Seconds travel to WAR ZONE

Chinnor Seconds Match Report for 5th November 2011
Chinnor Seconds vs. Bracknell RFC
Chinnor Seconds travelled away to Bracknell for a rugby game and found themselves in a war zone! It was one thing having them load their side with too many of their first team players. But unfortunately the Bracknell style of rugby is aggressive and sometimes extreme and unsporting with head butting, punching and kicking people in the head. Bracknell no 13 should take stock and so should his club! This type of play is totally unacceptable and especially when subjected to 18 year old players. We all accept that the game is physical and can be aggressive and hard which most teams in this league are accustomed to, BUT to actually go out of one’s way to injure a player deliberately makes for a bleak and sad day for rugby and Bracknell RFC in particular. The ref has to be held accountable for his part of this, as his handling of the game and the laws of the game were woeful to say the least. He was whistle happy and did not allow the game to run, subsequently leading to so much frustration on the pitch which affected both teams. Respective Counties should note that this league is about level 5/6 with a lot of teams capable of holding their own in Nat 3; hence it should be recognised with the appropriate quality of refs.
We were unlucky to lose Ben Hackshaw who pulled a calf muscle during warm up, as well as many playing for the old boys tournament and a couple off injured.
The first half started with Chinnor doing the attacking for the first 10 minutes and came away with a try by Simon Matthews and converted by Will Millett from the side line. The score remained for the next 20 minutes with the Chinnor try line under a lot of pressure and the penalty count in this time at 15 to 3 against Chinnor. Chinnor’s Nick Harrison then got a yellow card for being off side? And Bracknell was successful with the penalty and the score was 7 points to 3 in Chinnor’s favour. On the stroke of half time Bracknell scored a sublime text book try that they converted and the first half finished 10 points to 7 to the hosts.
The second half carried on at the same pace as the first with both teams giving as good as they got and the stop and start of the game continued. Chinnor were given their first penalty after 7 minutes and Millett was able to square up the score to 10 points each. The score stayed level for some time until Bracknell broke the dead lock with a converted try and were in the driving seat at 17 points to 10. Rather pointedly every time Chinnor got into the Bracknell 22 they were blown up for something or other and the penalty count was no different to the first half with both Chinnor players and spectators totally bewildered by the referees decisions and the absolute bias by which time was beyond a joke. We finally got another penalty on 36 minutes which Millett slotted in and brought Chinnor within seven points and a losing bonus point. The game ended at 17 -13 in Bracknell’s favour.
The seconds would like to thank Tom Richardson, Leon Westerman and Thad Cooper for coming up from the 3rds to help us out and Max Mitcham, Will Millett and George Blewitt from the colts for doing the same thanks boys. Walter McGuicken Chinnor Seconds Manager