The one that got away

Chinnor Seconds Match Report for
28th January 2012
Chinnor Seconds vs. Barnes Seconds
Chinnor Seconds travelled to London for the return fixture against Barnes whose first team play National 2. Always a tough game on their home ground and with both teams neck to neck in the league pressure comes into it. Having two props injured and two unavailable, Chinnor do lose the advantage, because more times than not we are able to out scrum our opponents. We enjoyed this advantage against Richmond last week.
Chinnor began this match with a lot of confusion and before we knew it we were down 7 points to 0. The boys came back and with 15 minutes on the clock Ed Rixon went over in the corner with an unconverted try now 7 points to 5. Most of the play was in the central area of the pitch and Chinnor battled to settle down, but things were just not going to plan and they were being penalised time and time again. Barnes enjoyed the benefit of the Ref’s whistle and was able to avoid the same infringements with the penalty counts about 10 to 1. On the half hour Barnes increased their lead with a successful penalty and increased their lead to 10 points to 5. Finally Chinnor’s pressure paid off with a great break through the centre by 17 year old fly half Will Millett who scored in the corner and the score was tied 10 points each at half time. Sorry Will for calling you 18!
Chinnor came out in the second half determined to play better rugby and so they did and on five minutes Ricky Hopwood scored and it was converted by Millett, Chinnor now took the lead for the first time 17 points to 10. Chinnor then were unfortunate to have had a definite try disallowed and the penalty count kept increasing against Chinnor. It was the turn of Max Williams to add the next try and bonus point and Chinnor increased their lead to 22 points to 10. Twenty minutes into the second half Ben Hackshaw was yellow carded for picking the ball up that according to him was out but the Ref would not accept, and Barnes added 3 points with a penalty. Again Chinnor had the misfortune of another certain try disallowed. As if that wasn’t enough, the unbelievable took place! The Barnes’ wing chased a ball, picked it up, and ran into touch by about 30 centimetres, as a result Chinnor stopped, he carried on and scored, and the ref awarded the try! We complained to no avail, unfortunately the problem lay with us. Our touch judge had not kept up with the game and missed it. The score crept up to 22 points to 18 with a conversion to come. As the ball was kicked and missed, our linesman was accused with interfering with the kicker resulting in the Ref allowing another chance which was successful with and the score was 22 points to 20. Just on thirty five minutes, Barnes was awarded another penalty in front of the posts which took them into the lead 23 points to 22. Chinnor came straight back and camped in front of their posts and on at least three occasions should have been awarded penalties for off sides, but the call didn’t go Chinnor’s way. The game finished with Barnes the victors 23 points to 22. This was a game we should have won with four tries against two, Chinnor have to look at it as being unlucky!
Walter McGuicken
Second team manager