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Welcome back from DOR Matt Williams

Welcome back from DOR Matt Williams

Richard Jarvis5 Jan 2017 - 16:39
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https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/ne

Happy New Year Welcome from Chinnor’s DOR

Happy New Year all and what a New Year it promises to be. There are the three top teams within a hair’s breadth of each other and the second tier not far behind. We are expecting a massive competition for the top two places and our start in January will be key to where we finish. We completed the end of last Year with some slightly mixed performances which might be put down to some tiredness and some key injuries.

There were also some very good performances from our opposition sides such as Stortford and Henley that denied us. The rest will have done the squad a power of good and they were certainly training with some real focus and appetite on Tuesday night. We welcome back Oscar Heath and Ben Manning after their long layoffs, as well as Jamie Townsend, Danny Barnes and Tom Burns from their short rest.

We also welcome fly half Basil Strang fresh from Oxford University's Varsity match who finished last season with an impressive few games trying to help Henley avoid relegation. We know that January will be a tough month with away visits to Redruth, Barnstaple and Exmouth and one home game against Redingensians. I know the squad are approaching it with anticipation. I say squad as so far this season some 30 players have represented us at first team level which shows how much we need experience in depth and the young players to come through. We have been very pleased with some of the youngsters such as Oscar Clayton and Scott Hall who have promising futures ahead of them. 

Whilst we are pleased with our highest ever finish at Christmas in this league we remain committed to doing better so as always your support which has been massive this season is very much appreciated

It is great to see the Falcons turning out regularly and performing well against some stiff opposition. The Thirds of course remain unbeaten and it would be great for them to finish as champions. Equally it is good to see the 4th XV (the Outlaws) up and running with a good win over Leighton Buzzard in November. Chinnor Vets (Oxen) also remain unbeaten and face Drifters this coming Saturday. And of course well done to Mark, Greg and the Colts boys.

As to the minis and juniors they continue to thrive and thanks to all of their Coaches and management that put such tremendous effort in. They have been primarily responsible for the new and exciting partnership agreement with Saracens and worked with John Ashfield and John Maitland to effect this. We hope that it will continue the improvements in Coaching and performance of our youngsters who are the future of Rugby and whilst there is no tie up at senior level in respect of Player loans for 1st team, we are very hopeful that the links will aid all other aspects of our function as a Community Club.

Hopefully see you all soon

Matt Williams

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