last Saturday against the Wolf pack of Bury St Edmunds the real Chinnor stood up again. The tone was set for the coming 80 minutes when at the first scrum, 10 seconds in, we marched them back at a significant rate. Our big, gnarly pack awoke from its winter hibernation and showed the type of control and domination that left a path of well beaten teams in our wake early season. This in turn allowed our backs to play on the front foot and flourish with good gain line ball.

We now enter a crucial three game period; Cinderford and Canterbury at home and promotion rivals Old Elthamians sandwiched in the middle away. Canterbury was the first loss of the season that sparked a slight stutter so we will be looking to right that wrong, but prior to them arriving at Kingsey Road we have the Forest of Dean juggernaut this Saturday.

Unbeaten in seven games, Cinderford are showing the type of form that made last year’s National One relegated team, favourites to win the league this year. They had coughed and spluttered pre Christmas but are now on an impressive roll and with ex Premiership players such as George Porter, James Tideswell and Adam Balding it’s not surprising. They have also taken the scalps of Bishops Stortford and Redruth in the last few weeks.

We are unbeaten at home in over 12 months and when we last called for significant support you answered; over 1000 people through the gate for the visit of Old Elthamians. It is not a coincidence we won convincingly. Your voice raised the boys to a new level. It's the business end of the season, we have 8 games remaining and we sit top of the league only by points difference. We need you, we need your friends, we need your family.

To South Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. Come out in force again, we need the sixteenth man 3.00pm Kick Off this Saturday. Help us in our quest to stay at the summit. We have never needed your support as we do now. Together we can do it.

We are black, we are white.…

Matt Williams
Director of Rugby