all court game proved too much for previously unbeaten High Wycombe. High Wycombe had arrived in confident mood and were a large, physical and well drilled team but they had no match for the pace and skill of the Oxen three quarters who were all on sparkling form. We welcomed Housewives’s favourites Mountford, Fatiolofa and Lavin for debuts for our Saturday side which gave the double whammy benefit of lowering the average age per man and dramatically increasing the average speed. There was however one unforeseen consequence as GC Warner’s previously undisputed reign as pin up boy and team dandy is now under severe threat. GC will not take this potential body blow to his ego lying down and he immediately signed up for extra guns work in the gym and a consignment of tight fitted t-shirts are on order.

Chinnor flew out of the traps and launched a thrilling attack from the deep kick off which culminated in a searing break from Fats. Sellars senior did wonders to keep up and magnificently held off the covering defence to score in the corner. Chinnor were immediately back onto the front foot again and a series of interplay featuring superb link work from Jonny Lager put Lavin in space and a four on one 10 metres from the opposition line. Was it the hangover from Lavin’s recent sabbatical leading to amnesia or colour blindness but our erstwhile Club Captain inexplicably delivered a perfect pass to the one opposition player in the vicinity and watched in abject horror as he scooted off in the wrong direction. A gallant effort from Ratty nearly hauled him down but alas it was in vain and Wycombe levelled.

A turning point in the game them ensued when the large opposition centre produced a clothes liner on Fats as he was preparing to catch a pass. This move would not have proved popular with his team mates as Fats decided to change his previously stated intention to ease himself back into the team gently and make sure he’s in top nick for the Floodlit Cup games. A rapid fusillade of three tries in 10 minutes followed in which Fats either created or scored. One was a scintillating solo effort of 90 metres featuring an outside break, bosh, trademark hitch kick, footwork and sustained pace. Not to be outdone Mountford launched a similar effort and having spurned a 3 on 1 to cut inside he was under pressure to score, this he did with aplomb as he rounded the fullback and covering wing. The game was now effectively over as a contest as Chinnor raced to a 31-5 half time lead.

Begley and Harding both had exceptional games of similar nature. They ran super lines and defended stoutly, both scored good tries and put on a masterclass in the dying art of spiral kicking from hand. One from Harding who was covering a long kick himself was a real highlight as he pirouetted onto his left and arrowed the return punt fully 80 metres over a dumbfounded and flatfooted fullback who could merely gawp in admiration as the ball ran into touch 5 metres from the try line. Joining Harding and Begley as the only ever presents who have played 160 minutes of rugby in the last 8 days was the increasingly influential big Gav. To have toiled away in the engine room against 2 fine packs and although under pressure not to have lost any scrums against the head and still to be running, tackling and clearing rucks is an awesome effort. He even had the energy to display some Harlem Globetrotteresque skills as he managed to wind up the opposing number 8 trying to take a quick tap. Bravo Gav. Our inexperience front row of Stu Mack, Ratty and Andy also deserve a mention in dispatches for their sterling work against a far heavier and experienced opposition.

Half time replacements included the General Powell, Giles still sporting last weeks war wounds and a rejuvenated Bailey. Bailey had finally moved on from his strop of last week and celebrated playing a full half of rugby with perhaps a trifle too much ferocity in the clubhouse afterwards. How he persuaded his teammates to follow him on a head long rush into oblivion will remain a mystery but is testament to some unworldly and unheralded powers of persuasion. Suffice to say there were a few ghostly faces on parade on Sunday, none more so than Bailey himself when he realised the size of his tab.

It was good to see Ox and Powell back in full tandem and their almost telepathic understanding of each other’s running led to customary scores. Chinnor continued their expansive game on a fast, dry pitch and launched multiple attacks from deep which saw Cleare and Gav WW denied by inches from both scoring fine individual tries. Along with the attacking prowess was the determination to keep the much bigger and heavier opposing pack from scoring and this featured superb defence around the fringes from the likes of Lavin, Lager and Pile.

A cathartic win played with real elan and confidence against a strong opposition was exactly what GC Warner had called for and he will be well pleased this week as he pounds away in the gym, laser focused on keeping all comers from his preciously guarded title.