Another home win for the second team

Chinnor Seconds Match Report for 3rd December 2011
Chinnor Seconds vs. Worthing RFC
Chinnor Seconds played a home game against Worthing, another club whose first team are in National 2 but also top of their league. And another tough game ahead! The team lost Nick Harrison Ken Prinsloo, Ricky Hopwood and Ben Ramsdale to the first team as well as Ed Rixon, Al Blewitt, Will Millett, Rob Fenwick and Mark Wilkinson not being available. Thanks to Andy Millburn, Tom Webb and Edd Vickers who stepped in. This game could be considered to be extra special because this was the first time in the history of this league that Worthing have managed to find their way to Chinnor. Thank you boys! Worthing are blessed with a large squad obviously necessary in Nat.2 and don’t seem to have a problem getting a team together. Tom Webb agreed to be a prop for the day which helped and we were saved from having to go to uncontested scrums (thank you Tom) Within four minutes of the start Chinnor missed a few tackles and Worthing was able to take advantage by scoring a try. Chinnor in turn came back with a penalty, followed minutes later with a penalty by Worthing. Chinnor then replied with a great try by scored by Guy Hackshaw and after fifteen minutes of play the teams were even 8 points each. The next twenty five minutes Chinnor appeared to be the better team on the pitch, but two tries should have been scored and were missed. However Chinnor had the advantage over Worthing in all the set pieces despite them being a very good side. Chinnor were the first to add points in the second half with a well struck penalty by Alex Woodhouse. The score remained unchanged for the next twenty minutes and I felt once again Chinnor were the better team in this period of play. Just on twenty five minutes in Tom Webb took a ball at full speed and broke through the Worthing defence and passed the ball to Max Mitchum who scored under the posts, this was converted by Woodhouse. Shortly after a Chinnor driving maul drove Andy Millburn over the line and this was also converted by Woodhouse. This gave Chinnor a healthy lead of 25 points to 8. Worthing managed to retrieve points with a converted try of their own and cut the deficit down 25 points to 15 with ten minutes of playing time left. At this stage the Worthing coach got upset with a 20 year old Chinnor player for walloping an 18 year old Worthing player, which was a retaliation due to the fact that he was being choked by the 18 year old. He also sadly accused the same Chinnor player of gouging, but on inspection the ref could find no mark on the 18 year olds face, and it was dismissed as a hard tackle! The last ten minutes neither team could add points and the final score was Chinnor 25 Worthing 15 giving Chinnor a win which they deserved being the better side on the day. This was a good hard physical game and both teams played well and the Ref officiated well. Tom Webb had a great game at prop, Andy Millburn mister reliable and Ben Hackshaw both outstanding as were all the players, but MAN of the MATCH goes to Edd Vickers who we welcome back to the rugby field and hope you are back for good Walter McGuicken Chinnor Seconds Team Manager.