The one that got away

Chinnor Seconds Match Report for 29th October 2011
Chinnor Seconds vs. Southend RFC
Chinnor Seconds travelled away to South End on Sea another National 2 league team with their second team in the shield. Again another tough game in this very competitive league that we play in! Sadly this week we were devoid of both our hookers Alan Cawston and Steffan Myburgh. Ritchie Williams kept his spot in the first team and Ken Prinsloo moved up, well done Ken! Chinnor had the upper hand to begin with, and Jack Green scored a try after 8 minutes and Southend then began to hit back with 2 penalties in the 10th and 15th minute. Southend dominated the lineouts with the advantage of a player that must have been over 2 metres tall, as result we didn’t really stand a chance. South End scored a converted try and Chinnor were able to gain 3 points with a successful penalty by Jack Green, but this was short lived when Southend gained a penalty back, and the score was 16 points to 8 in the hosts favour at half time. The first half was spoilt by the number of times the Ref penalised Chinnor, with the penalty count being about 15 to 3 unbelievable. Having said that Chinnor could not plead innocence to all, but it did appear to be a little unbalanced. The second half started in the same vein with most of the play by Chinnor, and we narrowed the gap with a try by Trevor Powell again converted by Green. Eight minutes in and the home side had a slender lead of 16 points to 15. Chinnor continued to attack and there was also a lot of good defence with both teams trying to get the upper hand. It took the Ref some time to penalise Southend for Truck and Trailer, and then again allowed them to get away with it two minutes later with a push over try in the corner. This gave South End a lead of 21 - 15. The last 20 minutes Chinnor continued to play attacking rugby only to be penalised time and time again, much the same as they had been in the first half. Unfortunately the frustration of it all brought on a bit of back chat which didn’t help our cause. Southend were blown time and again for slowing the ball down and the ref actually had a yellow card out to give one player, but didn’t give it. When we queried his decision he said the player was young! Chinnor needed a converted try and camped on the Southend try line only to concede penalty after penalty. With 7 minutes to go Trevor Powell scored, but the Ref blew for Chinnor going off their feet although Trevor was already over the try line and had scored. Final score 21 points to 15 and we do pick up a bonus point. It was a very disappointing result because Chinnor were the better all-round team on the day, with the exception of line outs. A lesson we should learn from this is, we must learn to up the game when we are not getting the rub the green with the Ref Ref WalterMcGuicken Chinnor Seconds Manager